Flexible or Fixed

Mark Dunagan
11/30/14 - Sunday Morning

Flexible or Fixed?

“The answer to the question of whether human nature is, at its core, malleable or fixed has been an enduring concern of not only scientists but, more important, each of us in our everyday lives. Some people see self-control ability, willpower, intelligence, and other characteristics as fixed, unchangeable traits from the very start of life…These people differ from those who see the evidence as supporting the view that we are open to change and able to alter how we think and behave, that we can craft our own lives rather than being either the winners or losers in the DNA lottery” (The Marshmallow Test, Walter Mischel, p. 277).

One of the Biggest Questions

There are very few questions more important and the consequences more far reaching in either direction than what a person really believes about self control and the ability to change. Those who feel that we actually do have freewill and can change the way we think will certainly live differently than those who feel they were the losers in the DNA lottery.

Science Is Limited

As the above writer noted, scientists are deeply divided on the issue of freewill and the ability for people to really change the way they think or behave. There is proof that people can change, but some see such changes as just a temporary effect or trick that really does not change what they consider to be inborn traits.

The Bible Has Great News

• We are not born sinners. We are not born with some hidden evil that is going to surface one day and destroy our lives and we are helpless to stop it: 1 Corinthians 14:20
• DNA is powerful, but what is more powerful is the fact that the most essential part of us, the actual true nature of our being is that we are spirits created in God’s image: Genesis 1:26
• At the end of the day, our spirit chooses what we actually become.
• Environment or upbringing, even a horrible upbringing does not have to destroy us: Ezekiel 18:14
• We have the power to choose a good life: Deuteronomy 30:11-14; Joshua 24:15

Cooling the Hot System

All of us have a hot and cool system. The hot system is into instant choices and decisions, instant pleasure, immediate gratification and pleasing myself at this moment. The cool system is more reflective and thinks things through, the cool system ponders “later”, the hot system only thinks about “now”. We need to learn to cool down the hot system and there are very practical things we can do in that area:

• Abandon Hot System Thinking

Such as:

• “I will avoid the consequences”.
• “I will worry about the consequences later”.
• “This will not catch up to me”.
• “If I wait I will miss out”.
• “I want to do the bad thing now and I don’t mind suffering later”.
• ”Someone will bail me out”.

“Regardless of age, the core strategy for self-control is to cool the ‘now’ and heat the ‘later’ — push the temptation in front of you far away in space and time, and bring the distant consequences closer to your mind” (Mischel, p. 256). Most of us know that our “hot system” discounts the importance of waiting and delaying rewards. 

• Step Outside Yourself

Instead of being all caught up in yourself, step outside yourself when you are being tempted. Be like a fly-on-the-wall. Observe what is going on from the viewpoint of a third party. You will see the temptation differently. 

• It’s not a Treat; It’s Poison

Joseph did this when tempted. The advances of another man’s wife was not viewed as his lucky day, rather he called it what it was, a sin against God (Genesis 39:9).

• Have an “if” “then” plan:

Think of a temptation before it happens, and not in the sense of longing for the temptation, but rather, what would be the right response. 

Feelings Do Twist Our Thinking

This is seen when people who are fornicating or are involved in adultery (1 Corinthians 6:9) will say things like, “God has brought us together” and that “our love is genuine, true and pure”. So when you are being tempted and begin the process of rewriting how wonderful this thing that God calls a sin… is. Be honest!  Realize that you are attempting to lie to yourself and typically others as well.

Don’t Forget the Gospel and God

“For it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13).

• Having a powerful intellect is not enough when it comes to resisting temptation. History both ancient and modern is filled with example after example of very smart people doing some really dumb things.  eHe
• Tremendous self-control in earthly pursuits is no substitute for virtue or a love of goodness. People who have sacrificed a lot to get to the top of their profession, whether in sports, business, politics or academia have often been involved in various scandals. Rigorous self-discipline in athletics, acting, singing or academia is not the same thing as virtue or moral courage (2 Peter 1:5ff).
• When I allow God into my life, I trust Him and His view of reality. He tells me I can resist and others have as well (1 Corinthians 10:13).  He tells me there is always a way out that does not demand sinning. Studies have shown that people who believe that will-power is limited quit while those who don’t believe it is limited do not quit. Whom I am trusting is vital!

“Many celebrities and public figures exposed in the headlines probably did not want to resist their temptations. On the contrary, they often seemed to expend considerable effort seeking and pursuing them. Their optimistic illusions and inflated self-worth, shared with the rest of humanity but perhaps even more grandiose in them, made them feel invulnerable. They did not expect to be caught even if they had been in the past. They also believed that if they were discovered, they could still get away with it — which is not an unreasonable expectation for some given their past experiences” (Mischel, p. 190).

Remember Your Future Self

We often think about the things we will have in the future (spouse, home, children, etc…). Yet we often ignore the most important aspect of our future, that is, the person that we will have become. And all the choices that I am making today will produce my future self. My future self will not merely just show up one day, rather he will be the direct product of whatever I am doing or not doing right now, tomorrow and every day after that. So what do I want to be?

• Doctrinally sound and knowledgeable of the Bible. Someone who is leading people to God rather than someone who is leading people away from the truth.
• Having wise answers for the next generation.
• Not afraid to face death, being right with God.
• Having very few regrets from the past.
• Having really good relationships with spouse, children and friends.
• Being respected — far more important than being popular.
• Being eternally relevant.
• Having done the hard things.
• Having integrity, known for honesty, having made wise sacrifices for the kingdom of God.

Mark Dunagan | mdunagan@frontier.net
Beaverton Church of Christ | 503-644-9017
www.beavertonchurchofchrist.net