Today we begin a new series we’re calling “Meta Nous: Put On the Mind of Christ.” Most of us look at and understand the wold and reality in a way that is antithetical to the way of looking at and understanding the world proposed by the gospel, the mind of Christ. For four weeks we dig into Paul’s letter to the Philippians seeking to go beyond our current mindset and put on this mind.

Our natural reaction is toward justice, and even going past justice into revenge. But life as a follower of Christ, as a member of God’s Kingdom, is different. It calls us to mercy, to forgive. What does that looks like? And why?

It is easy to hear Jesus’ words in Matthew 18 as a three step process to getting rid of unrepentant sinners. But actually, it’s a challenge for us to love our neighbor in a very concrete (albeit challenging) way.

What is the standard of faith? Attending church? It is heroic witness, the ability to give heroic witness to our faith. But what holds us back? A need for a renewal of mind, of heart. And how do we get there? “Denying” ourself.