(This article is featured on https://truthdefended.org/)
A Christian is certainly not smarter than a non-Christian, but he has been given a God-given expansion of the physical mind. Recently, I came across several studies of the human mind in connection with how a person has the ability to believe something in the mind, and these scans and studies discovered something fascinating: The part of the brain that contains the capacity for “faith” is in all people, but the space for “faith” is enlarged in people of faith.[i] All people have faith. Everyone believes in something or someone. The cortical mantle in the brain is the region that thickens in correlation with increased faith. Everyone has cortical mantle regions in their brain, and those who practice religious faith have increased cortical mantle volume.
The idea that God “enlarges” or expands the mind and heart of a believer is a recurring theme in the Bible, often associated with receiving divine wisdom, understanding, and liberation from emotional or mental constraints.
While the Bible uses various terms for the “mind”—including heart, soul, and spirit—there are several key passages that speak directly to this expansion.
- Expansion of Understanding: In 1 Kings 4:29, it is noted that “God gave Solomon wisdom and very great insight, and a breadth of understanding as measureless as the sand on the seashore.” This suggests a literal widening of the mental capacity to grasp complex truths.
- The Enlarged Heart: In Psalm 119:32, the Psalmist writes, “I run in the path of your commands, for you have enlarged my heart” (often translated in older versions as “set my heart at liberty”). In Hebrew understanding and thought, the “heart” was considered the seat of the mind and intellect; thus, an enlarged heart implies a mind freed from narrowness or fear to better understand God and God’s will.
- Renewal of the Mind: A central New Testament concept is found in Romans 12:2, which urges believers to “be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” This implies a structural shift in how a person thinks, moving from worldly patterns to a higher, divine perspective.
- The “Mind of Christ”: In 1 Corinthians 2:16, Paul suggests that believers have access to a higher level of consciousness, stating, “But we have the mind of Christ.” This is presented as an expansion beyond human logic into spiritual discernment.
A Bible Intersection with Science
Interestingly, modern research (as seen in the Global Flourishing Study and studies by researchers like Dr. Lisa Miller and Dr. Harold Koenig) explores how spirituality and religious practice may correlate with physical changes in the brain.
For example, some structural MRI studies suggest that individuals who place high importance on religion or spirituality exhibit thicker cortical mantles in certain brain regions. 1 From a theological perspective, a believer might view this “thickening” or strengthening as a physical manifestation of God “enlarging” their capacity for resilience and reflection. Certainly, practicing moments of “Selah,” as the Psalms encourage, creates an opportunity for the mind to find peace, hope, relaxation, and a deeper connection with the Lord.
Not only is the human brain affected by “Faith,” but the rest of the body is also impacted in a positive way. Studies at Duke and the University of Iowa demonstrate that the immune system is stronger among those who regularly practice their religious faith.
- Humans all have a “cancer suppressor gene,” and those who practice their religion faithfully activate this suppressor gene more in their system, resulting in less cancer and better recovery if cancer develops.[ii]
- There is less cardiovascular disease, diastolic hypertension, and high blood pressure for those practicing their faith.[iii]
- Attending church services more than once a week greatly reduces the likelihood of experiencing a stroke.[iv]
- People who practice daily prayer live about 6 years longer than those who do not pray.[v]
- Those who pray for others have a 20 percent higher survival rate.[vi]
- Those who pray (not merely meditate) have much higher memory capacity, memory retention, and fewer dementia problems.[vii]
Today is a great day to initiate purposeful spiritual formation and faith practices. Living out the Christian faith impacts your brain, your health, your life expectancy, your relationships with others, your ability to work, your financial status, and so much more. Be encouraged to study the Bible, pray daily, and walk genuinely with God. In other words, “add to your faith” like Peter speaks of in 2 Peter 1.
“Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.” (2 Peter 1:4–9)
[i] https://globalflourishingstudy.com/
[ii] https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6503223/
[iii] https://scholars.duke.edu/publication/781199
[iv] https://academic.oup.com/aje/issue/136/7
[v] https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10943-023-01870-z
[vii] https://oasis.library.unlv.edu/nursing_fac_articles/307/
EDC Christian 