Hegemony of the Mind

But everything that was a gain to me, I have considered to be a loss because of Christ.

Philippians 3:7 CSB

Hegemony is a noun that means “leadership or dominance, especially by one country or social group over others,” according to Oxford Languages. I looked up the definition one day after hearing the word referenced in a news report.

A couple of weeks later, the word came up again in my morning devotional time. The English word hegemony comes from the Greek word hegeomai. It is often translated as “consider” or “count" in the Bible. J. D. Watson writes, “this word speaks of ‘leading out before the mind,’ that is, to think about something in order to view, regard, or esteem it.”*

Philippians 3:4-7 lists accolades that Paul could have deemed important. He brought them to mind so he could consider what was more valuable. What would lead out before his mind? He considered his accomplishments a loss compared to Christ.

What do I allow to dominate my mind and, hence, my actions? Sometimes prideful, selfish thoughts lead out before my mind, thoughts that justify what I want. I have to bring these thoughts out and compare them to God’s Word. Do these thoughts and actions further the cause of Christ or the cause of Terri?

Those that are contrary to the Word of God must be taken captive to obey Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5). A few days ago, I worked hard to put those thoughts in prison so the God-honoring thoughts could dominate my thinking. Those rascals kept breaking out of jail and creeping into my thoughts. Eventually, they were locked up securely and were forced to submit to Christ.

Philippians 4:8 is my go-to verse when my mind is unsettled. If my thoughts are not true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent, or praiseworthy, I must let go of them, no matter how much I want to hang on to them. Then the peace of God leads out before my mind.

Terri Vardeman

*J. D. Watson: A Word for the Day, p. 195