Tuesday: Mind Implant or Mind Surgery?
Daily Lesson for Tuesday 20th of January 2026
An increasing number of companies around the world are working on technology that combines the processing power of computers with the human brain. In other words, by connecting minds to computers, scientists hope to impact our thoughts through the computers. Although implant use with the human brain may promise positive results, which include helping to manage epilepsy, depression, and Parkinson’s disease, more sinister uses are not difficult to imagine. Mind control cannot be far away.
In some ways, it’s already here. Our mind is like a computer, only far superior. The constant information flow, to which we are daily exposed, “programs” our mind, conditions our thoughts, and guides our actions.
Image © Kevin Carden at Goodsalt.com
When we immerse ourselves in media, the worldly way people think stamps its impression on our minds, and we begin thinking the same way. It’s as if other people’s minds were implanted or melded into ours.
We are, like Jesus, to be “spiritually minded” (Romans 8:6). “No one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God,” which Paul contrasts with “the spirit of the world” (1 Corinthians 2:11-12, NKJV). Who is our teacher? And what are we learning?
Read Philippians 2:5. What do you think it means to have the “mind” of Christ?
Ultimately, we can change our mind, but we can’t change our heart; only God can. The Holy Spirit needs to perform heart surgery on us, wielding the “sword of the Spirit” (Ephesians 6:17), the “living and powerful” Word of God, “piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12, NKJV). Only through the Holy Spirit can we really know ourselves because, by nature, our own heart deceives us (Jeremiah 17:9). The Hebrew word for “deceitful” (‘aqov) refers to bumpy ground that trips us up; by extension, it means thoughts that are tortuous, twisted, and crooked. We must be transformed by the “renewing” of our mind in order that we may “prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God” (Romans 12:2, NKJV).
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Why is it so important that we follow what Paul tells us here: “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things” (Philippians 4:8, NKJV)? |
George Orwell’s novel, “Nineteen Eighty-four” was required reading for my high school education in the early 1960s. I reread it again in 1984 just to see how it matched up with reality. It was scaringly accurate. So much of what he said about how our minds are controlled by the environment that is often engineered around us; The media we watch, the entertainment we participate in, the advertising we are saturated with, even the language we use. What was true in 1984 is even more so today. Listen analytically to any news broadcast for a few minutes. More than at any other time in history we are the product of the social, commercial, political world around us that it is hard for us to determine whether we are looking at facts or our minds are being manipulated into thinking we are looking at facts. We like to think we make free choices but all too often we are being manipulated into thinking we are making free choices.
When Paul says, “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:” Phil 2:5, he is not talking about mind control but rather mind liberation. Jesus wants us to be free of control, able to function in the way we were originally intended. And just to be clear this is not some sort of mind-emptying mystical experience that became popular in Christian circles a few years ago. It comes with clear instructions.
This is not mind control. It is mind renewal.
What we need is not a mind implant or a mind surgery but a new heart and a new spirit. A mind implant and a mind surgery are all kinds of “panel beating”, but what we really need is a new heart and new spirit.
“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.”</b< (Ezekiel 36:26, NIV).
No matter how good a panel beater is, the car will never become new. God has creative power to create in us a new heart. Hearts that are panel beaten will not survive the heat generated by sin. David knew the intensity of the heat when he prayed, “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.” (Psalm 51:10). Implants and surgeries will not survive the intense heat from sin. We must become new creation to receive a new heart. “If anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” (2 Corinthians 5:17). The “new heart” is realised through union with Christ. This is the work of the Holy Spirit and not human effort. No amount of improvement can do. Mere change of habits or just a change of desires will make our hearts new. A new heart is a miracle performed by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit and not behavioural pane beating. It a spiritual renewal and not behavioural modification.
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.” (Matthew 5:8)
Amen.
Thank you for the comment that, “….new heart is realised through union with Christ. This is the work of the Holy Spirit and not human effort. No amount of improvement can do. …..A new heart is a miracle performed by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit and not behavioural pane beating. It a spiritual renewal and not behavioural modification.”
In 1 Corinthians 3:16 the bible says, “Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?” When the Holy Spirit lives in us, he transforms us into someone who behaves like Christ as is stated in Philippians 2:5
Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus. However, for this to happen, we have to hunger and thirst for it as Jesus says in Matt 5:6. Paul begs or “beseechs” us to do in Romans 12:1,2. We will only hunger for this if we believe that God is anxious to do this for and in us. Theoretical knowledge about this process will not do it.
I think the author meant to make a distinction between “a new heart” implanted by God and “mind surgery” indicating a reformation of behavior that would be humanly possible. That is in line with your comment that
Is salvation an intellectual effort that has a beginning and an end in the mind, or does it extend to the heart? The Bible teaches in Jeremiah 17:9 that the human heart is deceitful above all things. As a result, many times we end up feeling proud and arrogant in our own achievements and conquests rather than acknowledging God and His work in our lives. We often express false humility instead of willingly acknowledging the genuine gifts and skills that God has given us. At times, we feel self-righteous compared to those we consider more sinful.
Our hearts have many a time sought to hide pain, struggles, and addictions behind religious practices, or at best, we have denied our brokenness and vulnerability before others. Yet we cannot hide any of these things from God. Essentially, our hearts have driven us to do things for God rather than to be with God.Our hearts are darkened in their understanding of God, and they have alienated us from the life God desires for us because of the hardness of the human heart
The book of Ephesians 4:18, Paul points to different layers of the problem: darkened understanding, alienation, ignorance, and hardness of heart. This means that the root problem is not ignorance. There is something beneath ignorance that makes our hearts culpable. Ignorance may imprison us in darkness, but hardness of heart is the deeper issue.
Hardness of heart is not primarily an intellectual problem; it is a problem of desire. It is a stiff-necked resistance to God’s will, rooted in our love for independence from Him. We naturally resist the idea of living under the absolute authority of God. We cherish autonomy, self-sufficiency, and self-direction, which often lead to self-exaltation. As a result, our hearts treat dependence on God as something alien and foreign.
Since pride and hardness of heart are the root problems, the true remedy is a God-given change of heart marked by humility. Psalm 25:9 says, “He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble his way.” Therefore, we ask God to break our hardness, replace our pride with humility, and enable us to truly see Him—to see His ways and His works as they truly are. When God changes our hearts, our hearts will serve Him rather than serve ourselves and our desires.
Philippians 4:8 is an invitation to positivity. God longs for clear minds; this way, we can present ourselves not only as a rational living sacrifice, but also as open to the voice of the Holy Spirit. By understanding how the human body works, we can see how anything that enters it can influence the mind and hinder the power of our decisions! God gave us instructions on what to feed the brain, and not only are we responsible for what we put into ourselves, but also for what we influence others to put into themselves.
The miracle of a new heart is fully and completely God’s miracle as we submit our lives to Him. However it is absolutely critical that the discussion not end at this point. In fact whilst typing this response I stopped and viewed Wednesday’s and Thursday’s study of the Lesson to see if the Authors had picked up my trend of thought. The point is this no miracle of the New Birth is complete without the process of abiding in Christ. It is like presenting your child with a brand new car , fully liscened and ready for the road and your child has not yet learned to drive. To my understanding any discussion on the miracle of the new birth is incomplete without a discussion on the “maintainance of that miracle” which is abiding in Christ.
Medical research is beginning to show us that the more we allow our minds to be controlled by worldly others (social media algorithms, news feeds, etc.), the more empty and depressed we feel. Our minds and hearts were designed to receive communication from and connection to the Almighty. Feeding the brain/heart content from this world is akin to junk food – the more you consume, the more your liver function and waistline will show the effect. This is why Paul counsels us to keep our minds trained on things we were intended to – messages from above. And when you do so, have you also noticed that the messaging from the world does turn “strangely dim?”
I have seen reports of studies of the effect of “social media” (e.g. TikTok, Facebook, Instagram and others) that correlate directly with depression in young people.
But it is likely that the same effect is realized by adults and can also be produced by videos/movies through other channels. So “when we allow our minds to be controlled by worldly others (social media algorithms, news feeds, etc.), the more empty and depressed we feel.”
By contrast, spending time in God’s Word brings peace and a sense of purpose – the opposite of being “depressed.”
That means spending prayerful time in God’s Word directly, not just listening to sermons – not that listening to sermons is necessarily bad. But listening to sermons is like eating in a restaurant, rather than preparing our own meals from food as close to grown as possible. I have read repeatedly that research indicates that the difference between a nutritious diet and a poor diet depends on whether we prepare our own food or eat commercially prepared food.
So let’s prepare our own physical food and get our spiritual food directly from God’s Word!
I said once that Romans 8:26 stands alone, I apologize for that. To really understand the spirit with in us that comes from God, yes that spirit that was given us from God at birth, is though transformed by the Holy Spirit guiding us and encouraging us as we have daily relationship with God, working on our spirit. Our choice is not taken away, as God is not a mind controller, choose ye this day whom ye will serve, as for me and my house we will serve the Lord. Joshua 24:15. Deuteronomy 30:19. The Holy Spirit works for us, as long as we don’t shun the Holy Spirit.
Titus 3:4-7.
In today lesson and with
Omwenga’s text, confirming the author, with Ezekiel 11:19-20, yes God will take over control of or lives within us if we let Him. Would not you prefer God at the helm of our lives rather than letting us go the way to perdition?
Come, Holy Spirit, I need you
Come, sweet Spirit, I pray
Come in your strength and your power
Come in your own gentle way
Come as a rest to the weary
Come as a balm to the sore
Come, Lord, as strength to my weakness
Fill me with joy evermore.
Come like a spring in the desert
Come to the withered of soul
Lord, let your sweet healing power
Touch me and make me whole
By the Heritage Singers
John I do believe you also had Romans 8:16 in mind.
We need to engage our minds with Godly and noble thoughts so as to produce Godly and noble character. We are what we think and understand. We act what we think; we interact with the world by what we think and believe. Paul’s admonishment in Phil.4:8 is relevant because it provides us with the things we need to do to keep our minds pure. Let me also add that to know the mind of God, we must draw closer to Him in personal prayer and personal Bible reading.
Ohh the miraculous power emanating from the Word of God and received by those willing to have an ‘eye to see’ and an ‘ear to hear’! The inspiration of the Holy Spirit is directly received into our heart – able to impress us to want to ‘see’ and ‘hear’ more of God’s ‘Good News’ when falling on ‘good’ ground! Matthew 13.
The ‘good ground’ – ‘Hearing and seeing’ – ‘experiencing life through the lens provided by the Holy Spirit’ – is essential for us to understand the spiritual side/impact/aspect contained in God’s Word applicable to our life: “so proving what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” Rom.12:2.
To keep from becoming discouraged, we ought to choose carefully what we ‘dwell’ on. Paul directs us to what will provide stability to our heart and mind in this ever-changing world – Phil.4:8.
Yes, God’s ‘Good’ is with us always. To assure us of His protection, we are called to ‘love Him fervently with all our heart, soul, and mind‘ – focusing singularily on Him in all that we feel, endeavour, and think. God help us to remain faithful in being His conduit of ‘Good’ to this world! Matt.22:37.
First of all, lest anyone misunderstand, I am not arguing that we should consume media indiscriminately. There are lots of things that are best stayed away from. However, given the context of Philippians 2:5, the shot at the media was very unnecessary. The mind of Christ that Paul was talking about was the servant orienation of Jesus that led Him to the cross.
If being exposed something changes your mind, Jesus would have sinned when He came to this earth. He was exposed to all sorts of evil, but He perceived everything through His connection to His Father and the connection protected Him. I think the same can be true for us. We can see things with God’s eyes and we will then not be drawn to sin even if we’re in the midst of it.
Certainly media can be destructive, but I actually think that the problem starts in our heart. We don’t love spiritual things and so we turn to entertainment that’s not good and it pulls us even more away from God.
I have found that as I’ve grown closer to God, some of the tv shows etc. I once found entertaining are not anymore. They actually turn me off rather than pull me in. I wouldn’t choose to watch them, but if I was in a situation where I “had to”, I don’t think they would have that much influence. Same with books. As I have worked in distance learning as a teacher most of my career, I have often been given English courses where the novels or films were chosen for me. To teach them, I have to be familar with them. So I read/watch them. Some are good quality texts I would choose myself. Some are less so. But I read/watch with my Christian perspective and compare them to what I believe. I honestly don’t think I have been contaminated by them, though I’m sure many would argue otherwise.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts, Christina. However, while I agree with the thrust of your comment, your remark that “he shot at the media was very unnecessary” suggests that you may not have read the lesson for the day carefully. I think you referenced this statement:
I don’t believe you disagree with that, if you remember the introductory clause, “When we immerse ourselves in media.” Another part of your comment reinforces my belief, since you wrote, “I have found that as I’ve grown closer to God, some of the tv shows etc. I once found entertaining are not anymore. They actually turn me off rather than pull me in.” That sounds to me as though you are not “immersing yourself” but are choosing what you allow into your mind whenever you have that choice.
I believe the statement is accurate. I think we need to consider carefully what we allow into our minds and how much of “media” we allow to occupy space in our minds. Immersing ourselves in media – whether secular or religious – is a bad idea for many reasons.
I write this from the perspective of having a personal battle on this front. I want to stay informed, but how much does it take to stay informed? Now that I think of it, I should probably stick to a curated list of text sources, rather than videos, which make a greater impact on the mind.
I need to spend more time in the Word of God to allow Jesus to let His mind be in me!
A fair point for sure – immmersing yourself with media isn’t healthy even if what you consume is fairly good. I probably reacted a little too strongly. I would definitely not recommend consuming many things that are out there. At the same time, I think media does get a bad rap in the church a lot and I’m not always sure that is fair. At its core, movies and television and so on are just one more way of communicating. They can be evil, but they are only as evil as their creators. I think it is easy for us to demonize certain things just because they once didn’t exist.
I still feel at its core it’s a heart issue and what’s inside is actually more dangerous than what’s outside.
One other comment I must make, regarding the frequently quoted Jeremiah 17:9 regarding the heart being deceitful.
We seem to assume that when the Bible says heart it means it in the same way that we understand it. When we say heart, we mean emotions. However my understanding from various sources I’ve read is that the Hebrews really were meaning the mind when they talked about the heart. The body part that they connected to emotions was the bowels. The heart actually controlled virtually everything in their thinking.
So the Bible doesn’t actually distinguish between mind and heart in the way that we do. Our mind is just as deceitful as our heart and we can’t actually change it for ourselves. We can change our mind on situations or issues, but that is a different matter.