Whole Brained Christians

“How do I grow spiritually if growth is governed by the right brain?… The first step is to realize we do not grow the way we have been told.”  (The Other Half of the Church p. 23)

I have chosen the book “The Other Half of the Church” by Jim Wilder and Michel Hendricks for the first online discussion group offered by Jesus Expedition for fellow pilgrims. But the title is not what you might think. The “OTHER HALF” is about the other half of the human brain.

First, let me explain why a discussion group: I found after I completed 7 years of educational/professional training that I’m not longer as motivated to read even important books now that I have no real deadline and no one with whom to discuss them. My solution: start occasional discussion groups which will motivate me and others to delve into books (and adhere to weekly reading deadlines).

Second, why I chose to start with this book: So much of the way we make disciples in the modern church focuses on teaching doctrines, Bible study and prayer (all activities that are incredibly important but are dominated by the left brain). Without realizing it, we have scarcely given attention to the activities that actually transform character, many of which are dominated by the right brain. 

It is true that people need the Holy Spirit. That’s a given. But God has also entrusted making disciples to His church. We often do this through inviting people to corporate worship, and teaching them to spend time in Bible study and prayer. The hope is that this should reshape their worldview. And, if they are dedicated to Jesus, their cognoscente behaviors will begin to change in order to line up with this new worldview. Which is life-changing!

However, those of us who have been walking with both new and long-time believers closely, may notice that some people may begin to stagnate. Others never seem to show much transformation at all even though they have professed belief.

Hendrix and Wilder’s book explains why this might be and gives a few examples of how we can begin to engage the right brain which in turn is more likely to transform our pre-cognitive mind and character. I know from my own experience that what they write about is true because what they describe shaped me and many of my friends as new believers in our old Westbury Park Bible study (if you know, you know).

Here are a few excerpts from the first week’s reading if you have an interest in the book. And even if you are not attending the discussion group, the book may be helpful to you if you are actively helping other’s on their spiritual journey.

“God designed our left brain to understand important aspects of our Christian beliefs. Without truth we would be lost. Our beliefs and doctrine (formulated in the left brained) are created from knowing the relational love of God (formulated in the right brain). The right brain is the fast track, and it leads the left brain.” p. 24

“Our right brain governs the whole range of relational life: who we love, our emotional reactions to our surroundings, our ability to calm ourselves, and our identity… and character formation. Don’t miss that. Character formation, which is a primary responsibility of the church, is governed by the right brain, not the left brain. If we want to grow and transform our character into the character of Jesus, we must involve activities that stimulate and develop the right brain.” p. 22

“Being a disciple of Jesus means reacting to the world, as he would react… But how do we train ourselves to spontaneously act, and think like Jesus if this happens faster than conscious thought?.” p. 23

social image photo credit: @aresbuddhi