Every system, whether an individual (interacting elements of body, soul and spirit), a family, a business, a committee, a group of friends, or a nation, functions according to an agreed-upon set of parameters adopted by the whole system. The system consciously or unconsciously agrees on the parameters, and the goal for the system in making those choices is to achieve homeostasis. All systems achieve homeostasis, but not all homeostasis is functional. How functional the system’s parameters are, ultimately, is based on the collective beliefs of the system. In other words, the reason for the choices directs the functionality of the results.
Throughout His ministry, Jesus let us know about the importance of our motives and beliefs, the reasons behind everything we choose. He made it very clear that our motives and beliefs will produce predictable results. Such truths as Luke 6:44 – “Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thorn bushes, or grapes from briers” – and Matthew 5 - 21"You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.' 22But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. 27"You have heard that it was said, 'Do not commit adultery.' 28But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” Indeed, the first ten verses of Matthew 5, commonly known as the Beatitudes which state the foundations of the teachings of Jesus, reflect the truth that our heart-level beliefs produce certain predictable results in our lives. Systemic beliefs can either be in alignment with God’s truth and His kingdom, or in alignment with the world and the realm of the enemy, which is one of lies and deception. Where our beliefs fall (on which side of the sword that cuts between truth and lie) determines whether we live in a functional or dysfunctional system.
Within our hearts are foundational beliefs that to us feel absolutely true, even though they may or may not actually be true. Some beliefs are intrinsic, truth existing within us when we were born. These would include attachment/bonding, trust, and the desire for survival. Notice in these beliefs are foundational elements for relationship, which makes complete sense if you consider that our God is a relational God Who teaches love (Luke 10:27) and Who in fact IS love (I John 4:8 and 4:16). However, those intrinsic beliefs can change based on our experiences. At the same time, beliefs are inlaid in our hearts because of our interpretations of our experiences. Depending on the nature of our experiences and how we interpret them, our beliefs are based in truth and God, or based in lies and the enemy of God. For example, if I come out as an infant with my mouth open to eat, and I am fed, or if I cry to be held and I am held and comforted, my interpretation in my heart would be “I am loved” and this would greatly influence how I view my worth and value. Research has demonstrated that infants feeling loved directly impacts their ability to survive (you can easily find information on “failure to thrive” and the reason for this response). On the other hand, if I am physically or emotionally abused or neglected by my parents, who are supposed to love me, my interpretation would be “I am not lovable,” which obviously would impact my view of myself, my worth, and my reason for being in the world. Once that belief is inlaid, it becomes a part of my inner systemic schema. I make decisions and choose my actions, both consciously and unconsciously, based on that foundational belief. Underneath that dysfunctional system of “I am not lovable” extends actions that support that belief, such as behaving as if I don’t matter, giving other people power and control over my choices, and making self-injurious decisions (like taking drugs for example) because, since I don’t matter, what difference does it make? In addition, since those beliefs create the fruit their roots are made of, I receive ongoing reinforcement for my foundational systemic beliefs – like is seen in the case of an abused child who as an adult marries an abuser, receiving what he/she feels he/she deserves while being shown over and over again how little value he/she has. Do you see the homeostasis that the system produces?
The same application of this truth can be made from the microcosm of our individual, internal system to the macrocosm of our country. In this writing, I will begin with the wider macrocosm of our nation, and its dysfunctional system, and in future writings we will focus on other systems that impact our lives. I want to start with the premise that the beliefs and motivations of our nation are determining the future course of our “system.” We have some intrinsic, foundational beliefs (our Constitution and our basic laws) but ongoing alterations in interpretations of these intrinsic beliefs are causing an alteration of our system. Here are just a few changes to our intrinsic beliefs that are lie-based, sending our system toward self-destruction:
1) I am not responsible: More and more, personal responsibility is being eschewed for the more “pleasant” feeling (at least in the short term) of finding someone else to blame for our circumstances. However, what is missed in this so-called easier belief set is that we are willingly giving up our God-given ability to choose. In this belief set, other people have power in our lives (a lie, since we are always able to choose our responses, no matter what another person does to us). We are therefore unempowered. The belief in personal responsibility is actually a stronger position, and includes God’s truth of freedom to choose. Keep in mind, free will is one of God’s greatest gifts to us. It makes it possible for us to truly love. Also, it is a cornerstone in being “made in the image of God.” But we exchange a sense of ownership for the self-pleasing ability to blame and to not feel accountable for difficult things – to our destruction.
2) It should be fair: Most people, by the time they reach kindergarten age, have already heard on more than one occasion, “there is no such thing as fair.” This is a true statement. However, we hear more and more in the rhetoric of leaders that their goal is for things to be “fair.” No Bible verses talk about fair; they do talk about justice, which is not the same thing, but people are confusing these two words as if they mean the same thing. What does fair mean? Is it “fair” that some have and others do not have? It depends on how you define fair, doesn’t it? The people who have earned what they have don’t find it fair that someone else can take their earnings from them and distribute those earnings to others. Someone in a different position might draw a different conclusion. My point is that there is no such thing as “fair.” The basic premise is flawed, so there can never be a real answer to that question. There is only choice, and consequence. As God laid out clearly in Deuteronomy 30, where He set out before the people their choices and the consequences of those choices (blessings and curses), each one of our choices carries a consequence. Some consequences are positive and some are negative, but it is up to us to choose. Our lives are what we create with our choices. Once again, upon a closer examination, we can see that the truth-based position (there is no such thing as fair, there are only choices and consequences) is actually more self-empowering.
3) There is no absolute truth: Our foundational belief in the separation of church and state, intended to prevent a theocracy from arising, has been distorted to the point that secular humanism has become our religion as a nation. We are accepting a dangerous view that removes God from our national equation. More and more we are encouraged to follow (or simply accept) whatever beliefs we “feel” are true – and since there is no absolute truth, there are no absolute wrongs. A short step away from no absolute wrongs is no absolute rights – and we have not yet considered the severe consequences of the removal of inalienable rights from our lives. I want to point out here that the removal of God means by definition the removal of the One Who gave us rights – and therefore, ultimately, the removal of our rights. In other words, we may not have a theocracy, but we will certainly have an autocracy. The seeds for the removal of rights are being sown right now in the removal of God from the public discourse. In addition, the belief in no absolute truth removes our foundation. We are left with no solid footing on which to stand, no ground of which we are sure. Insecurity and fear are the result.
4) Security is more important than freedom: As a result of our loss of personal responsibility, personal freedom to choose, and removal of our grounding in truth, we are left in fear. We feel the need to do something to deal with those fears; therefore, we are willing to give up our freedoms in exchange for an illusion of security. Is there such a thing as true security? No, this is a false goal. We cannot create safety. The best we can do is make good choices for ourselves, but we convince ourselves that we can somehow magically make ourselves safe and secure, by giving up freedom. As is the truth in all fear-based responses, we ultimately create what we most fear. The more our ability to choose for ourselves is removed, the more we feel insecure. This self-feeding cycle results in our becoming more and more willing to give up more and more freedoms, which leaves us feeling more and more fearful and insecure, which leads us to give up even more freedom. Yet, the “American dream” was originally based on freedom as God-given – life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness (the choice for seeking after happiness is ours). This trade-off of freedom for the illusion of security is the destruction of this foundational premise of our nation.
5) We are bad: Our identity as a nation is taking serious blows. In the past we have viewed ourselves as a good people; I am not sure we could say the same thing today. We have been blamed and shamed and accused and condemned and judged. Our foundational belief in personal freedom and personal responsibility has been chastised. We are seeing ourselves as less valuable, less important, and less worthy of love. Our connection to God has been all but severed as a national system. That leaves us alone and feeling fearful and powerless in our own lives. We are viewing ourselves as victims and victimizers, the abused and the abuser. We are like an alcoholic family with rigid family roles, ruled by fear and shame, enabling dependency and destroying the individuals within the system. Love is no longer the primary motivation. And without a connection to God’s truth, we are spiraling downward toward our own destruction.
My first two examples and the fifth example grow from shame-based lies. The third is a self-based lie that I can be my own god, determining my own truth that is variable based on my feelings. The fourth example is a fear-based lie. As we move through a discussion of each of these lie-based beliefs, you can see how a new homeostasis is being established. The homeostasis is dysfunctional, like that of an alcoholic family. No wonder we are spiraling out of control. Shame, fear and self as God are the lies that are directing our course. The only hope such a dysfunctional system has to prevent its own destruction is to reestablish our connection with God, remember our identity as we first understood it at our creation, and begin to live in the truth with a motivation of love in our collective hearts.
Throughout His ministry, Jesus let us know about the importance of our motives and beliefs, the reasons behind everything we choose. He made it very clear that our motives and beliefs will produce predictable results. Such truths as Luke 6:44 – “Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thorn bushes, or grapes from briers” – and Matthew 5 - 21"You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.' 22But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. 27"You have heard that it was said, 'Do not commit adultery.' 28But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” Indeed, the first ten verses of Matthew 5, commonly known as the Beatitudes which state the foundations of the teachings of Jesus, reflect the truth that our heart-level beliefs produce certain predictable results in our lives. Systemic beliefs can either be in alignment with God’s truth and His kingdom, or in alignment with the world and the realm of the enemy, which is one of lies and deception. Where our beliefs fall (on which side of the sword that cuts between truth and lie) determines whether we live in a functional or dysfunctional system.
Within our hearts are foundational beliefs that to us feel absolutely true, even though they may or may not actually be true. Some beliefs are intrinsic, truth existing within us when we were born. These would include attachment/bonding, trust, and the desire for survival. Notice in these beliefs are foundational elements for relationship, which makes complete sense if you consider that our God is a relational God Who teaches love (Luke 10:27) and Who in fact IS love (I John 4:8 and 4:16). However, those intrinsic beliefs can change based on our experiences. At the same time, beliefs are inlaid in our hearts because of our interpretations of our experiences. Depending on the nature of our experiences and how we interpret them, our beliefs are based in truth and God, or based in lies and the enemy of God. For example, if I come out as an infant with my mouth open to eat, and I am fed, or if I cry to be held and I am held and comforted, my interpretation in my heart would be “I am loved” and this would greatly influence how I view my worth and value. Research has demonstrated that infants feeling loved directly impacts their ability to survive (you can easily find information on “failure to thrive” and the reason for this response). On the other hand, if I am physically or emotionally abused or neglected by my parents, who are supposed to love me, my interpretation would be “I am not lovable,” which obviously would impact my view of myself, my worth, and my reason for being in the world. Once that belief is inlaid, it becomes a part of my inner systemic schema. I make decisions and choose my actions, both consciously and unconsciously, based on that foundational belief. Underneath that dysfunctional system of “I am not lovable” extends actions that support that belief, such as behaving as if I don’t matter, giving other people power and control over my choices, and making self-injurious decisions (like taking drugs for example) because, since I don’t matter, what difference does it make? In addition, since those beliefs create the fruit their roots are made of, I receive ongoing reinforcement for my foundational systemic beliefs – like is seen in the case of an abused child who as an adult marries an abuser, receiving what he/she feels he/she deserves while being shown over and over again how little value he/she has. Do you see the homeostasis that the system produces?
The same application of this truth can be made from the microcosm of our individual, internal system to the macrocosm of our country. In this writing, I will begin with the wider macrocosm of our nation, and its dysfunctional system, and in future writings we will focus on other systems that impact our lives. I want to start with the premise that the beliefs and motivations of our nation are determining the future course of our “system.” We have some intrinsic, foundational beliefs (our Constitution and our basic laws) but ongoing alterations in interpretations of these intrinsic beliefs are causing an alteration of our system. Here are just a few changes to our intrinsic beliefs that are lie-based, sending our system toward self-destruction:
1) I am not responsible: More and more, personal responsibility is being eschewed for the more “pleasant” feeling (at least in the short term) of finding someone else to blame for our circumstances. However, what is missed in this so-called easier belief set is that we are willingly giving up our God-given ability to choose. In this belief set, other people have power in our lives (a lie, since we are always able to choose our responses, no matter what another person does to us). We are therefore unempowered. The belief in personal responsibility is actually a stronger position, and includes God’s truth of freedom to choose. Keep in mind, free will is one of God’s greatest gifts to us. It makes it possible for us to truly love. Also, it is a cornerstone in being “made in the image of God.” But we exchange a sense of ownership for the self-pleasing ability to blame and to not feel accountable for difficult things – to our destruction.
2) It should be fair: Most people, by the time they reach kindergarten age, have already heard on more than one occasion, “there is no such thing as fair.” This is a true statement. However, we hear more and more in the rhetoric of leaders that their goal is for things to be “fair.” No Bible verses talk about fair; they do talk about justice, which is not the same thing, but people are confusing these two words as if they mean the same thing. What does fair mean? Is it “fair” that some have and others do not have? It depends on how you define fair, doesn’t it? The people who have earned what they have don’t find it fair that someone else can take their earnings from them and distribute those earnings to others. Someone in a different position might draw a different conclusion. My point is that there is no such thing as “fair.” The basic premise is flawed, so there can never be a real answer to that question. There is only choice, and consequence. As God laid out clearly in Deuteronomy 30, where He set out before the people their choices and the consequences of those choices (blessings and curses), each one of our choices carries a consequence. Some consequences are positive and some are negative, but it is up to us to choose. Our lives are what we create with our choices. Once again, upon a closer examination, we can see that the truth-based position (there is no such thing as fair, there are only choices and consequences) is actually more self-empowering.
3) There is no absolute truth: Our foundational belief in the separation of church and state, intended to prevent a theocracy from arising, has been distorted to the point that secular humanism has become our religion as a nation. We are accepting a dangerous view that removes God from our national equation. More and more we are encouraged to follow (or simply accept) whatever beliefs we “feel” are true – and since there is no absolute truth, there are no absolute wrongs. A short step away from no absolute wrongs is no absolute rights – and we have not yet considered the severe consequences of the removal of inalienable rights from our lives. I want to point out here that the removal of God means by definition the removal of the One Who gave us rights – and therefore, ultimately, the removal of our rights. In other words, we may not have a theocracy, but we will certainly have an autocracy. The seeds for the removal of rights are being sown right now in the removal of God from the public discourse. In addition, the belief in no absolute truth removes our foundation. We are left with no solid footing on which to stand, no ground of which we are sure. Insecurity and fear are the result.
4) Security is more important than freedom: As a result of our loss of personal responsibility, personal freedom to choose, and removal of our grounding in truth, we are left in fear. We feel the need to do something to deal with those fears; therefore, we are willing to give up our freedoms in exchange for an illusion of security. Is there such a thing as true security? No, this is a false goal. We cannot create safety. The best we can do is make good choices for ourselves, but we convince ourselves that we can somehow magically make ourselves safe and secure, by giving up freedom. As is the truth in all fear-based responses, we ultimately create what we most fear. The more our ability to choose for ourselves is removed, the more we feel insecure. This self-feeding cycle results in our becoming more and more willing to give up more and more freedoms, which leaves us feeling more and more fearful and insecure, which leads us to give up even more freedom. Yet, the “American dream” was originally based on freedom as God-given – life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness (the choice for seeking after happiness is ours). This trade-off of freedom for the illusion of security is the destruction of this foundational premise of our nation.
5) We are bad: Our identity as a nation is taking serious blows. In the past we have viewed ourselves as a good people; I am not sure we could say the same thing today. We have been blamed and shamed and accused and condemned and judged. Our foundational belief in personal freedom and personal responsibility has been chastised. We are seeing ourselves as less valuable, less important, and less worthy of love. Our connection to God has been all but severed as a national system. That leaves us alone and feeling fearful and powerless in our own lives. We are viewing ourselves as victims and victimizers, the abused and the abuser. We are like an alcoholic family with rigid family roles, ruled by fear and shame, enabling dependency and destroying the individuals within the system. Love is no longer the primary motivation. And without a connection to God’s truth, we are spiraling downward toward our own destruction.
My first two examples and the fifth example grow from shame-based lies. The third is a self-based lie that I can be my own god, determining my own truth that is variable based on my feelings. The fourth example is a fear-based lie. As we move through a discussion of each of these lie-based beliefs, you can see how a new homeostasis is being established. The homeostasis is dysfunctional, like that of an alcoholic family. No wonder we are spiraling out of control. Shame, fear and self as God are the lies that are directing our course. The only hope such a dysfunctional system has to prevent its own destruction is to reestablish our connection with God, remember our identity as we first understood it at our creation, and begin to live in the truth with a motivation of love in our collective hearts.
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