Renewing your mind (this might take a while)

Lately I have been reading several books by N. T. Wright, including his latest book, After You Believe.

Among many other topics, he writes about being transformed by the renewing of your mind. It’s a great book, and when I have time I’ll try to write a review of it.

This post really has very little to do with N. T. Wright, but his book made me start thinking about the various ways that we have to renew our minds. There’s the obvious bad stuff we all face, but sometimes there’s also some “un-doing” that needs to take place in our theology too.

By the time you’re in your mid-forties, I suppose you can sub-consciously accumulate a lot of questionable theology. For me, some of it (ironically) came from Christian comic books.

Free Beer (or my new "life verse")

Give beer to those who are perishing, wine to those who are in anguish;

Let them drink and forget their poverty and remember their misery no more.

Proverbs 31:-6-7

Then it goes on to say:

Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves,
for the rights of all who are destitute.

Speak up and judge fairly;  defend the rights of the poor and needy.

Wow… this certainly raises a few questions.

First of all, is it OK to just give away PBR, or do I have to hand out my good stuff?  Like my new favorite – Big Boss Bad Penny?

Should I keep a case of Pinot Noir in my car to give to the folks begging on street corners?