"...and we take captive EVERY thought to make it obedient to Christ" (II Corinthians 10:5b).
Every: "each one of the entire number of." That's pretty total. Doesn't leave room for any exceptions.
There's a lot of action to getting the job done though. Most prisoners don't just wait to be captured and taken into captivity. They fight - put up resistance.
Thoughts are kind of like that, too. Taking them captive and making them march or stand in obedience to Christ is not always (dare I say, ‘seldom’) a natural response.
A battle rages - so - we have to be aggressive at times and TAKE them captive - against our human will - but - in accordance to God's will.
Because if we don't, our "minds may somehow be led astray...." (II Corinthians 11:3b).
The outcome?
More of the mind of Christ, which results in more Godliness and less us-li-ness.
I don't know about you, but I desire more of Him and less of woMEn. If I take the me out of it... I will have WON!
O yes, you MEn, take the me out, and you're 'N'! - the mind of Christ.
