In Part I of Thinking Differently About Change we will look closely at how understanding repentance helps us think differently about change. Then we will examine the first three levels that change comes to our lives in some detail. These first three levels are the easiest to effect change in our lives, but these levels have less to do with God and more to do with us - thus, the change is not meaningful. The final two levels of change will be introduced and discussed in detail in Part II of this blog. Please note that these last two levels have more to do with God and less to do with us, thus, the change is real and meaningful to our spiritual lives. My prayer is that God will challenge you to think differently about change.
In Matthew chapter four are recorded the events in the life of Jesus that immediately followed His baptism in the River Jordan by His cousin John. The Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness where He was tempted by Satan for forty days. Jesus used the Word to rebuke the devil's three primary attacks and emerged from the wilderness victorious to begin His public ministry. Later in the chapter at 4:17 we find Jesus proclaiming the Kingdom of heaven: "From that time on Jesus began to preach, 'Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.'"
As we begin to take the challenge of thinking differently about change - we start by looking at the first word of Jesus in the above scripture, "repent". We sort of understand there is a link between repentance and change, but perhaps we have not completely followed that link through. Many times what is emphasized about this term repent is the aspect of turning or changing direction. While it is true that these things are the results of repentance - I submit to you that the turning and changing direction is more the fruit of repentance rather than what it is. What repentance is at it's core is the changing of the mind.
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repent - GK - metanoeō - G3340 - to think differently, that is reconsider
Bob Hamp, in his Freedom Foundation teaching series, has identified five levels of change that are central to our understanding of the concept of change. Remember that God is challenging us to think differently - about change. As we briefly examine these levels keep in mind that the degree of importance will increase with each succeeding level we examine, and, as we move through the levels the degree of our control decreases as we move through the levels. Meaning that on level 1 we can exercise the most conrol over change at that level - at level 5 we actually have little control because it is all about God. This is a good thing. The crazy thing I hope you will see as I did - is that the first two levels that have the least impact on real meaningful spiritual change in our lives are the two levels that we spend the most time and energy trying to change.
Level One - our environment (external things) - This level involves all the things that make up the world around us - where we live, our job or business, our mate, our family, our church, and our friends. As we said before, change at this level is the easiest level to effect - but will almost always yield the least meaninful change in our spiritual lives. There is a saying that goes like this, 'Where ever you go, there you are'. Whatever issues exist in an individuals life - they will not be meaningfully impacted or changed by changing external things - the change is needed at an internal level. Yet, how many people, many times people we know and love, will leave their wife and family, change jobs or move to a different city, or, change churches hoping to effect change in their life - and not really see that change.
Level Two - Behavior - This level is about our actions or behavior. Inseparable from our behavior are our thoughts and feelings. In fact, these three components make up what we call the triangle of the soul because they are so inter-related. For example, when a person has feelings that they are worthless, their thoughts will reflect the feelings of worthlessness. What are the chances that the person's behavior or actions will not reflect their thoughts and feelings of worthlessness? Unfortunately, most counseling techniques target change at this level (behavior) - as does most of the ministry in the church to help people who are having behavior issues and problems. When people come to the church for help they want to behave properly, and the church wants their behavior to reflect Jesus Christ and Christian conduct - however, by focusing on behavior we have ignored the things that if change were effected on those levels would enable individuals to live and be who God created and redeemed them to be. Our friend Bob Hamp describes it this way - when we focus on behavior we develop the mind set that we are either doing very well with God (when our behavior is good), or very badly with God (when our behavior is not so good). This type of thinking leads us to think that God is either happy with us or mad at us - depending on our behavior. While it is true that God is concerned about our behavior - He is more concerned about what we believe about Him, and what we believe to be true about ourselves in Him. All this will make more sense when we get to Part II.
Level Three - Capabilities - This level involves our abilities and things that we can do to effect change in our lives. Change at this level also is impacted by the limitations of us as individuals. Or, stated another way, the things we cannot do. We can make changes in our lives that will impact our capabilities, but there are limits to the range and effectiveness of the change based on our individual limitations. Once again, as in the previous two levels, the level of change is more human impacted than God impacted.
Level Four - Beliefs - I will give you a brief hint - beliefs are not what we think in our minds but what we believe in our hearts.
Level Five - Identity - Change at this level changes everything - it is realizing who we are in Jesus Christ.
More to follow on Levels Four and Five in Part II. God bless..
