The Brain vs The Mind - The Truth Shall Set You Free

The Brain vs The Mind In The Loss of Memory/Processing Abilities

The intent of this article is to expose in the light of God’s holy word a very present example of Satan’s false system of incessant lies related to the relationship, if any, between the brain and the mind and what it reveals about memory related issues in the elderly segment of American society today – April, 2024.

In I Corinthians 2:14 Paul stated an eternal truth when he wrote “But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised.”. It behooves us as God’s beloved children, desiring for lost men to come to the truth, to be mindful always of the fact that no lost individual is in any way able to “accept” and spiritually understand any proclamation of God’s truth. Herein the Holy Spirit, thru Paul’s pen, makes it clear why in America today there are innumerable lost psychologists and psychiatrists, doctors and educators who are desperate to conceive and apply their own explanations for, what amounts to, explaining away the reality of mans sinful, hateful rebellion against God as born out by his language and behavior. In like manner, there is also in America today a preponderance of social gospel preachers and theologians who are more than ready and willingly to embrace these lies.

Satan is presently (4/24), as he has since the revelation in Genesis 3:1-6, intensifying his evil, incessant obsession of attempting to malign and distort the Holy character of God, His amazing created order, and the authority of His Holy Word (Psalm 19:7-11; 50:21; Isaiah 44:6; 55:8).

Genesis 3:1-6: 1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, “Indeed, has God said, ‘You shall not eat from any tree of the garden’?” 2 The woman said to the serpent, “From the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat; 3 but from the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat from it or touch it, or you will die.’ ” 4 The serpent said to the woman, “You surely will not die! 5 “For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” 6 When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate.

Psalm 19:7-11: 7 The law of the Lord is perfect, restoring the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. 8 The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes. 9 The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the judgments of the Lord are true; they are righteous altogether. 10 They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb. 11 Moreover, by them Your servant is warned; in keeping them there is great reward.

Psalm 50:21b: 21b……You thought that I was just like you; I will reprove you and state the case in order before your eyes.

Isaiah 44:6: 6 “Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts: ‘ I am the first and I am the last, and there is no God besides Me……..55:8: 8 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord.

The case in point in this article is focused on his present greatly intensified saturation of the culture (America specifically) with the idea that the functions of the human mind are ordered and controlled by the brain, or to put it another way, that the brain and the mind are synonymous being “two sides of the same coin”. He’s doing all he can to convince the lost world – individuals, doctors, educators, psychologists, psychiatrists, liberal pastors and theologians and their followers – that the human “brain” is indeed synonymous with the human, rational “mind” that God created in Adam on day six of His glorious Creative work and that He continues to create in each life that is conceived each day. Satan is presently saturating every worldly source of information with this lie – Facebook, Tik-Tok, Twitter, the news media, the internet, hard copy magazines, newspapers, public education, pharmaceutical ads and TV commercials, etc. As is his immutably evil intent, he is masterfully and subtly doing so, primarily as a diversionary tactic to further lull lost man (Romans 8:7-8) and Biblically ignorant, naive, immature believers (Hebrews 5:12-13) into focusing on the brain, so as to continue to provide them with an ongoing basis, by blaming the brain, for absolving themselves of all accountability for their sinful disobedience and rebellion against God.

Romans 8:7-8: 7 because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, 8 and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

Hebrews 5:12-13: 12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food. 13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant.

By rationalizing that the organic organ in their head, namely their brain, is the cause of all their problems and difficulties, they can conveniently absolve themselves of all accountability for their thoughts, attitudes, beliefs and behavior. And, as typically he does, Satan appeals to the flesh by prompting lost “experts” to label it all as a “disease”, thus making what is in reality a moral, spiritual issue of the heart a supposed medical issue to be treated with drugs and humanistic, atheistic therapy (Luke 6:39-40). The even sadder fact is that many professing Bible believing, Bible preaching pastors and their congregations have bought and continue to buy this lie, if in no other way but that they, clearly with no discernment, embrace and verbalize the language of those perpetrating the lie. In doing so they deny the truth of Psalm 139:13-16.

Luke 6:39-40: 39 And He also spoke a parable to them: “A blind man cannot guide a blind man, can he? Will they not both fall into a pit? 40 “A pupil is not above his teacher; but everyone, after he has been fully trained, will be like his teacher.

Psalm 139:13-16: 13 For you formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother’s womb.

14 I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; wonderful are Your works. And my soul knows it very well. 15 My frame was not hidden from You. When I was made in secret, and skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth; 16 Your eyes have seen my unformed substance; and in Your book were all written the days that were ordained for me, when as yet there was not one of them.

The fact is, the brain is nothing more than one of a multitude of physical organs created by God (Genesis 1:26-27) to sustain mans physical body and life. As with every other physical organ of the body, the brain is destined to decay (II Corinthians 4:16: 16 Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day.) and return “to the dust” that it came from (Genesis 2:7: 7 Then the Lord God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being; 3:19: 19 By the sweat of your face You will eat bread, till you return to the ground, because from it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return.”).Consider a few of the organs God created and how they contribute to sustaining, in His Sovereign providential order, the lives of every man and woman in every generation of human history:

The kidneys – the kidneys process waste

The lungs – the lungs enable breathing; the oxygenizing of the blood which affects proper heart function

The nervous system – the nervous system transmits signals from the brain to the various internal organs of the body, (e.g., controls the ability to move, breathe, see, hear; it is comprised of the brain, the spinal cord, and the nerves)

The brain – the brain is the control center directing the multiple functions of the nervous system and all the life sustaining organs and systems associated with those processes

The circulatory system – the circulatory system controls the life sustaining flow of the blood throughout the body

The heart – the heart sustains all of the above; if the heart stops, they all stop – human, physical organic life ceases.

The human body, as created by God consists of eleven major organ systems comprising 78 total organs. The diversity and complexity of the life sustaining workings of these organs and the 11 systems they comprise is beyond the finite mind of man to ever fully comprehend or explain.

Having now established that the brain is one of 78 physical, organic, decaying organs of the body, contrary to popular, very subjective psychological, medical, academic, scripture rejecting opinion, it is accurate to state that there is no valid basis for declaring the mind to be synonymous with the brain.

Colossians 2:8: 8 See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ.

Just as the facts reveal the brain to be a physical, decaying organ, the Facts of Scripture clearly reveal that the mind of man is non physical, non organic and exists for eternity. Suffice it to say, the mind is not in any way dependent on the brain to function as God created it to – rationally, abstractly (intelligible language), discerningly, lovingly, wisely, or eternally:

Proverbs 2:2-6: 2 Make your ear attentive to wisdom, incline your heart to understanding; 3 for if you cry for discernment, lift your voice for understanding; 4 if you seek her as silver and search for her as for hidden treasures; 5 then you will discern the fear of the Lord and discover the knowledge of God. 6 For the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.

As evidence of this truth, to love as God commands, as repeatedly revealed in Scripture, is a heart and mind process and practice, not a “brain” function (I Cor. 13:4-8a; Philippians 2:3-4).

I Corinthians 13:4-8a: 4 Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, 5 does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, 6 does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8 Love never fails;

Philippians 2:3-4: 3 Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; 4 do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.

Be ever mindful, dear reader, of the fact that the brain has absolutely no ability to rationally process multiple facts and then draw logical conclusions. Only the mind, as designed and created by God, has this ability. This ability to reason and draw rational logical, morally accurate conclusions (Romans 2:14-15) on which to base accurate decisions and actions is one of the most wondrous elements of what it means to have been/be created in the image of God (Genesis 1:26-27).

Romans 2:14-15: 14 For when Gentiles who do not have the Law do instinctively the things of the Law, these, not having the Law, are a law to themselves, 15 in that they show the work of the Law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them,

Genesis 1:26-27: 26 Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” 27 God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.

The remainder of this article will seek to show Biblically how human circumstances related to memory loss and cognitive information processing abilities are the result of God’s providentially ordered decaying of the brain, not the mind.

II Corinthians 4:16: 16 Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day.

Psalm 92:14: 14 They will still yield fruit in old age; they shall be full of sap and very green,

Isaiah 46:4: 4 Even to your old age I will be the same, and even to your graying years I will bear you! I have done it, and I will carry you; and I will bear you and I will deliver you.

These two functions of the brain, memory and information processing, in God’s foreordained, created providential superintending order are continuously in the process of decaying as revealed in the three passages above. The brain of every individual is decaying, but not all are manifesting that decaying by the loss of memory and information processing abilities. It is these two abilities that the worlds Freudian conceived “Medical Model” commonly refers to as dementia and Alzheimer’s.

The brain is the physical organ, conceived of and created by God, to serve as the control center of the multitude of physical involuntary and voluntary functions, processes, and abilities man is capable of, two of which are “memory” and “information processing”. Thus the decline in “mental” function (acuity, memory, cognitive processing, etc.) that is, by the worlds experts and their Medical Model, stated to be the result of supposed “disease” (Alzheimer’s) along with the natural physical decay of the body in general as it ages, is simply the manifestation of the malfunction of the brain due to normal, age induced decay. This manifestation of the decaying of the brain produces the decline and sometimes cessation of proper brain processing, thus creating the “seeming” loss of mental function. This loss of function is in actuality the result of brain decay, not mind decay.

In his book, “A Theology of Christian Counseling”, published in 1979, Dr. Jay Adams makes the following observation on page 117, footnote 48: “The word brain does not appear in either the OT or the NT. The brain must be understood as the part of the body that stores and sorts information (information processing/my note) for later retrieval (memory/my note), and that regulates bodily functions.” Suffice it to say, if the Holy Spirit relegated the “brain” to a place of such insignificance that He did not include a single reference to it in God’s Holy Word, it certainly has no influence or impact on the functioning of the “mind”. As will be noted later, God’s word, while never mentioning the brain, is replete with commands and instruction pertaining to the proper God ordained function and purpose of the mind.

The following is just one of a multitude of examples of the worlds attempt to explain the issue of the decline and sometimes loss of memory and information processing in elderly individuals. And, as you will note, lost men always, in the worlds way, being blindly conformed to the will of their father Satan (John 8:44), consistently access and implement Freud’s “Medical Model” explanation for every manifestation of the fallen, immoral, sin nature of man (Jeremiah 17:9-10; Romans 3:18,23).

Jeremiah 17:9-10: 9 “The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick; who can understand it? 10 “I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind, even to give to each man according to his ways, according to the results of his deeds.

Romans 3:18: 18 “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”…….3:23: 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…..”.

The following are excepts from statements made by French Professor Dr. Bruno Dubois, Director of the Institute of Memory and Alzheimer’s Disease (IMMA) at La Pitie-Salpetriere – Paris Hospital.

“If anyone is aware of their memory problems, they do not have Alzheimer’s.”

Dr. Dubois explains that it is common for people 60 years and older to complain about forgetting names of family members or not remembering where they put things. He states “The information is always in the brain, it is the processor that is lacking.” Dr. Dubois labels this as “anosognosia”, or “temporary forgetfulness”. I believe Dr. Dubois is correct when he states that the “information is always in the brain’ (remember Dr. Adams statement above). And, I believe his statement that “it is the processor that is lacking” is equally correct. However, the flaw in his theoretic, Medical Model explanation is that he proposes that the “mind” is the “processor”, when in God’s created order, the “processor” is equally in the brain in the function of cognitive information retrieval and processing. When the “processor” (the brain – memory/info processing) begins, in God’s Sovereign providential order, to decay, that decay is manifested in some individuals as memory loss and/or processing loss due to the decay of that function of the brain – the “mind” does not decay; the “brain” does. It is the failure of the brains “memory” and “cognitive information processing” functions that render the aging brain incapable of continuing to properly access and process the information supplied by the mind.

Dr. Dubois further states that “The more we complain about memory loss, the less likely we are to suffer from memory sickness.” First, don’t miss the totally subjective “less likely” diagnosis and secondly, don’t miss Dr. Dubois subtle transition from “memory loss” to “memory sickness”, a transition that he likely has absolutely no cognitive awareness of. In other words he believes his distinction between “memory loss” and “memory sickness” is a “factually proven” valid distinction, even though he offers no empirical, objective, scientifically researched, repeatable, thus proveable information to support his claim. This is an example of the ongoing subjective, “Medical Model”, psychological “jump” from proven “fact” to subjective “fiction” (mental illness, brain health) exercised by the worlds experts.

To clarify the above statement concerning the absence of any reference by Dr. Dubois to any empirical, objective, scientifically researched, repeatable, thus provable information consider what Empirical Evidence is and what is required to obtain it, so as to validate its results:

Empirical Evidence – the process: Empirical analysis requires evidence to prove any theory. The empirical process gathers observable data and sets out a repeatable process to produce verifiable results. Empirical analysis frequently will include statistical analysis to further support the findings. Empirically verifiable facts are based on evidence that can be measured and tested through experimentation and/or observation and can be replicated by other individuals. Empirical evidence is inherently more reliable because it represents real-life, first person observations and/or experiences vs unreliable, subjective, non-empirical theories and suppositions based on nothing more than that – human subjective opinion. One inherent danger in non-empirical theories is the unavoidable potential of human bias plus the fact that it is virtually impossible to verify the accuracy of any non-empirical opinion, no matter how high the level of education, training, and experience that opinion might be based on. Reliance on non-empirical “evidence” is susceptible to varying degrees of untrustworthiness due to always be susceptible to systematic errors procedurally as well as cognitive biases.

There is a multitude of “tests” that are used in supposedly “diagnosing” dementia and Alzheimer’s, the list of which can be accessed via the internet. However, none of the tests used measure anything other than the “evidence” or “presence” of memory loss/information processing issues. Not a single one of these tests address nor do they diagnose a medical “cause” for any of these issues.

When the question is asked whether there is any single empirical test that can accurately diagnose Alzheimer’s as a disease, the answer from the medical world is “There is currently no single test that can diagnose Alzheimer’s disease with 100% accuracy”. Even with this admission, the worlds experts persist in saying it is a disease rather than simply one of a number of “age related” indicators of the decaying of the human body, that is in no way impacting on the human mind – II Corinthians 4:16 affirmed.

Consider the following few random statements from the medical arena related to Alzheimer’s and dementia.

“Age is the biggest risk factor for Alzheimer’s.” – Notice how this statement basically contradicts statement 5 which states that dementia is the “most common form” of Alzheimer’s but “is not a normal part of aging”.

2. “Reduced concentration, personality behavior changes, reduced ability to do everyday tasks, this is dementia – And these all are functions and changes of brain function, not mind function.

3. First signs of cognitive decline: losing things, forgetting events/appointments, trouble verbally expressing oneself” – Notice the phrase “cognitive decline”. First, this is not synonymous with dementia or Alzheimer’s. Secondly, many of the worlds “experts” agree that most people 60 years and older experience various degrees of age related forgetfulness.

4. “Dementia’s most common form is Alzheimer’s. Dementia is not a normal part of aging but age is the strongest known risk factor for dementia.” – This second statement is so convoluted that it borders on irrationality – To say “Dementia is not a normal part of aging” but then say that “age is the strongest known risk factor for dementia” is at best oxymoronic and at worst, irrational. It can’t be both.

5. “Anosognosia is the inability of individuals with dementia to recognize or acknowledge their cognitive impairment.” – But Dr. Dubois stated that anosognosia simply refers to “temporary forgetfulness” which, also according to Dr. Dubois, “numerous individuals over 60 manifest a variety of these symptoms.” – I wonder which it is.

These few statements representatively exemplify the convoluted body of subjective “diagnoses” and “explanations” that emanate forth from the worlds medical/psychological/academic experts primarily based on Sigmund Freuds God rejecting, God hating, subjectively conceived Medical Model that totally rejects and denies any notion of human depravity and the sinfulness of man.

The “Medical Model” referred to above is the birth child of the God hating, atheistic mind of Sigmund Freud who was, throughout his entire life openly, aggressively hostile to and besmirching of anything to do with God and the reality of His coming judgement on sinful man. Freud’s primary objective in devising his “Medical Model” was not to advance the well being of mankind. His primary objective was to, by applying his Medical Model, deceitfully, falsely transition or convert every sin based problem of humanity to that of a “disease”, thus making it a physical, beyond human control, caused by some external influence problem, rather than the depraved, sinful heart, spiritual problem that it in reality is (Genesis 3:1-6; Jeremiah 17:9-10; Romans 6:6-8).

Genesis 3:4-6: 4 The serpent said to the woman, “You surely will not die! 5 “For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” 6 When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate.

Jeremiah 17:9-10: 9 “The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick; who can understand it? 10 “I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind, even to give to each man according to his ways, according to the results of his deeds.

Romans 8:6-8: 6 For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, 7 because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, 8 and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

Freud believed in so doing he could rid himself and the world of any belief in a holy righteous God who will ultimately judge every man righteous or unrighteous, according to that mans deeds.

The following serves to further illustrate the fallacy of Freud’s subjective Medical Model, as we consider further comments by Dr. Dubois:

1. “Half of people 60 and older have some symptoms that are due to age rather than disease.”

2. “After 60 years of age most people have such a difficulty, which indicates that it is not a disease, but rather a characteristic due to the passage of years.”

3. “Those who suffer from a memory illness or Alzheimer’s, are not aware of what is happening.” What a testimony to the common grace and mercy of God.

The fact that one manifestation of memory loss is characterized one way (age related) and another is characterized another way (dementia/Alzheimer’s) does not validate labeling one as the normal “process of aging” and the other as a “disease”. Statement 2 and 3 are purely subjective “jumps” that there is no sound, empirical, scientific evidence or proof of. On what empirical test does Dr. Dubois, or any other “expert” for that matter, determine that Alzheimer’s, by their own declaration, being a form or type of memory loss, is a “disease”, while at the same time stating that memory loss that affects many people 60 years and older and that is manifested in a variety of ways, is not a disease but is simply “due to the passing of years.”? To pose the question another way, what empirical fact exists that can repudiate the Biblically based belief that Alzheimer’s is not a disease, but simply another, differently manifested, generally more extreme or exaggerated memory issue “due to the passage of years.”, that serves to further affirm the truth of II Corinthians 4:16; Ecclesiastes 5:18-20, none of which has any connection to, effect or bearing on the existence and function of the mind.

II Corinthians 4:16: 16 Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day.

Ecclesiastes 5:18-20: 18 Here is what I have seen to be good and fitting: to eat, to drink and enjoy oneself in all one’s labor in which he toils under the sun during the few years of his life which God has given him; for this is his reward. 19 Furthermore, as for every man to whom God has given riches and wealth, He has also empowered him to eat from them and to receive his reward and rejoice in his labor; this is the gift of God. 20 For he will not often consider the years of his life, because God keeps him occupied with the gladness of his heart.

Recalling Dr Adam’s statement about the brain we can all agree that “memory loss” and “information processing” are functions of the brain related to “storing and sorting information (information processing) for “later retrieval” (memory/recall), thus loss of these functions to any degree, is a brain issue, not a mind issue. It is an issue that is inherently linked to, as in produced by, the normal, God ordained, sin produced decay and ultimate death of the human body.

In Genesis 3:19 scripture records the word of God to Adam when He said “By the sweat of your face you will eat bread, till you return to the ground, because from it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return.”

Here in one clear, succinct statement God, with Sovereign Authority (Psalm 19:7-11; Isaiah 40:5-8; 55:8,9-11; II Peter 1:19-21) establishes the fact that the material, organic, physical body of every human ever conceived will, at death, return to the dust from which it came. This obviously includes the physical organ that we medically know controls memory and information processing – the brain. Continuing with Dr. Adam’s, he states “Like the word heart (when not used of the physical organ), the word mind describes a functional aspect of man, not a physical entity.”. Herein we find the clear Biblical, distinctive, unique characteristic of the heart and mind over against the brain. The mind is that mysteriously unique element of God’s infinite Omniscient Image, created by Him in every man, that is immaterial and inorganic and has to do with the soul, heart (will), and mind. Every individual mind exists and lives, as created by God, for eternity (Psalm 139:16; Acts 17:26-28). And each individual mind will exist for eternity, either, by God’s elective grace, in His Holy presence, or, by His righteous judgement, in eternal torment in hell, separated from Him for eternity.

Isaiah 40:5-8: 5 Then the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all flesh will see it together; for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.” 6 A voice says, “Call out.” Then he answered, “What shall I call out?” All flesh is grass, and all its loveliness is like the flower of the field. 7 The grass withers, the flower fades, when the breath of the Lord blows upon it; surely the people are grass. 8 The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever.

55:8–11: 8 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord. 9 “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts. 10 “For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return there without watering the earth and making it bear and sprout, and furnishing seed to the sower and bread to the eater; 11 so will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; it will not return to Me empty, without accomplishing what I desire, and without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.

II Peter 1:19-21: 19 So we have the prophetic word made more sure, to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts. 20 But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, 21 for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.

Psalm 139:16: 16 Your eyes have seen my unformed substance; and in Your book were all written the days that were ordained for me, when as yet there was not one of them.

Acts 17:26-28: 26 and He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation, 27 that they would seek God, if perhaps they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; 28 for in Him we live and move and exist, as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we also are His children.’

Scripture uses three basic words when referring to the mind and its function. Each word embraces multiple applicatory meanings determined by the context and intent of the writer.

The first word is “phren”, meaning “understanding as in intellectual cognitive function” as in I Corinthians 14:20 where Paul declares “20 Brethren, do not be children in your thinking; yet in evil be infants, but in your thinking be mature.”. The second word is “nous”, meaning “understanding as in intellectual ability”. Phren focuses on the intellectual part of the inner man (nonorganic, immaterial; exists eternally) in reference to his ability to understand, to think and reason, to process multiple facts and form accurate conclusions; to acquire wisdom (Proverbs 1:7; 9:10) referring precisely to the ability not only to “think”, but also to control one’s thoughts or inner attitude of mind.

Proverbs 1:7: 7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction .

9:10: 10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

These verses testify to the significance and centrality of the heart (the will) in the function of the mind, whether Biblically or unbiblically, because what is in the heart informs the mind which in turn produces thoughts, words, and deeds, be they righteous or unrighteous. This fact constitutes the reason for the command of Proverbs 4:23 to “Watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life.”. In Deuteronomy 11:18, God, through Moses, commands the men of Israel to “…..therefore impress these words of mine on your heart and on your soul…..”.

On the other hand “nous”, like “phren”, focuses on the intellectual part of man’s nature but with a more comprehensive scope that addresses the concepts of attitude, understanding in the sense of discerning and comprehending, judging, determining action, and feelings (Romans 11:34; 12:2; 14:5; I Corinthians 2:16; Colossians 1:18; II Timothy 3:8; Titus 1:15).

Romans 11:34: 34 For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who became His counselor?

12:2: 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

14:5: 5 One person regards one day above another, another regards every day alike. Each person must be fully convinced in his own mind

I Corinthians 2:16: 16 For who has known the mind of the Lord, that he will instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ. Clearly Paul is not referring to a decaying, material organ.

II Timothy 3:8: 8 Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men of depraved mind, rejected in regard to the faith.

Titus 1:15: 15 To the pure, all things are pure; but to those who are defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure, but both their mind and their conscience are defiled.

Thirdly is the word “dianoia” which refers to the ability and process of “thinking through” a matter as in reasoning based on meditation and reflection (Philippians 4:8; Psalm 119:9,97- 105,160,169; Proverbs 3:1-6; 4:23-27). It can also refer to the imagination.

Philippians 4:8: 8 Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.

Psalm 119:9: 9 How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping it according to Your word.

97-105: 97 O how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day. 98 Your commandments make me wiser than my enemies, for they are ever mine. 99 I have more insight than all my teachers, for Your testimonies are my meditation. 100 I understand more than the aged, because I have observed Your precepts. 101 I have restrained my feet from every evil way, that I may keep Your word. 102 I have not turned aside from Your ordinances, for You Yourself have taught me. 103 How sweet are Your words to my taste! Yes, sweeter than honey to my mouth! 104 From Your precepts I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way. 105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

160: 160 The sum of Your word is truth, and every one of Your righteous ordinances is everlasting.

169: 169 Let my cry come before You, O Lord; give me understanding according to Your word.

Proverbs 3:1-6: 1 My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments; 2 for length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you. 3 Do not let kindness and truth leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. 4 So you will find favor and good repute in the sight of God and man. 5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.

4:23-27: 23 Watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life. 24 Put away from you a deceitful mouth and put devious speech far from you. 25 Let your eyes look directly ahead and let your gaze be fixed straight in front of you. 26 Watch the path of your feet and all your ways will be established. 27 Do not turn to the right nor to the left; turn your foot from evil.

Clearly, the content and the obedient practice of each of these passages transcends any dependency or reliance on any organic, decaying bodily organ and its function.

To quote Dr. Adams, “Mind is probably not to be thought of as an entity unto itself (like brain), but as the thought life of the non-material side (inner man) of man. It is a term used to refer to the subjective experiences of thinking, knowing, feeling, willing, etc.”

Scripture establishes the fact (Genesis 1-2) that man, in God’s created order, is created as a responsible individual, as a rational, moral, decision making being, who possesses personhood (capable of relationships), and self consciousness, meaning he is fully cognitively aware of his thoughts, decisions, words, and conduct. This is what it means to be created by God – “God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him;” – Genesis 1:27.

Since the Garden, Satan’s history long assault against God, as the liar that he is (John 8:44), has been and continues to be to distort, misquote and outright deny God’s Holy word (Genesis 3:1-6). In Numbers 23:19, God Sovereignly, authoritatively affirms Satan to be the chief of all liars when He declares Himself to be the God of all Truth (II Timothy 3:16-17) “God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should repent; has He said, and will He not do it? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?”

John 8:44: 44 “You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

II Timothy 3:16-17: 16 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; 17 so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.

In the 20th and 21st century Satan continues his assault by incessantly flaunting the lies of humanistic psychology via Freud, Skinner, Roger’s and a multitude of others via their false, subjective Medical Model (Colossians 2:8). This Medical Model, initially devised by Freud conveniently enables man to rationalize every behavioral manifestation of his depraved sinful heart and mind (nature) from that of sin to that of a “disease”. Herein is the worlds false vehicle, conceived by Satan and implemented by Freud and others, that facilitates the absolving of every individual of any personal accountability for his or her sinful attitudes, thoughts, words, and deeds (Romans 3:23). When every issue and problem in life has been deceitfully morphed into a “disease”, it naturally follows that the “sick” individual can’t help himself or be held accountable. He inherently becomes needful of one of the plethora of therapeutic drugs in use in America today (4/22/24) in consort with the ever present, ongoing therapy sessions required by this Medical Model.

Romans 3:23: 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Lest one believes this is, at best, an exaggeration or at worst, not really true, consider some of the following current statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, GA pertaining to therapeutic drug use:

Prescription drug use:

Percent of persons using at least one prescription drug in the past 30 days: 48.6% (2015-2018)

Percent of persons using three or more prescription drugs in the past 30 days: 24.0% (2015-2018)

Percent of persons using five or more prescription drugs in the past 30 days: 12.8% (2015-2018).

Physician office visits:

Number of drugs provided or prescribed: 1.0 billion

Percent of visits involving drug therapy: 71.9%

Hospital emergency department visits:

Numbers of drugs given or prescribed: 361.3 million

Percent of visits involving drug therapy: 76.2%

One very significant inevitable, inherent result of these treatment methods is the complete and total destruction of any basis for hope in the individuals life. The fact is that the vast majority of secular Medical Model counseling therapy is functionally hedonistic, in that the objectives are always focused on self – making the individual happy, more self-fulfilled, more self-esteem, more self-actualization, etc. We see the resultant effect of this false system every day in the current totally narcissistic culture of Facebook, TikTok, and the multitude of other “me-centered” social media platforms that dominate American society today.

This brief reference to the nature of Satan’s ongoing assault on God’s truth is intended to further affirm the fact that the brain and the mind are two separate entities of God’s creation of man, one being organic, material, temporary and decaying, the other being inorganic, immaterial, never decaying, eternal (John 4:24).

As stated earlier, the information and beliefs that fill the heart ( the will) inform the mind, the mind then informs the brain which stores that information in its memory and information processing functions for future use.

John 4:24: 24 “God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”

To express it another way, Scripture clearly and consistently reveals that the mind is informed by the heart (Proverbs 4:23–27; 23:7a; Mark 7:21-23; Romans 1:18-19; Colossians 3:16; II Peter 1:19-21). Proverbs 2:6 says “The Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.”. Each of these passages reveal the heart (the will) to be the depository of whatever information an individual takes into his or her mind. Never is there even a suggestion of the brain having any function in this process. Herein is the basis of the Biblical mandate found in each of the following passages. What the heart is filled with informs the mind which in turn produces the thought life of the individual, which produces attitudes, words, decisions and behavior. The phrase “within himself”, through out scripture, is a reference to the immaterial heart and mind of man as the rational being he is as created by God.

Proverbs 4:23-27: 23 Watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life. 24 Put away from you a deceitful mouth and put devious speech far from you. 25 Let your eyes look directly ahead and let your gaze be fixed straight in front of you. 26 Watch the path of your feet and all your ways will be established. 27 Do not turn to the right nor to the left; turn your foot from evil.

23:7a: 7 For as he thinks within himself, so he is.

Mark 7:21-23: 21 “For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed the evil thoughts, fornications, thefts, murders, adulteries, 22 deeds of coveting and wickedness, as well as deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride and foolishness. 23 “All these evil things proceed from within and defile the man.”

Romans 1:18-19: 18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them.

Colossians 3:16: 16 Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

The individual who has a heart of love for God, who desires to obey Him and is faithfully, continually filling his heart with God’s word will have a mind (thinking, contemplating, meditating, decision making) that produces righteous, obedient living (attitudes, speech, conduct). None of this immaterial, unseen, inner working of man’s rational mind (logical, intelligent reasoning that produces opinions, viewpoints, attitudes, beliefs, etc. via the mind) is in any way dependent on or determined by the brain. Again, as previously stated, the brain is that physical organ of the body, created by God, to store and sort information for later retrieval in conjunction with regulating the vastly complex, diverse, amazing functional processes necessary for daily living.

Related to the subject at hand, “The Brain vs the Mind”, we have established factually that “memory” and “information processing” are both God created functions of the brain, not the mind. As stated above, the mind informs the memory function of the brain. When, in God’s ordained decaying of the body, the brain (physical organ – Psalm 92:12-15; II Corinthians 4:16) begins to decay in old age (60+ according to Dr. Dubois) that decay is manifested in some individuals by the loss of memory and the ability to cognitively process information in a logical way. Because the brain serves as, if you will, the depository or storage house of the thoughts produced by the immaterial heart and mind, it naturally follows that as those functions decay the individuals ability to remember stored information and process that information logically will likewise naturally decline. Let it be quickly stated, that memory and processing loss in no way diminish the dignity, value, and worth of that individual as created in God’s image. To the contrary, for a true believer these fallen world, inherent afflictions, trials, temptations, etc., are, in the economy of God, instruments of His glorifying, sanctifying grace in the believers life (Psalm 119: 71,75; Isaiah 48:10-11; Romans 5:1-5; James 1:2-4).

Psalm 119:71,75-76: 71 It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I may learn Your statutes.….75 I know, O Lord, that Your judgments are righteous, and that in faithfulness You have afflicted me. 76 O may Your lovingkindness comfort me, according to Your word to Your servant.

Isaiah 48:10-11: 10 “Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction. 11 “For My own sake, for My own sake, I will act; For how can My name be profaned? And My glory I will not give to another.

Romans 5:1-5: 1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; 4 and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; 5 and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

James 1:2-4: 2 Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 4 And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

The single motivating factor for the writing of this paper is to clearly and faithfully declare that it is the belief of this writer that all forms of memory loss and information processing are the natural, age related process of bodily decay as providentially ordered by God, not a disease. This said I would be quick to readily acknowledge that there are legitimate instances of memory loss and information processing that are caused by medically determined true disease (tumors) or physical trauma (head injury). However, the focus of this paper is that loss of memory and information processing function that is directly related to “the passage of years”.

I would challenge the logic of Dr. Dubois as quoted earlier in this paper when he states “Half of people 60 and older have some symptoms that are due to age rather than disease. After 60 years of age most people have such a difficulty, which indicates that it is not a disease, but rather a characteristic due to the passage of years.”

My challenge is this – what valid, empirical, factual scientific evidence is there that supports Alzheimer’s being labeled a disease as opposed to simply a different, more comprehensive “characteristic due to the passage of years.”? I base this challenge on the statement by the medical community itself as quoted on page 6 in this paper – “There is currently no single test that can diagnose Alzheimer’s disease with 100% accuracy”.

To state it yet another way, on what empirically proven test does this Dr., or any other for that matter, determine that Alzheimer’s, as a form of dementia manifested by memory and information processing loss, is a “disease” needing drug induced treatment but, as subjectively determined by the medical and psychological community, memory and information processing loss that affects large numbers of the 60 years and over population, being manifested in a variety to ways, is declared to not be a “disease”, but a normal “characteristic of the passage of years.”? What empirical fact exists that can repudiate the idea that Alzheimer’s IS NOT a disease but simply another, differently manifested, usually more extreme and comprehensive memory, processing issue “due to the passage of years” as attested to in Psalm 92:12-15 and II Corinthians 4:16 as previously quoted?

That said, the remaining focus of this study will be on a number of passages of God’s word that affirm with clarity the eternal existence and function of the God created immaterial heart and rational mind of man, as created in His image. Be ever mindful of the fact that these functions of mans heart and mind, in God’s created order, are in no way determined by or dependent on any function of the brain. As Dr. Adam’s pointed out, “the word brain appears no where in the Old or New Testament.”

Job 38:36: 36 “Who has put wisdom in the innermost being or given understanding to the mind?

Proverbs 3:5-6: 5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.

16:9: 9 The mind of man plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps.

23:19: 19 Listen, my son, and be wise, and direct your heart in the way.

28:26: 26 He who trusts in his own heart is a fool, but he who walks wisely will be delivered.

Matthew 12:34-35: 34 “You brood of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak what is good? For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart. 35 “The good man brings out of his good treasure what is good; and the evil man brings out of his evil treasure what is evil.

11:34: 34 For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who became His counselor?

12:2,16: 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect……16 Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation.

I Corinthians 1:10: 10 Now I exhort you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all agree and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be made complete in the same mind and in the same judgment.

2:15-16: 15 But he who is spiritual appraises all things, yet he himself is appraised by no one. 16 For who has known the mind of the Lord, that he will instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ.

10:12: 12 Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall.

Ephesians 4:22-24: 22 that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, 23 and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.

Colossians 1:9-10: 9 For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10 so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;

2:18-19: 18 Let no one keep defrauding you of your prize by delighting in self-abasement and the worship of the angels, taking his stand on visions he has seen, inflated without cause by his fleshly mind, 19 and not holding fast to the head, from whom the entire body, being supplied and held together by the joints and ligaments, grows with a growth which is from God.

II Timothy 3:8: 8 Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men of depraved mind, rejected in regard to the faith.

Titus 1:15: 15 To the pure, all things are pure; but to those who are defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure, but both their mind and their conscience are defiled.

James 4:8: 8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

I Peter 1:22-23: 22 Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere love of the brethren, fervently love one another from the heart, 23 for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring word of God.

Psalm 139:13-14: 13 For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother’s womb. 14 I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; wonderful are Your works, and my soul knows it very well.

Clearly and consistently, the instruction and commands of Scripture establish the heart and the mind as the God ordained repository of all information that produces the thoughts, beliefs, attitudes, speech, and practices, which, having been deposited in the memory and information processing functions of the brain, determine the individuals behavior and conduct.

An Appendix:

Scripture reveals that sinful, unbelieving, spiritually dead men (doctors, psychiatrists, educators, preachers, the population at large) have no ability to even comprehend, let alone understand the content of this paper (Romans 8:6-8; I Corinthians 2:14). In like manner, sinful, lost men, inherently know (Roman’s 2:14; 1:18-19) and foolishly believe that as long as they live this life, no matter how empty and miserable and rebellious they are, they can avoid the unavoidable – death and God’s pure, holy, righteous judgement.

Romans 8:6-8: 6 For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, 7 because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, 8 and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

I Corinthians 2:14: 14 But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised.

Romans 2:14-15: 14 For when Gentiles who do not have the Law do instinctively the things of the Law, these, not having the Law, are a law to themselves, 15 in that they show the work of the Law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them,

1:18-19: 18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them.

These truths of God’s word explain the reason for the ages long efforts of lost men to avoid death. Their incessant attempts are attested to by their “fear of death”, deceived pursuit of endless medical and pharmaceutical remedies, all of which are falsely stated and wrongly believed to be able to “extend” the days of human life. This pursuit is in reality an exercise in futility destined for failure before it began (Hippocrates) because man has no capacity to “increase” his days (Psalm 139:16; Acts 17:26). In the economy of God, the amazing scope of medical procedures and practices He has enabled man to discover coupled with the wise, sound, judicious use of pharmaceutics serve to provide one singular benefit to mankind – improved quality of life in time present.

Psalm 139:16: 16 Your eyes have seen my unformed substance; and in Your book were all written the days that were ordained for me, when as yet there was not one of them.

Acts 17:26: 26 and He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation,