Gird Your Loins!

In 1 Peter 1:13, the writer says, “Therefore, having girded the loins of your mind…”  What a strange phrase!  “Gird your loins”?  What does it mean?  Not much to modern Anglophones, apparently, for no mainstream modern translations say that.  “Prepare your minds for action” is the translation of choice for most.  The NIV has “with minds that are alert….”  But preparing for action and being alert is not quite the same as girding your loins.

This is a clothing metaphor—one of many in the New Testament—and it means to gather up your loose clothing and tie it up with a belt.  Why?  Because you’re about to engage in an activity—running, heavy lifting, or the like—and loose, heavy clothing will simply impede.  So, girding the loins becomes a metaphor for getting ready for action; it’s just about the same thing.  But to translate “gird your loins” as “get ready for action” is a bit too indirect for me.  I prefer the metaphor, even if it has to be explained a bit.  I like to translate it, “roll up your sleeves.”

But here’s my point.  Roll up the sleeves of what?  Gird the loins of what?  Peter says, your mind.  Get your mind ready for action.  This is worth dwelling on for a moment.

The Christian life of faith and practice is not for the faint of heart and mind.  For Peter, and for the recipients of his letter, the Christian life is serious business.  It is not for sleepwalking.  It is a calling to get smart, to be smart, to be wise.  Yes, it also involves practice—as he will go on to say, the practice of holiness and brotherly love (1 Pet. 1:15–16, 22–23).  But it starts with the mind.  The Christian life may be more than, but it is certainly not less than, the life of the mind.

The Center for Christian Studies remains committed to fostering the life of the Christian mind, minds devoted to Christ, minds devoted to a better understanding and practice of the Christian faith.  Our activities so far this year prove our commitment to this goal.

CCS has just released our latest video series, “Personalities, Publications, and Politics in the History of Churches of Christ,” presented by John Young.  As always, you can view excerpts from these videos on our YouTube channel.  See pricing here, and if you want your church leaders to preview the videos, subscriptions come with a free 7-day trial.  And if you’re really into Restoration Movement theology, we have also released a longer-form series called, “A Brief History of the American Restoration Movement,” which I taught via Zoom.  It is free to the public. Also, make sure to check out our featured video of the week, which offers an entire episode of one of our courses.

Our newest book is a “best of” the old journal, Christian Studies.  It is called, A Voice in the Wilderness: An Anthology in Memory of Michael and Libby Weed.  Collectively, these essays showcase a vision for the church and an approach to theological education characteristic of the Austin school of thought in Churches of Christ.  You can read all about the book here, and purchase it through Amazon in paperback or Kindle.

Subscriptions to the Journal of Christian Studies are now available in digital format.  All subscribers have digital access to the entire archives of JCS and new issues as they drop.  For only five dollars more, subscribers can also receive print copies the three new issues every year in their mailbox.  If you haven’t yet moved to the new model of digital subscription, please do so now. The digital edition of JCS 4/2 is now available on our JCS Online page for digital subscribers!

The Journal of Christian Studies continues to build on its strong and growing reputation.  The January issue was on Mission and the Global Church, and the May issue, just released, is on Restorationism, Sectarianism, and Ecumenism.  If you missed it, these and other back issues can be ordered from our website.  But be sure to subscribe to the journal so you won’t miss the upcoming issues on the Sermon on the Mount, Artificial Intelligence, and Sin and Repentance.

During seven weeks, from January to March, we conducted a successful live winter class called, “In Defense of Hope: Why Christianity Makes Sense.”  Five guest presenters joined me to speak about the various ways we can come to know God and the testimonies that point us to him.  We had 40 participants in the class.  I also spoke recently at an event hosted by the Wimberley Church of Christ: “Why the Bible Matters to Me.”  Be on the lookout for more announcements for upcoming live classes, seminar opportunities, and the annual CCS – First Things Lecture. 

Finally, we are able to gird the loins of the mind—prepare the intellect and the heart for Christian service—because of so many selfless donors who have caught the vision for equipping the people of God in their knowledge of the faith and in works of service. 

We have been blessed, but this is still only the beginning.  We want to increase our number of partners and supporters in this ministry.  In order to continue this growth and produce the best resources for thoughtful Christians, we humbly ask for your support for this ministry to churches here and around the world.  Please keep us in your prayers and consider giving—or continuing and expanding your gift—to the Center for Christian Studies.

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