Self-Deception - Part 1 - Denial

It is a fact that we cannot solve a problem unless we are (1) aware that it exists, and (2) willing to accept that changes are in order. But all too often, our acts of denial stifle awareness and inhibit acceptance. In effect, by denying the presence of an issue, we are saying, "I'm not going to deal with this." When we live in this state, we operate more in survival mode and less in the capacity of a victor. This is a significant point. Jesus said: "In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." (John 16:33). As Christians, we are joint heirs with Christ, which means, we can operate in His authority. Much like a police officer operates under the authority of the law, we, too, can learn to live life under the authority of God. But denial of our sinful behaviors leads us into conformity with the patterns of this world, which involve covetousness, immorality, rebellion, idolatry, and other acts of folly. More often than not, denial proves to be a maladaptive mode of coping. So we must learn to anakainosis (an-ak-ah’-ee-no-sis) our mind—renew or renovate the way we think, cope with feelings, and behave (see Philippians 3:13). When we renovate something, we restore it to an earlier condition; however, anakainosis also means to impart new vigor or revive. By conforming less to the ways of this world, we can more aptly allow our mind to be transformed through the grace of Christ and the redeeming work of the Holy Spirit. Transforming our mind in this way enables us to produce more fruits of the Spirit. 

From Chapter Four of my book: The Conditioned Mind.

Your comments on this post are welcome. :-)

Willfulness - Part 3

The sin of our first parents has been imputed into each of our lives. It is now very much a part of who we are as human beings; thus, we come to see that sin perverted everything God had originally created to be beautiful. As Charles Hodge observed, sin carries two significant characteristics: the first relates to guilt; the second to the pollution of our being. In all of this, we witness the complexities of our dichotomous nature. The implications of sin and guilt are staggering. 

From chapter two of my book, The Conditioned Mind.

Willfulness - Part 2

Gone in an instant was the uninhibited communion Adam and Eve shared with their Father. From the moment they touched the fruit, their ability to receive and extend God’s love was hampered. Adam and Eve were now infected with sin. Life was significantly dimmer on the other side of the Fall. Their view of God, as well as one another, was obstructed by their own willfulness. Enter the self-deceptive practices of denial, repression, and rationalization. Adam blamed God and Eve, while Eve blamed the serpent. In a moving act of compassion, God met them in the midst of their crisis with love, grace, and mercy; both had opportunities to repent, but neither chose to.

From Chapter Two of my book, The Conditioned Mind. 

Willfulness - Part 1

As Adam and Eve stood before the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, all was still right within God’s creation. But as each stretched out their hand and touched the fruit, gone in that very instant was humanity’s unencumbered relationship with the Father. While His love continued to flow, no longer was the flow uninhibited. Adam and Eve’s sin instantly began to clog the conduit through which the Father’s love traveled, namely, their spirit. In that instant, the security of His plan was gone. A dark willfulness, unlike anything they had ever experienced, permeated their minds and immediately affected their relationship with one another. From the instant Adam and Eve violated the Father’s will, their integrity began to erode.

A brief excerpt from chapter two of my book, The Conditioned Mind.

Hey folks, enter a chance to win a free copy of The Conditioned Mind.  Follow this link to my book site and click on the Goodreads Book Giveaway: http://www.theconditionedmind.com/about.html

Security - Factor #3

Within the context of relationships, routine and familiarity enable us to more accurately predict how people we relate with will behave. Predictability, then, is the third factor involved with our need for security. When we predict, we state what we believe will happen prior to it happening. Predictability allows us to be more prepared for what is coming. The more routine our behavior, the more others will be able to accurately guess how we are likely to behave. The closer acquainted people are with our thoughts and feelings, the more effectively they can predict our next actions. In turn, this helps to satisfy our need for security. Adam and Eve were secure in their relationship with their Creator, as well as with each other, because they could accurately predict that love would be extended unconditionally.

Learn more about security in our key relationships by reading my book The Conditioned Mind.

Security - Factor #2

The second factor associated with security is familiarity. The word familiar is derived from the Latin root familia, which means “family.” Webster’s defines familiar as “friendly” (informal), or “intimate”; “closely acquainted with.” In the context of relationships, familiarity enables us to become more intimate with others. Regardless of the type of relationship—husband/wife, parent/child, older/younger sibling, manager/subordinate—we need to sense we are familiar with the other person’s modes of thinking and means of behavior. But if this dynamic cannot be achieved, then our sense of security will be hampered. Prior to the introduction of sin, Adam and Eve would have experienced the utmost in familiarity. Because they were not inhibited in their relationship with God, they felt completely secure in who they were. Adam and Eve were solid in their love relationship with the Father, as well as with each other. With such familiarity, they were capable of complete intimacy. 

Learn about these factors, and more, in my new book The Conditioned Mind.

Security - Factor #1: Routine

While love is the highest of emotional needs, I believe security runs a close second. To fulfill this need, three factors must be satisfied. The first is routine, which can be defined as a regular, unvarying procedure. In our relationships, routine helps to bring order to our life. When we experience a healthy balance of order, we are able to trust to greater degrees. When we trust, we feel it is safer to be authentic—to be real. We need to sense that those we are in relationship with are being authentic with us as well. Routine helps to satisfy this need. For instance, if our actions remain consistent with our commitments, it will become routine for others to trust that we are genuine in our words. If I routinely arrive on time and prepared for meetings, my actions prove I am reliable and worthy of other people’s trust. But if I routinely arrive late and unprepared, my actions prove I am unreliable. In the beginning, Adam and Eve were capable of complete authenticity. They not only knew their purpose within God’s creation, but they were fully secure and satisfied in their roles. Selfless in their thoughts and actions, they lived out God’s character by routinely being loving, joyous, and peaceful. Because these qualities were routine, they fully trusted the Father and one another. 

Factors two and three to follow in separate posts this week.

Love!

There is no greater extent to which we can relate with the Father and others than through love. It is by love that the Law is fulfilled. Love edifies. Within love, we find patience and kindness; but we do not find envy, boastfulness, or pride. There is no rudeness or self-seeking in love; but there is self-control, and no record is kept of wrongs. Through love, we rejoice in the truth, but do not delight in evil. Where there is love, there is protection, trust, hope, and perseverance. Indeed, the more we know the love of Christ, the more we are filled with the fullness of God. 

Functional vs. Dysfunctional

To one degree or another, every person has been (or will be) affected by life’s tragedies, along with sin and guilt (their own, as well as that of others). The questions are: How have we learned to cope with the affects of such matters? Are our modes of coping functional that they will bring us closer to God? Or are they dysfunctional that they will drive us further away from our heavenly Father? The more we practice dysfunctional ways of coping, the more entrenched they become. We are then conditioned, and thus imprisoned, to a deceptive system of belief. To move off of our maladaptive modes of coping, we need to return to the core issues of our life from which the thought and behavior first developed. Doing so allows us to grieve. As we grieve, we develop awareness and acceptance of key factors; bringing healing and growth into our relationship with the Lord and others. In doing so, we are more apt to operate in the power, love, and soundness of mind afforded us through God’s Spirit.