Ideas matter

I just finished reading "A mind for God" by James Emery White. The book was given to me by my mother-in-law. It's a great little book, and I highly recommend it. I am thankful to her for passing it along to Sarah and I. Among the many things White wrote about that struck me, a particular idea of his has come up in another book that I'm reading by Kent Hughes that is an exegesis of the pastorals (1st and 2nd Timothy and Titus). I also highly recommend this book. White is the president of Gordon-Conwell Theological seminary and Hughes pastors College Church at Wheaton. White's point: ideas have consequences. This may seem obvious to those of you who actually think, but I rarely take up serious thinking so the notion that ideas have consequences has really struck me lately. What we think matters. And it matters a great deal. Hughes draws the point out even more when he writes, "There is a dynamic connection between our doctrine and the way we live." So true. Then to top things off, my friend Jason recently posted about this idea as well. God is trying to tell me something. I'll get back to you when I figure it out. I can say that my framework of life has impacted my life so deeply that I cannot really jot it down here. I know this because I have gone from a life of hedonism to one where my purpose is to glorify God. My actions changed after the conversion, but this was merely a consequence of a shift in my ideas about life. A transformation, if you will. My marriage is an awesome example. Why am I married? Why are you married? What does it mean to be married? Where is your marriage headed? How do you view your wife/husband? What is your role in marriage? If I did not have God's Word to shape the way I think about myself, the World, relationships, etc., I'd be lost in marriage. But instead, I have a closeness and intimacy with my wife that I cannot describe. It's unparalleled. Don't get me wrong, being married can be very difficult, but it's well worth it. And especially worth it if you have the right idea about marriage. In short, ideas have consequences. Ok, time for dinner.....