To Take Our Thoughts Captive

Act of Worship

The Apostle Paul contends, “We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,” (2 Cor 10:5) in his second letter to the Church at Corinth. In context, Paul was defending his ministry against false prophets by highlighting the difference between worldly wisdom and the spiritual wisdom of the cross, which to humankind could seem illogical or even foolish (1 Cor 1:18). Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians seemingly doubles down on his argument against false prophets, which he initiates in 1 Corinthians, i.e. the Apostle feels he must further oppose worldly wisdom, which has infiltrated the church. Such a sentiment resonates with the church today, especially in the West.

Moreover, the key to Paul’s instructions is to take every thought captive to obey Christ. In other words, such an action is foundational to the battle waged against lofty (worldly) opinions. Without taking thoughts captive, it is impossible to defeat the enemy. The mind is a powerful tool and may either be utilized for good or for evil, which is why Paul says, in his letter to the Romans, that God’s people are transformed by the renewing of the mind (Rom 12:2). While the Bible teaches that the greatest commandment is to love God with the heart, soul, mind, and strength (Mark 12:30), the mind is crucial to obedience. If the heart is the seed or core of a person, the mind is the root; thus, how one cares for the mind impacts all other areas of life. What then does it mean to take one’s thoughts captive? I suggest three imperative:

1) fight for rule of the mind,

2) destroy the enemy’s attacks on the mind,

3) obey Christ.

All aspects then are rooted in the realization that worship is war; war is waged against the enemy when God’s people worship.