"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres." –1 Corinthians 13: 4-7.
In Ephesians 6, Paul mentions that we should wear the helmet of salvation. This is so we can guard ourselves against spiritual warfare, which could be any number of things: anxiety, depression, stress, doubt, fear, insecurities, etc. "Helmet of salvation" represents having a "heavenly mindset," or "kingdom mindset." There is a reason Paul associates salvation with a helmet (the head). We use our brains to think, feel and lead our actions, so to have a heavenly mindset suggests it is going to affect everything we do.
Once reborn, we are called to put on the new self. The new self involves being aware of temptations and sins that we are convicted of. For instance, Colossians 3 mentions trying to abstain or repent of idolatry, covetousness, etc. To put on a new self is to find one's identity in following Christ and by "seeking the things that are above," which is just another way of saying we are to put on a heavenly mindset.
A heavenly mindset is a loving and merciful one: "put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive" (Colossians 3: 1-13).
In fact, it seems appropriate that love would be so important in achieving a heavenly mindset because love is the mark of a Christian (Romans 12: 9-21). We are called to "Let love be genuine" and "Love one another with brotherly [or sisterly] affection. Outdo one another in showing honor," as well as let our vengeance rest in God's hands because "by doing so you will heap burning coals on his [or her] head" (Romans 12: 9-21).
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A few years ago, I was in a church ministry when I noticed a change amongst my peers: judgment.
The girls were being mean without realizing it.
They weren't judging me but my relationship with God.
It got to the point where I was so upset that I cried to my grandma, "What should I do? I feel like God wants me to leave this ministry, but I didn't want to go. I'm not ready."
My grandma replied with a story.
One time she felt God was telling her to leave her church for a new job. He wanted to bless her, but she didn't want to leave. She told God: "No, I like my job. I like the friends I have." Then she told me how "This sweet little old lady started a rumor that could have ended a marriage. She said I had started the rumor, too."
It was such a scandal that my grandma was forced to leave.
My grandma told me: "Don't tell God no because holding on will only make letting go more painful. Much more painful than needs to be." She finished her story by saying that she ran into the little old lady a few months later. My grandma was still hurt but was pleasant to the little old lady. "The little old lady didn't even know she had done anything wrong against me."
I considered my grandma's advice. Don't say no?
Even so, I, of course, dragged my feet and bought time while doing so. This way I wouldn't have to leave immediately. I was busy deliberating.
I was going through training to be a leader. I wanted to finish.
There was this one meeting where our team leader ended the session with a fun question: "Why do you want to be a leader?" The girls went around in a circle sharing their answers:
I want other girls to know who Christ is.
I want people of campus to know God.
One by one, they sort of paraphrased each other.
Then I gave my answer: "I just want to be someone's friend."
One girl scorned me, another was shocked and the rest were concerned for my soul.
They didn't give me time to explain. Had they, I would have told them:
He loved people.
If I'm going to hang out with someone, they will hear about the newest movies, books, my passions, my dislikes, my family, love interests, problems, and my faith. My faith comes with the friendship package. Do I want them to love Christ? Yes, but I don't want to force a friend to do something, nor do I want to judge them. I'm there if they need someone or have any questions.
Instead, I didn't get to explain. I left feeling judged by my peers.
I prayed for God to teach them about how important friendship is. I wasn't expecting proof though.
A few months later, I ran into the girl who scorned me. We were at a local coffee shop when she greeted me. I asked how being a leader was going.
She said she was learning to put less pressure on herself. "I just need be their friend."
I was so glad to hear she had finally changed her mindset.
Having a heavenly mindset is loving other people as you would a friend.
Overall, Paul was trying to say that we wear the helmet of salvation so we can protect not only ourselves but our relationships with our friends and our relationship with God from anxieties, fears, and etc. We essentially stay in-tune with one another and take care of one another. He was saying that if we don't show love in our words and actions, we comes across as hypocrites because our words don't match our actions: we will "only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal" (1 Corinthians 13: 1-13). Let's include love, forgiveness, and respect in how we serve/love God, others and ourselves.
Are you ready to put on your helmet of salvation?
