Some Christians are suspicious of an ‘intellectual’ approach to their faith.  If by that they mean ‘merely intellectual’, then of course that would a terrible thing, and would tend to undermine, rather than build up, the true knowledge, love and service of God.

But we are called to worship God with our whole selves, and that includes our minds.

In Your Mind Matters, John Stott sets out four reasons why Christians should use their minds.  These are based on the doctrines of creation, revelation, redemption and judgement.

First, God created humanity with a capacity to think. It is this factor that distinguishes us from other animals (cf. Pss. 32:9; 73:22).  True, human reason is corrupted by sin, but this is no reason to retreat from reason, any more than the corruption of our affections and wills lead us to retreat from feelings and decision-making.  We are still required to understand the world around us (Isa. 1:18; Matt. 16:1–4; Luke 12:54–57).

Second, God’s revelation in nature and Scripture requires us to think.  Both nature and Scripture are intelligible, and God has given us minds with which to explore them.  Hence the possibility of both science and theology, as complementary (and not competing) sources of information.

Third, salvation is applied through a proclamation of the gospel to the mind.  The gospel is good news; it is a message that presupposes a mind which can understand it.  This is not negated by Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 1:21 (‘For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe’)  The contrast here is not bettween a rational and an irrational presentation, but between human wisdom (which is blinded by pride) and divine revelation (presented in the rational words of the gospel).  The gospel, in fact, not only addresses the mind: it renews the minds (Eph. 4:23; Col. 3:10).   The spiritual person possesses ‘the mind of Christ’ (1 Cor. 2:15–16).

Fourth, the doctrine of judgment assumes the importance of the mind. It is clear that God will judge us by our response (or lack of response) to his revelation.  God’s judgement falls on those who fail to listen to his revelation  (Jer. 7:25–26; 11:4, 7–8; 25:3–4; 32:33; 44:4–5).  Paul concludes that everyone is guilty because everyone has received God’s revelation to some extent and in some form (Romans 1-2).  Jesus said that ‘The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has a judge; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day’ (John 12:48).

It is vital, then, that we set ourselves to acquire knowledge and wisdom, (Prov. 1:22; 3:13–15; Isa. 5:13; Jer. 4:22; Hos. 4:6; 1 Cor. 2:6; 3:1–2; Heb. 5:11–6:3; 2 Pet. 1:5). We can see now why so many of Paul’s prayers focus on growth in knowledge (Eph. 1:17–19; 3:14–19; Phil. 1:9–11; Col. 1:9–10).

Anti-intellectualism has no place in the Christian life.  God has created us rational beings, and to refuse to think is to deny the humanity he has given us.  God has spoken to us, and we are to listen to his words.  God has renewed out minds through Christ, and we are to out-work that renewal thoughtfully and intelligently.  God will judge us by his word, and we do well to build our house upon this rock.

(See also Chester, Stott on the Christian Life, ch. 2)