Spiritual-Mindedness

Spiritual-Mindedness is John Owen's extended meditation on Romans 8:6: "To be spiritually minded is life and peace." Owen explores what it means to have one's mind set on heavenly things rather than earthly, examining this spiritual disposition from multiple angles. The result is one of the most thorough treatments of this vital subject in Christian literature.

Owen begins by establishing the fundamental contrast between carnal and spiritual mindedness. The carnal mind is oriented toward earthly things—wealth, pleasure, reputation, security in this world. The spiritual mind is oriented toward God, Christ, and eternal realities. This orientation is not merely a matter of occasional thoughts but of the habitual bent and disposition of the mind.

The treatise examines how spiritual-mindedness manifests itself. Owen explores the role of spiritual affections—love for God, delight in His presence, desire for holiness—in shaping our thought life. He shows how truly spiritual people find their greatest satisfaction in communion with God and their deepest concerns in spiritual matters.

Owen addresses the obstacles to spiritual-mindedness with characteristic thoroughness. The world constantly presses its concerns upon us, seeking to fill our minds with temporal anxieties. Indwelling sin works to turn our thoughts toward forbidden pleasures. Even legitimate earthly duties can crowd out meditation on heavenly things if we are not vigilant.

The work provides practical guidance for cultivating spiritual-mindedness. Owen discusses the importance of meditation, the role of affliction in weaning us from the world, the necessity of watching our thoughts, and the help available through the Holy Spirit. He is realistic about the difficulty while encouraging about the possibility of growth.

For modern readers drowning in distractions, Owen's treatment of spiritual-mindedness is remarkably relevant. The basic challenge he addresses—maintaining focus on eternal realities while living in a world that demands attention to temporal things—has only intensified. His careful analysis of how the mind works and how it can be directed toward God offers wisdom desperately needed in our age of constant stimulation.