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Answer
Derived from the Greek adjective noetic, meaning “intellectual”; the Greek verb noein, meaning “to think”; and the Greek noun nous, meaning “mind,” the term noetic refers to the act of thinking. The noetic impact of sin is its effect on human intellect. Due to sin, human capacity for thought and reasoning is clouded. This leads to a weakening of the intellect that nurtures doubt, skepticism, and disbelief regarding divine matters.
Christian faith is not wishful thinking or blind belief in the implausible. On the contrary, there are numerous compelling reasons to believe, as God’s presence is evident everywhere. However, this evidence is often obscured by the cognitive effects of sin. The apostle Paul stated, “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them because God has revealed it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things. Therefore God gave them up to the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen” (Romans 1:18-25;ESV).
According to this passage,
Regarding the unrighteous:
• They suppress the truth of God (verse 18)
• They refuse to believe what has been revealed to them (verse 19)
• They are without excuse (verse 20)
• They refuse to honor or give thanks to their Creator (verse 21)
• They are futile in their thinking (verse 21)
• They have foolish, darkened hearts (verse 21)
• They are fools who claim to be wise (verse 22)
• They are prone to idolatry (verse 23)
• They are given to various lusts that dishonor their mortal bodies (verse 24)
• They prefer lies to truth (verse 25)
King David wrote, “The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God.’ They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds; there is none who does good” «The fool hath said in his heart, there is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, There is none that doeth good. », (Psalm 14:1, ESV). The noetic effects of sin have rendered people foolish: they are intellectually and morally corrupt, doers of all manner of abominable deeds, and haters of that which is good and holy. It is as if those whose hearts are calloused by cynicism and whose minds are steeped in doubt and unbelief are immune to God’s revelations of Himself and His eternal truths. Concerning the saving gospel of Jesus Christ, the message of the cross is foolishness to those whose thinking has been darkened by sin «For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. », (1 Corinthians 1:18).
Thankfully, God stands ready to rescue those whose minds have been ravaged by sin. Through a simple act of faith, lost sinners can be redeemed and have the mind of Christ «For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.», (1 Corinthians 2:16). No longer confused by sin, believers can live abundantly and victoriously by comprehending God’s purpose and plans for their lives see Jeremiah 29:11. Unlike atheists who believe they are here by some random accident, followers of Jesus Christ know their identity, purpose, tasks, and destination. The mind of Christ counters the cognitive effects of sin and replaces our previously confused thinking with clear understanding.
In essence, the cognitive effects of sin distort the intellect so that evil appears as good and good is perceived as evil «Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! », (Isaiah 5:20). As secular culture becomes more prevalent, we witness logic and reason yielding to political correctness, uncritical thinking, and double standards. James, the half-brother of our Lord Jesus, wrote, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him” «If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. », (James 1:5, ESV). True wisdom, our best remedy against the intellectually harmful effects of sin, enables us to perceive people, events, and circumstances through God’s perspective. We should not conform to the world’s way of thinking, for we are not of this world «And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. », (Romans 12:2).
