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Today's Little Lift
by Jim Bullington
Do you think you know the world’s most deadly poison? Well, I’ll admit right up front that this is sort of a trick question. You see, the world’s most deadly poison is not one which affects the central nervous system, or the cardio-pulmonary system, or the digestive system, or the liver, or the kidneys, or any other physical organ; the world’s most deadly poison is one which affects the mind and hence the soul.
Actually, there are many, many instances of mind poisoning in the scriptures, but one is explicitly identified by that phrase. Consider the following: “Now it happened in Iconium that they [Paul and Barnabas] went together to the synagogue of the Jews, and so spoke that a great multitude both of the Jews and of the Greeks believed. But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brethren. Therefore they stayed there a long time, speaking boldly in the Lord, who was bearing witness to the word of His grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands.” (Acts 14.1-3).
What is the “systemic effect” of the poisoning of one’s mind, especially as it relates to matters of life and death? The answer is simple, but the answer is complex. It is simple in that when one’s mind is poisoned, he/she loses the ability, at least temporarily, to reason correctly, a mandate for accepting God’s gospel plan of salvation. Likewise, it is complex in that there are a million and one ways in which this poisoning can occur. It can be through the malicious acts of another, it can be through unintentional words, it can be through a book, a thought, a picture, a movie, a popular song, a “friend’s” actions, a TV show, gossip, “higher” education, economic ambitions, political ambitions, etc., etc., etc. There are literally as many ways to poison the mind as there are ways to approach the mind!
The immediate effect of mind-poisoning is the inability to reason correctly, the intermediate effect is the refusal or postponing of obedience to the truth, and the long-range effect is eternal in nature, namely, the loss of one’s soul. Those who take pleasure in seeing others suffer physically are recognized as sick, even dangerous, individuals. However, those who poison the minds of others are frequently honored by the world in one way or another. Actors and actresses who model immorality, singers who extol sin as a virtue, professors who lead impressionable minds away from God, politicians who sell their souls to the polls, parents who trade a relationship with their children for a career – all of these are people who frequently receive the plaudits of the world – and all the while they are poisoning minds and leading souls to hell!
Guard your mind from being poisoned by holding the truth close in your breast; guard yourself against the poisoning of others by speaking and acting in harmony with truth!
Questions:
1. When it comes to spiritual matters, why is the mind so important?
2. In the focus text, how did Paul and Barnabas react to the poisoning of the minds of the Gentiles?
3. Is all mind poisoning intentional? If not, is it deadly whether intentional or unintentional? What is the only means by which one can prevent his/her mind from being poisoned?
4. How can we make sure we do not poison the mind of another person?
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