Blurbs
Self-Examination
Eric Johnson
Distinctive features of Christian mindfulness
The word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and spirit, of joints and marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account. (Hebrews 4:12–13)
For millennia the Christian community has had its own models of how to “mind the heart.” And we see in Hebrews 4 three things that distinguish Christian “inwardness” or “self-examination” from Buddhist and secular mindfulness.
First, God’s word initiates self-examination. His glory, outside the self, mediated by the Word, comes to shine divine light into the soul through his revelation in Scripture and in Christ, giving clarity within.
Second, Christian self-examination is a relational, collaborative activity, in which the Christian grows in self-awareness and dependence on God.
Finally, self-examination is normed by God. We are accountable to our Lord and friend. This fact might stifle self-examination, except for the fact that he has removed all shame and guilt on the cross. So the believer has nothing to fear in self-exploration. Through the believer’s meditative reception of God’s word in communion with him in Christ, God intends to recreate the Christian mind and heart and life.
