Having the Mind of Christ

The sermon opens with a story about Indian missionary Sundar Singh, who when asked what he found in Christianity that other religions like Hinduism don't have, replied: "I found Jesus Christ." This affirms that the foundation of Christian faith is not abstract doctrines or philosophies, but a Person—Christ. Scripture teaches us to seek Jesus Christ, because He is the way, the truth, and the life. In John 14:9, Jesus says, "Whoever has seen me has seen the Father," affirming that to know God, we must know Christ.

Paul in his letter to the Philippians (written around 61 AD, approximately 26 years after encountering Christ on the Damascus road) emphasizes twice the necessity to "know" Christ and "gain Christ" (Philippians 3:8, 3:10). This is critically important because to have the mind of Christ, we must know Him, and to know God requires a relationship with Him. Unlike other religions such as Buddhism where followers can say they believe in Buddha but cannot claim to know His mind or have a personal relationship with him, Christianity teaches that Christ is not a distant being dwelling only in heaven but an intimate, knowable Being with whom we can have a personal relationship, whom we can understand and follow, and who lives in the heart of every believer.

The word "mind" (tâm tình) carries deeper significance than mere attitude or mood. Attitude is what is expressed through facial expressions, demeanor, actions, and words, and can change depending on circumstances and pressure. But the mind of Christ is something deep within the soul, thoughts, and heart of a person—something no one can see, even if a surgeon opens the body or any outside observer tries. The mind is the accumulation of many years, through varied life experiences, understanding and knowledge. The term "mind" can also be rendered colloquially as the "innermost being," symbolizing what is deepest in a person.

To understand someone's mind requires a deep relationship, deep affection, and intimate closeness. A husband and wife can truly understand each other's mind only after living together for many years; only kindred spirits can understand each other's deepest thoughts. The sermon recounts the story of Guan Zhong and Bao Shuya from Chinese history, where Guan Zhong says, "My parents gave birth to me, but Bao Shuya understands me"—illustrating that knowing someone deeply is more important than blood relations. Scripture affirms that Christ knows each of His children more intimately than anyone else.

To learn to follow Paul's instruction, one must first have an intimate and close relationship with Christ, which requires time and effort. A Christian cannot automatically come to know Christ over many years without spending time reading Scripture, studying the Bible, praying, or having quiet moments to listen to God's voice. Although learning from a pastor, biblical commentaries, parents, or seminary is good, each individual must make effort and dedicate time and energy to come to know Him. Paul does not write "have the same understanding of Christ's mind" but "have the same mind as Christ"—the word "same" means to share, not merely to know but to possess and share the same mind as Christ. When we have the same mind as Christ, we love what He loves, value what He values, and hate what He hates. Then Christ's teachings are no longer a burden but become light and natural, as Christ teaches in Matthew 11:28-30 that His yoke is easy and His burden is light.