Saturday, September 7, 2019

Dead Unto Sin

Bradley Wright is a sociology professor at the University of Connecticut. He admits to having that common problem of overdoing certain behaviors. It is not a sin to eat an occasional dish of ice cream, but he found himself eating too much, too often. He tried to practice moderation, but it did not work. Then he made an interesting discovery. He explains it this way,

In actuality, abstention is usually easier than moderation.
“How can this be? As I understand how the brain works, it loses neural connections underlying a behavior once we stop doing that behavior. Use it or lose it. Moderation keeps brain circuits active. Abstention lets them atrophy.” (quote taken from an email newsletter, emphasis is in the original)

It is easier to give up a harmful or dangerous behavior completely than it is to practice it in moderation. If we attempt to cut back on sin, we keep the neural connections that cause us to desire it alive, and there is virtually no chance of success. If we consider ourselves “dead unto sin” (Rom 6:11) the connections begin to atrophy, and we have a much better chance of success.

Too many of us are trying to walk the tight rope, or to skirt the edge of the canyon. Instead we should be getting as far away from sin as possible. We should “put to death therefore what is earthly” in us (Col 3:5). We should “make no provision for the flesh to gratify its desires” (Rom 13:14).

As a preacher in my hometown used to say, “Too many people have just enough Christianity to make them miserable.” He was right. Half-way Christianity is no fun. It does not work. Go all out for the Lord or you will never find success or happiness in your faith.

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