J. P. Moreland's Love God With All Your Mind

I read the entirety of J. P. Moreland’s book Love God With All Your Mind. In the book Moreland tells the reader why Christians should be able to think properly. In the first section the reader discovers how the mind plays a role in their spiritual life. On page 16, Moreland states that the anti intellectualism movement started as a result of the Great Awakening. The Great Awakening put a high emphasis on emotions and did not press the importance of knowledge of God and scripture. The next chapter focuses solely on scripture that supports his argument. Chapter 3, the last chapter in the first section, Moreland gives us his idea of the soul. He even gives the reader five states of the soul which are: a sensation, a thought, a belief, a desire,

and an act of will (pgs. 82-83).       
The next section of the book is entitled “How to Develop a Mature Christian Mind.” Moreland describes the state of anti intellectualism as the empty self. On page 107, the author states that the empty self could be a hinderance to the church. In chapter 5, the question of how to learn to think more clearly is answered. He tells the reader that they need to organize their life that intellect develops from the way they live (pg. 120). The reader then learns a few basics of logic to help them in starting their journey of intellectualism.    
Chapters six through nine are primarily about apologetics, worship, and vocation.

Moreland presents many examples of the use of apologetics in scripture like Paul using reason is Acts 14 (pg. 149). Chapters seven and eight tackle the way a Christian can defend their faith and gives arguments to support Christianity. In chapter 9, Moreland gives the reader evidence of Jesus. In the final chapter of the book the author challenges pastors and church leaders to do a better job at promoting intellectualism.         I really enjoyed this book. Moreland gave a lot of really valid reasons on why it is important that Christians should think properly. Coming from an Assemblies of God background I can definitely agree with Moreland that there are lots of Christians who are more concerned with emotion then with knowledge. Though I do think that there are lots of people who have become to grow very frustrated with that and are trying to push intellectualism. I also agree with Moreland’s statement in Chapter four about the only way we will actually pursue intellectualism is if we deny ourselves and pursue to know more about theology (pgs. 99-100). The reason a lot of Christians do not go after intellectualism is because they do not want to take the time to research and go after questions they have. The author goes on to give a quick lesson in logic, but I found it to be more confusing than

helpful.    
I really liked how in chapters seven through nine Moreland gives the reader legitimate ways to defend their faith and evidence for the Christian faith. I find it really intriguing that atheists who dig more and more into Christianity eventually end up becoming Christians and I believe that is because the evidence overwhelmingly points to God. The only thing that I did not agree with Moreland about would be in the last chapter when he states that churches should get rid of senior pastors and have them run primarily by the elders. I do not think doing that would necessarily help reagin intellectualism in the church. I feel that for the younger generation this would just push them away from the church and further away from intellectualism.
I would most definitely suggest this book to any pastor. I think it is very important that people know what they believe and why. This book could help pastors in facilitating the conversation of intellectualism in today’s church and culture.