Self-Deception - Part 2 - Repression

In effect, repression involves the avoidance of painful thoughts and feelings. It is different from denial, in which we choose not to accept an issue. When we repress, we tend to acknowledge a problem is present but seek to avoid the associated distress. Does God want us to live repressed lives as followers of Jesus? I assert the answer is no. Recall that God fashions us with needs so that we might best fulfill the purpose He created us with. In effect, when we choose not to cope with sin, we are avoiding certain thoughts and feelings. This not only stifles fulfillment of our needs, but we tend to become entrenched in the sin.

Essentially, there are two subclasses of repression involving inhibitory and elaborative processes. Inhibitory processes seek to achieve the goal of decreasing or stopping distress through acts of avoidance. Whenever we experience distress, we generally attempt to cope in ways that will inhibit it from continuing. Most significant in all of this is the fact that repression stifles us in taking thoughts captive for Christ (see II Corinthians 10:5).

In my next post, I'll go into more detail about elaborative processes of repression. Part 2 of this series on self-deception will also address the specific ways in which repression stifles our walk with Christ.

Portions of this post were excerpted from my new book, The Conditioned Mind.