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Christian Cognitive Dissonance
Christian Cognitive Dissonance (CCD) = A feeling of distrust toward God as righteous (just and equitable[1]) that occurs when what the Bible teaches conflicts with a desirable situation (e.g., an attractive female unbeliever expresses interest in dating a single Christian male. The Christian finds himself interested and excited. However, when he finds out that God not only prohibits all sexual activity before marriage, but also requires that we practice endogamy, he begins to question whether God – or His laws are righteous). [2]
1. Why are we talking about this subject? 1) Too many Christians are unaware that they suffer from CCD. 2) CCD ranks among the number one reasons people fail to be faithful and eventually go apostate.
2. Why does CCD hinder our ability to be faithful and avoid apostasy? Because loyalty/faithfulness is always a function of trust. IOW: for human beings to loyal or faithful to something or someone, they must first trust them. No one has ever trusted someone or something they believe is (or might be) unrighteous (unjust, inequitable, NOT FAIR). Why? Because that is our design from God as moral creatures (and something therefore we cannot escape). It is impossible for us to trust something or someone we are not confident is righteous. In summary: loyalty/faithfulness cannot happen where there is distrust.
3. What is the (God designed/designated) purpose of CCD – or the distrust we experience? To alert us to the fact that we are currently operating without what is necessary to be faithful and avoid apostasy – i.e., trust! IOW: that we need to shore up/resolve this “trust deficiency” ASAP before it is too late.
4. What is (therefore) not the purpose of this distrust? To serve as sign (or confirmation) that God and His Word are indeed unrighteous (unjust, inequitable) and you need to run to the world/apostasize ASAP.
5. Why is drawing such conclusions based on a feeling alone irrational (crazy)? Because not only do feelings not think (i.e., they don’t possess any ability to determine what/who is right or wrong, righteous or unrighteous), but they are also inherently selfish. Without the direction provided by learning and understanding, they will only steer us in the direction of what serves our best interest – without any consideration of others (equity) (e.g., animals – 2Pe 2:12).
6. What are the sure-fire signs/symptoms that a person is struggling with CCD? 1) anxiety or depression that won’t go -or stay away[3], 2) lack of zeal for God and the things of God (e.g., the necessity of salespeople believing in the product they are selling).
7. What is the cure for CCD or the deficiency of trust we feel in relation to God and His laws? Possessing not only knowledge of God and His laws but ethical[4] understanding- i.e., we need to also possess the understanding that God and His laws are not only righteous (promoting and protecting justice and equity for all creatures – true freedom and happiness for human society) – but exist as the only ethical standard that can produce such things . IOW: Human flourishing can only happen if we follow God and His laws. There is no other way. The laws created by humans are not a viable alternative to the laws of God. They cannot produce human flourishing (justice, equity, freedom and happiness for everyone). They instead can only produce what -in the end, will hurt human society - or take away the freedom and happiness of others. If (then) we are going to cure our CCD (and secure the ability to be faithful and avoid apostasy - not matter the situation), then this is what we MUST become convinced of – which means we need to be committed to always finding the answer to this question, “Why is what God does or says the only thing that will promote and protect what is fair for everyone (that will produce human flourishing [justice, equity, freedom and happiness)?” This is how you sb reading your Bible and what you sb spending your time pondering. Once more, knowledge of God and His laws is not enough. It is not enough to produce the trust necessary to lasting loyalty or faithfulness – or obedience when it is no longer convenient.
7.1. Eve presents the perfect example of this very problem. She possessed the knowledge of God’s laws (Gen 3:2-3), but not the ethical understanding. As a result, she became easy prey to distrust (which Satan exploited – vv4-5) and the temptation to sin.
7.2. Asaph acknowledges how close he came to apostasy - as well as the deliverance that ensued once he stopped trying to understand God’s dealing with the wicked by his flesh/feelings and started seeking ethical understanding from God’s Word (Psa 73:1-22) [v17] “Until I came into the sanctuary of God” = The primary home of Scripture before the invention of the printing press. “Then I perceived their end. Surely you have set them on slippery places” = The wicked are getting away with nothing. “You cast them down to destruction…[and] when one [the wicked] awakes [on the other-side before God]…you [God] will despise [treat of no value] their form [their phantom/spirit in the afterlife].” = IOW: God will respond to them the way they responded to Him during their life (equity).
7.3. King David knew ethical understanding was the key to trusting and obeying God and therefore prays for it in (Psa 119:34) “give me understanding” = Help me to comprehend how your laws are righteous (promote and protect justice and equity for humanity). “that I may observe your law and keep it with all of my heart” = That I may be faithful to obey it with full commitment (or trust) (contra 2Ch 25:2). PNTM: Trust and obedience to Gods laws require ethical understanding.
7.4. The causal relationship that exists between ethical understanding and trust/obedience is also why Paul prays the way he does in (Col 1:9-10).
7.5. Peter uses the ethical understanding already possessed by his audience to motivate them to continued faithfulness and study of God’s Word (1Pe 2:1-3) “If you have tasted the kindness [the moral consideration; Psa 34:8] of the Lord [on you behalf]” = If you have come to an ethical understanding of God and His laws – if you have experienced that He is indeed righteous (then “grow in respect to your salvation” by putting aside “all malice…deceit…hypocrisy [etc.,]” and “long[ing] for the pure milk of the word.”). PTNM: the trust we gain through ethical understanding is not only the key to faithfulness but to “long[ing] and “grow[ing]” in our study of God’s Word.
7.6. Additional support:
1) (Pro 3:5-7 “trust in the LORD” = “fear the LORD”) w/(Pro 1:7 “fear of” [trust in] the LORD is the beginning of knowledge [understanding]”) = Trust in what the LORD (says) is the beginning (or first result) of possessing understanding --OR trust only starts (or happens) where there is ethical understanding (understanding that God and His laws are righteous [just, equitable]).
2) (Pro 1:1-3) = Notice the kind of understanding (“wisdom…understanding” etc.,) God intends to communicate through Solomon’s Proverbs, is the kind related to “righteousness, justice and equity” – which means this is also what the Proverbs are talking about when calling for us to “acquire wisdom [and] understanding” (e.g., Pro 4:5) = Acquire ethical understanding [in relation to the righteousness, justice and equity of God and His laws]!”[5]
3) (Deu 4:5-8) [v6] “so keep and do [God’s commands] for that is [the indication] of your wisdom and understanding” - i.e., the indication that you understand God’s laws to be righteous. What (then) Moses is saying: Your obedience to God indicates to the nations that you understand His laws to be righteous. Hence the reason the “peoples” (other nations) will proclaim that very thing [vv6-7]“a god so near to it” = A righteous God Whose righteous laws reflect His intimate concern and care for the well-being of His creatures [v8“statutes and judgments as righteous as this whole law”]. [6]
4) (Jer 9:23-24) = Our boasting in this life is to be in relation to understanding (knowing) God. Notice however that the understanding God demands that we possess is not ontological (understanding as it relates to His existence or attributes) but rather moral – or ethical, that we understand Him to be a God who “exercises” and “delights” in “lovingkindess” (i.e., covenant fidelity - trustworthiness), justice and righteousness.” IOW: God wants our confidence or trust (our “boast” in this life) to come from ethical understanding -meaning we have taken the time to see how what He does and says is truly righteous.
5) (Pro 7:1-15) “naïve” = Simple, open-minded – i.e., you are open to other answers/explanations because you haven’t taken the time to see how stupid and unrighteous those other answers/explanations really are. Notice the author is identifying a deficiency in ethical understanding as the key reason for this man’s sexual immorality/adultery [v7 “lacking sense”] = Lacking ethical understanding/understanding as to the righteousness, justice and equity of God’s laws w/regard to sexual activity.
6) (Mar 12:30-33) = “love” (i.e., loyalty/faithful obedience) which includes (or requires) all of our “mind” which means “understanding” (v30 w/33). Once more, faithful obedience is demonstrated to be dependent upon our ethical understanding, our comprehension (ability to see) God and His laws as righteous (just and equitable).
7.7. Finally, as an example of the boost in trust that is created when we ethically understand (comprehend the righteousness, justice, equity of) God and His laws, consider (Gen 2:16-17) = The prohibition in relation to the tree was meant to teach them that good and evil were things to be learned from God versus determined by humans. Hence the name, “the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.” It was therefore also meant to communicate that God was not making them responsible (or culpable) for what they could not do (accurately determine what is good and what is evil) given their disability in discernment (not always able to see the true value of things). God was (then) thru this prohibition, protecting them and human society from destroying themselves (Deu 6:24) = “Survival” can’t happen if people are harming one another, if society is filled with inequity and injustice. Prohibiting ourselves from determining our own laws and instead adopting (and trusting) God’s laws would make sure such harm was avoided (that true freedom and happiness in human society [human flourishing] would exist for everyone). Hence why God gave this command to Israel’s kings (Deu 17:18-24 “that his heart may not be lifted up above his countrymen” = That he may not take advantage of them thru establishing his own laws – laws which will inevitably be self-serving [unjust, inequitable]).
CLOSING CONTEMPLATION: 1) According to 2Th 2:10-12 and Eph 4:17-19, why will some people continue in their CCD and eventually go apostate (follow the deception of Satan)? 2) Based on what we have seen from God’s Word, what is wrong with this statement, "The Greeks learned in order to comprehend. The Hebrews learned in order to révere." (M. Wilson, Our Father Abraham)? 3) How does today’s teaching on ethical understanding change the way you understand the parental instruction of Deu 6:5-9 and Eph 6:4? 4) Read Deu 4:2 and seek to ethically understand the command. IOW: why is the prohibition against adding or taking away from God’s commands righteous (just, equitable)? How does your understanding of Gen 2:16-17 help in figuring out the answer? 5) Read Mat 16:24-25 and seek to ethically understand Jesus’ requirement. What makes it righteous (just, equitable)? How do Gen 2:16-17 and Phi 2:1-5 help us in figuring out the answer? 6) Read Mat 4:1-10. What evidence of ethical understanding can be gleaned from Jesus’ responses to Satan’s temptations? 7) Endogamy and no sexual activity before marriage are God’s prescription (Deu 7:1-3; Ezr 9:1-4, 10:1-3; Neh 13:23-27; 1Co 7:1-2, 39; 2Co 6:14). What makes it righteous (just, equitable)? 8) God has determined that a lake of fire will be the eternal home of most people (Luk 13:22-24; Rev 20:11-15). Why is that righteous (just, equitable)?
[1] Righteous = The state of being just or practicing justice; Justice = Equity in action; Equity = FAIR, impartial, unbiased; rules that do no harm to God or others (the true meaning of love - Rom 13:8-10); everyone getting exactly what they deserve (Psa 28:4, 62:2; Pro 24:12; Isa 3:10-11; Jer 17:10, 21:14, 32:19; Eze 7:27; Mat 16:27; Joh 5:29; Rom 2:6; 2Co 5:10; Rev 2:23, 20:12; 22:12).
[2] Christian Cognitive Dissonance and its definition are meant as a derivation of the existing term, cognitive dissonance (def.,) = The feelings of discomfort that occur when you realize that the group your belong to is in conflict with your current beliefs, practice or situation.
[3] There are other forms of anxiety and depression which are not related to CCD and therefore do not require its removal for relief (e.g., Phi 4:6-7). As such, another good sign that your anxiety or depression may be CCD is the fact that the other biblical prescriptions for solving such tensions are not working.
[4] Ethical (def.,) = Related to moral principles (righteousness, justice, equity).
[5] The focus btw of entire Bible (not just the Proverbs) is ethical. It is a book which attempts to teach – through its very selective choice of subjects and stories, God’s system of ethics (righteousness, justice, equity).
[6] One of the greatest proofs that our God (Yhwh) is the true God of heaven and earth, is His care and concern for righteousness (justice, equity) with respect to Himself and His creatures. No other god in the entirety of human history’s multitude of religions possess such a concern or make such an invitation. “The Hebrew God was unique [in that] He was reliable and just in His responses to His people. Hence, His ordinances of law were for the common human good. Nowhere else in the ancient Near East was there so systematic an appropriation of the concept of lawful, contractual obligation to express the relationship between a whole people and their god and consequently to define morality within society [than the covenants] God used to establish relationship with His people.” – Alan F. Segal (Rebecca’s Children: Judaism and Christianity in the Roman World)
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Christian Cognitive Dissonance (CCD) = A feeling of distrust toward God as righteous (just and equitable[1]) that occurs when what the Bible teaches conflicts with a desirable situation (e.g., an attractive female unbeliever expresses interest in dating a single Christian male. The Christian finds himself interested and excited. However, when he finds out that God not only prohibits all sexual activity before marriage, but also requires that we practice endogamy, he begins to question whether God – or His laws are righteous). [2]
1. Why are we talking about this subject? 1) Too many Christians are unaware that they suffer from CCD. 2) CCD ranks among the number one reasons people fail to be faithful and eventually go apostate.
2. Why does CCD hinder our ability to be faithful and avoid apostasy? Because loyalty/faithfulness is always a function of trust. IOW: for human beings to loyal or faithful to something or someone, they must first trust them. No one has ever trusted someone or something they believe is (or might be) unrighteous (unjust, inequitable, NOT FAIR). Why? Because that is our design from God as moral creatures (and something therefore we cannot escape). It is impossible for us to trust something or someone we are not confident is righteous. In summary: loyalty/faithfulness cannot happen where there is distrust.
3. What is the (God designed/designated) purpose of CCD – or the distrust we experience? To alert us to the fact that we are currently operating without what is necessary to be faithful and avoid apostasy – i.e., trust! IOW: that we need to shore up/resolve this “trust deficiency” ASAP before it is too late.
4. What is (therefore) not the purpose of this distrust? To serve as sign (or confirmation) that God and His Word are indeed unrighteous (unjust, inequitable) and you need to run to the world/apostasize ASAP.
5. Why is drawing such conclusions based on a feeling alone irrational (crazy)? Because not only do feelings not think (i.e., they don’t possess any ability to determine what/who is right or wrong, righteous or unrighteous), but they are also inherently selfish. Without the direction provided by learning and understanding, they will only steer us in the direction of what serves our best interest – without any consideration of others (equity) (e.g., animals – 2Pe 2:12).
6. What are the sure-fire signs/symptoms that a person is struggling with CCD? 1) anxiety or depression that won’t go -or stay away[3], 2) lack of zeal for God and the things of God (e.g., the necessity of salespeople believing in the product they are selling).
7. What is the cure for CCD or the deficiency of trust we feel in relation to God and His laws? Possessing not only knowledge of God and His laws but ethical[4] understanding- i.e., we need to also possess the understanding that God and His laws are not only righteous (promoting and protecting justice and equity for all creatures – true freedom and happiness for human society) – but exist as the only ethical standard that can produce such things . IOW: Human flourishing can only happen if we follow God and His laws. There is no other way. The laws created by humans are not a viable alternative to the laws of God. They cannot produce human flourishing (justice, equity, freedom and happiness for everyone). They instead can only produce what -in the end, will hurt human society - or take away the freedom and happiness of others. If (then) we are going to cure our CCD (and secure the ability to be faithful and avoid apostasy - not matter the situation), then this is what we MUST become convinced of – which means we need to be committed to always finding the answer to this question, “Why is what God does or says the only thing that will promote and protect what is fair for everyone (that will produce human flourishing [justice, equity, freedom and happiness)?” This is how you sb reading your Bible and what you sb spending your time pondering. Once more, knowledge of God and His laws is not enough. It is not enough to produce the trust necessary to lasting loyalty or faithfulness – or obedience when it is no longer convenient.
7.1. Eve presents the perfect example of this very problem. She possessed the knowledge of God’s laws (Gen 3:2-3), but not the ethical understanding. As a result, she became easy prey to distrust (which Satan exploited – vv4-5) and the temptation to sin.
7.2. Asaph acknowledges how close he came to apostasy - as well as the deliverance that ensued once he stopped trying to understand God’s dealing with the wicked by his flesh/feelings and started seeking ethical understanding from God’s Word (Psa 73:1-22) [v17] “Until I came into the sanctuary of God” = The primary home of Scripture before the invention of the printing press. “Then I perceived their end. Surely you have set them on slippery places” = The wicked are getting away with nothing. “You cast them down to destruction…[and] when one [the wicked] awakes [on the other-side before God]…you [God] will despise [treat of no value] their form [their phantom/spirit in the afterlife].” = IOW: God will respond to them the way they responded to Him during their life (equity).
7.3. King David knew ethical understanding was the key to trusting and obeying God and therefore prays for it in (Psa 119:34) “give me understanding” = Help me to comprehend how your laws are righteous (promote and protect justice and equity for humanity). “that I may observe your law and keep it with all of my heart” = That I may be faithful to obey it with full commitment (or trust) (contra 2Ch 25:2). PNTM: Trust and obedience to Gods laws require ethical understanding.
7.4. The causal relationship that exists between ethical understanding and trust/obedience is also why Paul prays the way he does in (Col 1:9-10).
7.5. Peter uses the ethical understanding already possessed by his audience to motivate them to continued faithfulness and study of God’s Word (1Pe 2:1-3) “If you have tasted the kindness [the moral consideration; Psa 34:8] of the Lord [on you behalf]” = If you have come to an ethical understanding of God and His laws – if you have experienced that He is indeed righteous (then “grow in respect to your salvation” by putting aside “all malice…deceit…hypocrisy [etc.,]” and “long[ing] for the pure milk of the word.”). PTNM: the trust we gain through ethical understanding is not only the key to faithfulness but to “long[ing] and “grow[ing]” in our study of God’s Word.
7.6. Additional support:
1) (Pro 3:5-7 “trust in the LORD” = “fear the LORD”) w/(Pro 1:7 “fear of” [trust in] the LORD is the beginning of knowledge [understanding]”) = Trust in what the LORD (says) is the beginning (or first result) of possessing understanding --OR trust only starts (or happens) where there is ethical understanding (understanding that God and His laws are righteous [just, equitable]).
2) (Pro 1:1-3) = Notice the kind of understanding (“wisdom…understanding” etc.,) God intends to communicate through Solomon’s Proverbs, is the kind related to “righteousness, justice and equity” – which means this is also what the Proverbs are talking about when calling for us to “acquire wisdom [and] understanding” (e.g., Pro 4:5) = Acquire ethical understanding [in relation to the righteousness, justice and equity of God and His laws]!”[5]
3) (Deu 4:5-8) [v6] “so keep and do [God’s commands] for that is [the indication] of your wisdom and understanding” - i.e., the indication that you understand God’s laws to be righteous. What (then) Moses is saying: Your obedience to God indicates to the nations that you understand His laws to be righteous. Hence the reason the “peoples” (other nations) will proclaim that very thing [vv6-7]“a god so near to it” = A righteous God Whose righteous laws reflect His intimate concern and care for the well-being of His creatures [v8“statutes and judgments as righteous as this whole law”]. [6]
4) (Jer 9:23-24) = Our boasting in this life is to be in relation to understanding (knowing) God. Notice however that the understanding God demands that we possess is not ontological (understanding as it relates to His existence or attributes) but rather moral – or ethical, that we understand Him to be a God who “exercises” and “delights” in “lovingkindess” (i.e., covenant fidelity - trustworthiness), justice and righteousness.” IOW: God wants our confidence or trust (our “boast” in this life) to come from ethical understanding -meaning we have taken the time to see how what He does and says is truly righteous.
5) (Pro 7:1-15) “naïve” = Simple, open-minded – i.e., you are open to other answers/explanations because you haven’t taken the time to see how stupid and unrighteous those other answers/explanations really are. Notice the author is identifying a deficiency in ethical understanding as the key reason for this man’s sexual immorality/adultery [v7 “lacking sense”] = Lacking ethical understanding/understanding as to the righteousness, justice and equity of God’s laws w/regard to sexual activity.
6) (Mar 12:30-33) = “love” (i.e., loyalty/faithful obedience) which includes (or requires) all of our “mind” which means “understanding” (v30 w/33). Once more, faithful obedience is demonstrated to be dependent upon our ethical understanding, our comprehension (ability to see) God and His laws as righteous (just and equitable).
7.7. Finally, as an example of the boost in trust that is created when we ethically understand (comprehend the righteousness, justice, equity of) God and His laws, consider (Gen 2:16-17) = The prohibition in relation to the tree was meant to teach them that good and evil were things to be learned from God versus determined by humans. Hence the name, “the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.” It was therefore also meant to communicate that God was not making them responsible (or culpable) for what they could not do (accurately determine what is good and what is evil) given their disability in discernment (not always able to see the true value of things). God was (then) thru this prohibition, protecting them and human society from destroying themselves (Deu 6:24) = “Survival” can’t happen if people are harming one another, if society is filled with inequity and injustice. Prohibiting ourselves from determining our own laws and instead adopting (and trusting) God’s laws would make sure such harm was avoided (that true freedom and happiness in human society [human flourishing] would exist for everyone). Hence why God gave this command to Israel’s kings (Deu 17:18-24 “that his heart may not be lifted up above his countrymen” = That he may not take advantage of them thru establishing his own laws – laws which will inevitably be self-serving [unjust, inequitable]).
CLOSING CONTEMPLATION: 1) According to 2Th 2:10-12 and Eph 4:17-19, why will some people continue in their CCD and eventually go apostate (follow the deception of Satan)? 2) Based on what we have seen from God’s Word, what is wrong with this statement, "The Greeks learned in order to comprehend. The Hebrews learned in order to révere." (M. Wilson, Our Father Abraham)? 3) How does today’s teaching on ethical understanding change the way you understand the parental instruction of Deu 6:5-9 and Eph 6:4? 4) Read Deu 4:2 and seek to ethically understand the command. IOW: why is the prohibition against adding or taking away from God’s commands righteous (just, equitable)? How does your understanding of Gen 2:16-17 help in figuring out the answer? 5) Read Mat 16:24-25 and seek to ethically understand Jesus’ requirement. What makes it righteous (just, equitable)? How do Gen 2:16-17 and Phi 2:1-5 help us in figuring out the answer? 6) Read Mat 4:1-10. What evidence of ethical understanding can be gleaned from Jesus’ responses to Satan’s temptations? 7) Endogamy and no sexual activity before marriage are God’s prescription (Deu 7:1-3; Ezr 9:1-4, 10:1-3; Neh 13:23-27; 1Co 7:1-2, 39; 2Co 6:14). What makes it righteous (just, equitable)? 8) God has determined that a lake of fire will be the eternal home of most people (Luk 13:22-24; Rev 20:11-15). Why is that righteous (just, equitable)?
[1] Righteous = The state of being just or practicing justice; Justice = Equity in action; Equity = FAIR, impartial, unbiased; rules that do no harm to God or others (the true meaning of love - Rom 13:8-10); everyone getting exactly what they deserve (Psa 28:4, 62:2; Pro 24:12; Isa 3:10-11; Jer 17:10, 21:14, 32:19; Eze 7:27; Mat 16:27; Joh 5:29; Rom 2:6; 2Co 5:10; Rev 2:23, 20:12; 22:12).
[2] Christian Cognitive Dissonance and its definition are meant as a derivation of the existing term, cognitive dissonance (def.,) = The feelings of discomfort that occur when you realize that the group your belong to is in conflict with your current beliefs, practice or situation.
[3] There are other forms of anxiety and depression which are not related to CCD and therefore do not require its removal for relief (e.g., Phi 4:6-7). As such, another good sign that your anxiety or depression may be CCD is the fact that the other biblical prescriptions for solving such tensions are not working.
[4] Ethical (def.,) = Related to moral principles (righteousness, justice, equity).
[5] The focus btw of entire Bible (not just the Proverbs) is ethical. It is a book which attempts to teach – through its very selective choice of subjects and stories, God’s system of ethics (righteousness, justice, equity).
[6] One of the greatest proofs that our God (Yhwh) is the true God of heaven and earth, is His care and concern for righteousness (justice, equity) with respect to Himself and His creatures. No other god in the entirety of human history’s multitude of religions possess such a concern or make such an invitation. “The Hebrew God was unique [in that] He was reliable and just in His responses to His people. Hence, His ordinances of law were for the common human good. Nowhere else in the ancient Near East was there so systematic an appropriation of the concept of lawful, contractual obligation to express the relationship between a whole people and their god and consequently to define morality within society [than the covenants] God used to establish relationship with His people.” – Alan F. Segal (Rebecca’s Children: Judaism and Christianity in the Roman World)