A Sound Mind
By J.R. Ensey
Tucked away in Paul’s second letter to Timothy is this pertinent fact: “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind” (II Timothy 1:7). Arguably, “a sound mind” is not the best translation of the Greek sophronismou. Virtually every modern translation renders it as “self-control” or “self-discipline.” The KJV translators were on the right track—self-control, motivated by the indwelling Spirit of God, flows out of a sound mind.
Today, however, the trend is to call all situations that feature a lack of self-discipline a “disorder” or “addiction.” For example, a recent Houston Chronicle article quoted a group of psychiatrists as suggesting that obsession with video games be listed as a disorder. If that were done, clients would come under the psychiatrists’ care, for a fee of course, and the insurance would pay for therapy. What a neat package for the psychology industry, but we all pay for the therapy through higher insurance premiums.
The mind of man in its unregenerate form is subject to “every evil work” (James 3:16) and the other works of the flesh (Galatians 5:19-21). There is little motivation to self-discipline. Various cultures of the West and the nations they invested in during the period of colonialization tried to encourage citizens to behave themselves and conform to acceptable rules of decency inspired by the Holy Scriptures. Many of the rules were rigidly enforced, with penalties for violation like flogging or the stocks. But rules alone do not provide long-term motivation to live right. The cry for “freedom” will soon overturn the rules one by one. We are seeing this happen in America right now, following the lead of the European nations.
To read the daily newspaper is disheartening. Has the world gone mad? No, they are merely dispensing with accepted norms of decency, fairness and integrity, replacing them with outrageous displays of selfishness, debauchery and even criminal behavior that is brought on by the switch to personal freedoms and “rights.” The more they yield to this degeneracy the more their minds become confused and darkened. As Paul said in Romans1:21-24: “Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves.”
When we know what is driving people and the true source of their problems, we can prescribe a solution. To be unaware of the spiritual aspects of people’s difficulties and dilemmas is to be tempted to offer behavior modification through drugs or long-term psychological “therapy.” Studies have shown that people left alone without drugs or therapy often work themselves out of their dilemmas quicker than if they were visiting a therapist weekly or taking prescription drugs. Such conclusions, however, threaten job security of those involved in the psychology and pharmaceutical industries.
Rather than study psychological theories (and we do not condemn to hell those who do), soteric counselors focus on relating the person to the Lord and to the Word of God. When one conforms to the Word and will of God, most human problems are simpler to understand and solve. When one has a transformed mind (Romans 12:2), he can see more clearly how to relate to others and the world around him.
Paul made the case for this approach in his letter to the Ephesians 4:17-24: “This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as [unsaved] Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. But ye have not so learned Christ; if so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: that ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; and be renewed in the spirit of your mind; and that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.”
“Putting on the new man” won’t make all of one’s problems go away overnight. It won’t undo past failures, crimes, or excuse one from paying for stupid behavior. But it will help us to make wise decisions based on “righteousness and true holiness.” It will give provide a right-thinking new mind that will produce right living. The new man will manifest “power, and love and self-discipline.” That is what the soteric approach is all about.
Isn’t that a better basis for counseling than the psychological model? And it certainly beats psychotropic drugging. “The word of the Lord is right, and all his works are done in truth” (Psalm 33:4).
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