Please do not let the above sub-title fool you. By "Christian thinkers" I do NOT mean necessarily that you must be an intellectual to benefit from what is inside. Rather, I refer to believers who are critical thinkers with an Ultimate Reference Point for all of life, belief, and practice. This "Reference Point" is of course the inspired Scriptures, the Word of God.

A Christian "thinker" thirsts for knowledge (Prov. 23:12) and wisdom (Prov.4:7), knowing that its source is in GOD (Prov. 1:7; Col. 2:3). Such despise all "vain philosophy" that would dare exalt itself against the knowledge of GOD (2 Cor. 10:5; Col.2:8), choosing rather to love God with all their MIND (Matt. 22:37), as well as their heart, soul and strength. These are those who are "approved unto God" (2 Tim. 2:15), the "more noble" (Acts 17:11), the "equipped" (2 Tim. 3:17) - those who need never be ashamed.

Christian thinkers take the warnings concerning false teachers seriously (Matt. 7:15; Col. 2:8; 2 Peter 3:17), checking everything by THE ULTIMATE REFERENCE POINT (Acts 17:11; 2 Tim. 3:16). They "test all things" (1 Thes. 5:21; John 7:24), taking up their SWORD (Eph. 6:17) to "defend the faith" (Jude 3). While this sometimes brings unwanted confrontations (e.g., Gal. 2:11), the Christian thinker knows that TRUE LOVE "rejoices in THE TRUTH" (1 Cor. 13:6). Such seek to live by Paul's charge to "reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine" (2 Tim. 4:2), having the "answer" that Peter wrote of (1 Peter 3:15). While others refuse to "go on" (Heb. 5:11-6:2) and are "blown about" (Eph. 4:14), these search the Scriptures continually in order to mature in the faith.

There is also another side to the true Christian thinker. They realize that God has not revealed EVERYTHING (Deut. 29:29), and that we will not know EVERYTHING this side of eternity (1 Cor. 13:12). They are not afraid of open dialogue with those who disagree but acknowledge the same Ultimate Reference Point. Further, they realize that it takes the Holy Spirit to interpret the Word to our hearts and remain ever-concious of their own fallibility and ever-open to God's truth.

Am I a Christian "thinker"? Only when God is in charge and my flesh takes a dirt nap - but I seek to be every day. I welcome all who have wholly trusted in Christ alone for salvation, regardless of sect or denomination. I only ask that whatever you are exposed to in your high school or college class rooms, on television and on radio, in conversation, in books and periodicals, and yes - EVEN IN YOUR CHURCH - be a "thinker" ... and THINK!