"Following Jesus is about transformation", says Marcus Borg. In Romans 12:1,2 the apostle Paul tells us that transformation happens by the renewing of our minds. Borg says that the word "minds" here is a "comprehensive image for a way of seeing reality."
Transformation is another way of speaking of maturing; maturing implies changing. It's a never-ending process for the follower of Jesus. And so we should expect to be changing our minds, or changing how we see reality, throughout the course of our life. It boils down to being at peace without having certainty. Without this, I think it's legitimate to question if transformation is taking place. It's possible to be spiritual without having renewed the mind.
Unfortunately, we in the western evangelical world have accepted the idea that being a follower of Jesus is primarily to adhere to a set of beliefs about him; we judge ourselves and others as being followers of Jesus or not according to what a person says they "believe". Consequently, one can buy into a set of doctrinal beliefs and not experience deep inner change nor change how they live their lives. They feel they don't need to ever explore where or how they came to believe or if there might be more that they could learn from other ways of seeing that are outside their paradigm.
Because evangelicalism has devolved into adhering to a prescribed list of beliefs about Jesus that places emphasis on being sure and certain about God and life, we are afraid and refuse to listen to those who might see reality differently from the way we see reality because this would shake the 'sure foundation' on which we have stood. Consequently, true transformation doesn't happen; we find peace in staying within the safety of the worldview of our past. This is the easy but limiting way.
Changing the way I see reality is hard painful work; it's costly and takes time and energy. I would suggest that true transformation by the 'renewing of the mind' is impossible without three things working together: one is the work of God's Spirit, the second is willingness and openness in the heart and mind of the person involved, and the third is a community of those who understand this experience and will walk with the follower to help him/her make mindset changes in his/her journey.
Because it's impossible to know God fully, we should expect to always be changing our thinking about him; there should be unending expansion in one's heart and mind. The goal in seeking to know and follow him is not to trade one set of beliefs for another, thereby finding peace and certainty in another way of thinking; the goal is to become comfortable and at peace with not knowing and not being certain of beliefs but being certain of the goodness and love of God for all humanity and living as best I know how in love for others as Jesus did.
Since intentionally opening my mind and heart to the Spirit of God and partnering with others in this journey, there has been ongoing renewing of the mind happening in me that has enlarged my heart related to God and to people...people who in the past I judged wrongly and was not willing to listen to.
In conclusion I freely offer my help to anyone who might want a little aid to take a step in this challenge. It's a mind-blowing experience that is well worth the time and effort required! If you're interested in further discussion, you can email me at nita.steiner@gmail.com.
