A Sound Mind

W. Carl Ketcherside

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     "God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind."

     Man is a rational being. Physically he is an animal, but he differs from all other animals because he can reason. Jude tells us that irrational animals know by instinct (verse 10) and Peter calls such animals "creatures of instinct" (2 Peter 2:12). Man is not limited to instinct for what he may know. Only a rational being can truly worship, and man was created to glorify God. The creator has always treated man on a rational basis. He has never required man to believe anything without furnishing sufficient evidence as a basis for faith. His appeal is, "Come now, let us reason together, saith the Lord" (Isa. 1:18).

     What is reason? It is sometimes referred to as that exercise of the mind by which we distinguish truth from falsehood. Occasionally it is equated with judgment. I doubt they are synonymous. Reason consists of comparing and weighing facts and considerations, in order to reach a conclusion from them. Judgment is the acceptance of that conclusion with a view to including it as a part of the pattern of personal belief or conduct. One is the tree, the other the fruit. Perhaps you may feel this is "a distinction without a difference."

     There are several functions of the mind. Reason is just one of them. As related to the exercise of reason, however, a sound mind is one which is regulated or governed by the principles which pertain to investigation and deduction. As in every aspect of life, this demands the application of certain positive factors, and the avoidance of certain negative factors, since these last would interfere with the discovery of truth. In a very humble way we hope to discuss some of the pitfalls to be avoided, and enumerate some of the laws governing our mental processes. Our aim is to help all of us to think clearly and reason correctly. We are what our thinking makes us. Thus we need to know how to think and reason properly.

     We have said that reasoning involves the comparing and weighing of facts. In the process we must decide which facts are essential and which are incidental. We must correctly evaluate them. But before we can do that we must collect the facts. The interest we have in the subject to which the facts are related will govern the intensity of our effort. The true scientist working on a project can hardly take time from his laboratory to eat or sleep. You have heard that Thomas Edison limited himself to four hours of sleep daily. There was so much he wanted to discover and so little time in which to achieve it, he begrudged the hours given to sleep. If we had a few researchists in the spiritual realm imbued by that spirit we might be amazed at the discoveries they would make..

     We dare not "jump at conclusions" if we would be safe reasoners. To do so is a sure mark of the careless and indifferent

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thinker. To avoid this we must have sufficient data on a subject before we can reach a conclusion. If we become too hasty we will be superficial. The sound mind proceeds with caution. It is not impulsive or frantic. We are to "test all things, and retain that which is good." This is the true scientific approach. That it is commanded in the word of God proves that the word is not in conflict with true science. But it requires time to test all things. There is a danger one will become tired or bored and reach a conclusion on partial data. This is unwise and dangerous.

     How do we know when we have all the facts? We may not know, for which reason we must retain open minds in which our judgment is subject to correction or modification when confronted with new facts. At the same time the sound mind will not be shaken or troubled by trivialities, frivolous objections, carping criticisms, or unrelated matters. Opposed to the sound mind in this regard are two extremes, which start at a common center, yet are poles apart in nature.

     Both form hasty conclusions without proper attention to all facts and considerations involved. But their personal reactions are widely divergent. one is shaken in his conclusions by every new thought presented to his attention, as well as by every minor objection or criticism. He becomes unstable and vacillating, shifting ground and altering his stand constantly. He is like a reed shaken by the wind. He is like a restless wave of the sea. The other forms his opinions on the same inadequate basis, but then clings to them with such tenacity as to become impervious to fact or reason. He is right, all else is wrong. He shuts himself inside a bastion of his own construction, from which he refuses to budge regardless of the weight of testimony brought to bear upon him.

     Such a person has the utmost confidence in his own opinions, and entertains only contempt for those who differ. It is difficult to assess the origin of such an arbitrary spirit. Is it the result of a natural peculiarity of mental constitution, of a deep seated inferiority complex, of deficient education, or social insensitivity? Whatever the cause, when one indulges this spirit, he becomes a victim of his own pride, so that the motives and evidences which influence other men will not pierce his mental armor.

     We should cultivate sound minds, then, by refusing to form an opinion based on insufficient data, by weeding out the trivial from the worthwhile, by firmness of character which will not yield to every whim, and by being open to a review of our position in the light of additional evidence. When you slam the door of your mind to keep others out, you shut yourself in.

               Anew our pledge we make to Thee
                    To follow where Thy truth shall lead;
               Afloat upon its boundless sea,
                    Who sails with God is safe indeed.