Not unhinged . . .
Hinges are marvellous creations. I bet you do not spend hours of your life meditating on how influential they are for your day (I’d be somewhat worried if you did…), but let me plant a thought in your head about them.
They are small, but it is them that determine which direction the much larger door opens. You know this when the hinge has been put the wrong way around, and the door opens in an awkward direction—our flat in Hungary has one of these “features”. Don’t worry, I’m not that interested in doors and hinges, and I’m not about to convert you to doorology or hingeology either (yes: I made these words up).
I am merely going to point out here that our worldview is like a hinge for the information we receive. For instance: you may be standing before the mighty door of the doctrine of the Trinity, but the small hinge of rationalism in your head turns it, and the result is: “Nonsense!” But if you are a Christian, the hinge is the right way around, and the door is turned, and you think—sing!—: “Holy, holy, holy…God in three Persons, blessed Trinity!”
Same door, different hinge: one shuts you out of God’s presence, the other leads you into it. The Great Carpenter has fixed your world-view, and now you see Him the right way, as He is in truth.
Pray for the unbelievers around you, that God may grant them the same grace. But a word of warning: becoming a Christian doesn’t fix all your hinges, all at once. Our mind now is under the gracious influence of God, but the world, the flesh and the devil continue to exert their corruption right until we get glorified brains.
Which is why the famous verse in Romans 12:2 says: “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
Be on your guard, check your hinges daily, that the Word might be received with faith by your heart.
Calix
Pastoral Elder
May 2022
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