The Warping of Minds

The Warping of Minds

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind
2 Timothy 1:7 NKJV

God created us in His image, with our own unique individuality and the ability to think and to act, and it is His intention that each of us, by reasoning with Him (Isaiah 1:18), will advance, mature, and develop the ability to differentiate the right from the wrong (Hebrews 5:14), ultimately becoming mature Christians with sound, Christlike minds.

Satan, of course, wants just the opposite: to turn us into non-thinking brutes driven by passions and fears so that we are fit only for a leash (2 Peter 2:12). Fear is part of the infection of sin (Genesis 3:10); it interferes with love, undermines thinking, and increases selfishness.

It is at the front part of our brain, the part behind our forehead, called the prefrontal cortex, that we critically reason, think, strategize, contemplate, evaluate evidence, and draw conclusions. It is deeper brain structures, called the limbic system, where we feel strong emotions, including the classic fear-driven survival drives.

When our emotion circuits fire too strongly, they impair activity in the prefrontal cortex. It is hard to reason and think when we are highly emotional. This is why the military trains soldiers intensely before placing them into combat, so that when they find themselves under fire for the first time and the adrenaline triggers near-panic levels of fear, the soldiers’ training kicks in and they don’t freeze or run away, but instead act on their training until their fear reduces enough for them to start thinking and processing what is happening. This is also why firefighters and SWAT teams go through extensive training before they are allowed to participate in high-threat, real-world situations.

When untrained or inexperienced people are placed in situations that trigger fear, they are prone to experience reductions in their capacity to think, reason, and weigh out different perspectives. The greater the fear, the greater the urgency to act, to do something to get to safety, but it also makes thinking and reasoning less efficient. In such moments of crisis, people without experience, without training, and without an understanding of what is happening will have limited ability to reason clearly and will almost always look for someone in authority to tell them what to do; they will then follow what they are told without considering for themselves if the directions are reasonable. Soldiers will look to their squad and platoon leaders, those with prior combat experience, and eagerly follow their instructions, feeling relief and reassurance that someone else knows what to do.

When gunshots are heard in a mall, people will instinctually flee or take cover. However, if they see a police officer, they will follow the officer’s instructions—even if the officer’s instructions are wrong, confused, or, worse, purposely misleading. The terrified people will not stop and evaluate whether the officer’s badge is real or fake; they won’t notice whether the officer is wearing tennis shoes rather than standard-issue black shoes. Under such levels of fear, people are impaired in their ability to discern, think, and consider the possibility that the person in uniform may be part of a terrorist cell and is directing them toward where a bomb is planted.

And, if the majority of other fleeing patrons are following the instructions of the fake officer, such group agreement further impairs individual thinking. Most people will conform to what the crowd is doing and follow the directions of the officer, even if they themselves recognize indicators that what is happening is wrong. One of the reasons for this is that there is a sense of strength in numbers, while going out on one’s own makes one feel more vulnerable. Thus, there is an inherent psychological propensity to conform to group pressure in order to feel safe, even if the group is wrong.

The greater the sense of fear, the less capable of thinking, discerning, and evaluating evidence and the more quickly people will conform to both the voice of authority and the perceived consensus of the group.

Following “the Rules” in a Crisis

Vulnerability to group conformity is either increased or decreased by life experiences and personal practice prior to being presented with the fear-inducing crisis. Those who have a pattern of surrendering their thinking and choices to others in order to be accepted are at greater vulnerability to complying with group pressure in times of crisis than the person who has a track record of thinking for self and disagreeing with the group.

One’s susceptibility to following the opinions of others rather than thinking for oneself is further magnified when the person giving the directives has greater expertise, credentials, or authority of office than one’s own station; the pressure to conform is intensified even more when it seems that everyone else agrees with the expert opinion.

In today’s social media world, it isn’t necessary to get the majority to agree; it is only necessary to get the majority of media outlets to broadcast the same messaging in order to give the perception that the majority in a community agrees. This perception will then cause many people to conform their beliefs and choices to the authoritarian view without thinking it through or examining the evidence for themselves. They accept claims, proclamations, slogans, and opinions as evidence rather than examine the actual evidence for themselves. This is especially true for those who have little prior experience with evidenced-based thinking, who instead have practiced trusting people in positions of authority to tell them the answer. This can happen in communities with physical threats that incite fear or in churches when eternal threats are presented to increase fear. In both cases, fear will lead people to accept claims, slogans, and the opinions of those in “authority” and follow them without examining the evidence and coming to their own conclusion.

Soldiers are quicker to accept the orders of a sergeant (even one they don’t know) than a civilian who has never been in the military. The soldiers do so not only because they have been conditioned to trust military personnel with rank above their own, but also because they have a greater awareness of the potential dangers than a civilian and, thus, they have greater fears, both immediate (fear of the enemy) and legal (fear of court-martial), and understand the need for quick action to reduce such risks. The greater the sense of fear, the greater the willingness to trust a superior (someone with greater experience, education, credentials, or authority of office), to follow their directives as a means to feel less anxiety (“someone knows what to do; it will be alright”) and experience increased personal control and value in the situation (“we can help by following orders”), and to feel greater power and less helplessness by either passing along the instructions to others or by ordering others to comply with the orders they have received.

Further, in high-stress combat environments, military leaders will often order soldiers to engage in activities that may or may not have any real benefit in defeating the enemy—such as digging a trench (whether needed or not), cleaning weapons (regardless of whether the weapon has been used since its last cleaning or not), and taking inventory of one’s pack (regardless of whether any item was used since the last inventory). Such tasks are intended to both remind the soldier of the impending enemy threat and to give the soldier something they can do to help them feel useful in preparing to address threats, regardless of whether their actions have any bearing on defeating the enemy or not. Such orders serve the primary purpose of reminding the soldier of the danger while simultaneously conditioning the soldier to obey orders through action, thus reinforcing trust in the chain of command. In so doing, their fear goes down and their sense of personal usefulness goes up. Repeated over time, such training conditions soldiers to follow orders even when those orders don’t make sense.

Units that train together, work together, slog through useless tasks together, face death together, and experience the loss of comrades together will develop a certain cohesion, group identity, and esprit de corps. They develop pride in being a soldier, pride in wearing the uniform, pride in marching in lockstep together, at saluting the commander, in waving the flag, and in doing things that they once thought were stupid and useless. They will recount some of their worst days of training with fondness and will gain a certain pleasure in putting other recruits through similar discomfort.

How Satan Used COVID to Degrade Minds

These same processes have occurred during COVID.

During COVID, physicians were among the first to accept CDC pandemic guidelines without actually examining the evidence for those guidelines but, instead, trusted that those in charge had more experience with infectious diseases and that their guidelines should be followed regardless of actual evidence or facts. Why? Because physicians have been conditioned to trust those with greater education, experience, or authority of medical office than themselves. But also, physicians have a greater sense of the potential danger from a new infectious disease and, thus, experience greater anxieties, which will cause them to be quicker to trust the voice of authority. Physicians also have a greater fear of legal consequences for not following governmental guidelines—loss of hospital privileges, suspension of license, increased liability, removal from insurance panels, and loss of income.

Further, physicians have been conditioned for years to follow the medical crowd, “consensus” guidelines, specialty recommendations, employer treatment algorithms, or other voices of authority rather than studying the science and evidence directly and deciding for themselves what is actually best medically.

Thus, when it came to COVID, physicians, considered some of the best and most intelligent in our society, as a group, became some of the least capable in society of being able to think through the evidence and voice disagreement with the established medical authorities—even when what was being presented by those voices was obviously and irrefutably false—like the new never-before-used in human populations mRNA “vaccines” being safe and effective. How could this be known when there was no long-term safety data or efficacy data to document the claim? Yet millions of physicians never questioned it; they just believed this assertion because it was presented by those in authority but also because believing it made their own fear go down, while simultaneously making them feel useful and empowered to do something to combat the viral enemy—give vaccines and encourage everyone to get them.

Defending the Mind

Fear and group pressure are two factors that impair thinking and increase vulnerability to follow voices of authority. God’s enemies use both to undermine individuality and enslave minds. As Christians, we are to present the truth in love while leaving others free to decide for themselves what is best in their situation.

Events like COVID place each of us in the position where we must decide how we will respond to such methods, to fear-induced group think. Will we surrender our thinking to voices of authority and peer pressure and carry out directives enforcing mandates upon others just so that we can feel safe? Or will we choose to present the truth as we understand it, in love, while respecting the individuality and autonomy of the other to make their own decision?

It is by choosing how we treat others that we decide what kind of people we become, what character we develop. And this is how every person will decide for or against Christ. Jesus said that when He returns and separates the sheep (saved) from the goats (lost), it is on the basis of one thing: “I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me” (Matthew 25:40 NIV84). Conversely, Satan uses fear to get people to lie, manipulate, coerce, and even harm others to protect self.

Don’t be caught up by the lies, misinformation, fear-messaging, and group pressures of this world. Fix your eyes on Christ, think for yourself, become a lover of truth, and develop by practice the ability to discern the right from the wrong (Hebrews 5:14).

Email me the blog whenever a new one is published.

Donate online, securely via PayPal, using your credit or debit card (no PayPal account needed, unless you want to set up a monthly, recurring payment).


cancel recurring payment

Upcoming Events

calendar

Testimonial Post Slider

Testimony 7

Ok, so last night I listened to “The Law of Liberty” and “How to Achieve Victory: Freedom, Truth and Spirtual Warfare.” These are both MY ABSOLUTE FAVORITES so far! The logic is just soooooo beautiful. I had to re-listen to them a couple of times. I just want to EXPLODE! (<< we assume with joy and happiness)

N. B., Canada

 

Testimony 14

We really appreciate your views on the judgment and they make good sense considering our free choice.

Anonymous

 

Testimony 32

The message [of Come And Reason Ministries is] for all Christians (and those who may become Christians) and not just Adventists or any other group. It is difficult to imagine why any [anyone] with intellectual and spiritual honesty could find fault with the way you explained the healing substitution concepts and the truth about God’s character, though I know some will reject and criticize. On behalf of those in our group near Tacoma, WA, thank you and your staff for all of the hard work and for sharing the Gospel in this manner. God’s message of healing love will be carried to the whole world and then Jesus will come – He promised it.

Terry U., Tacoma, WA, USA

 

Testimony 5

We listen to your bible studies lessons in our class in Montana. You actually were the main reason I decided to get a laptop, so I can go to your site and listen, read, learn, and print the class notes. I am so grateful to learn the correct view of God and his character. Now, to just have others have an interest in knowing, so I can share it with them. Good thoughts your way.

R. N., MT, USA

 

Testimony 16

Your seminars are still inspiring and changing our lives and we continue to share the principles we have learned from you. Your ministry has changed our lives!

E.W.

 

Testimony 25

I just want to say thank you so much for your conversations via YouTube. I regularly tune in to your lectures, “Let’s Talk” sessions, and many others. Through these I’ve found greater depth and meaning to God’s word. Thanks for all that you do and please continue. I’m currently working in the middle of Silicon Valley at Stanford University. I feel like God really has me in the right place right now and I’m sensing that your teachings might be part of it.

B. F., Silicon Valley, CA, USA

 

Testimony 27

Your teachings about our heavenly Father have changed my life. Thank you sooooooo very very much! I know He’s doing some serious healing in my heart and life and I look forward to each new day to learn something new about Him and to just hear you speak about Him. Thank you, forever.

Nancy S.

 

Testimony 29

Thank you for all of your work to correct misconceptions about God’s character. So many people that my husband and I have talked to seem to be against the natural law construct and view it as “errant” and “dangerous.” Having learned more about it through your blogs and lessons, I don’t really understand why they view it that way, except that it means they have to relearn theology they have known for their entire lives. But I’m so excited to relearn this. For the past few years I have been questioning how I could trust a God who punishes arbitrarily and is full of wrath for those who don’t obey His commands. That view made me afraid to “mess up” or “not be good enough,” even within my relationship with God. I really appreciated the point you bring out about God not wanting us to serve Him because we are afraid, but because we love Him.

Melissa H., IN, USA

 

Testimony 69

After reading your book, ‘Could It Be This Simple,’ someone was explaining Christianity in a way that made sense to me for the first time in my life. One morning, I simply prayed “I’m sorry and I love you.” As soon as I silently said that, I could literally feel God’s presence and light flood down on me from above and fill me up with love and joy. I sat there crying my eyes out, because I was so overpowered with this feeling of love and joy. It was just so incredible. I hope that more people can read this book and get a blessing from it. It’s really amazing.

Rachael H.

Testimony 8

Thank you for the ministry you are sharing with us, it is a real blessing to us and especially to my husband and myself! You are encouraging us to think for ourselves and not just to except everything, without thinking it through, with God’s word!

M.K., USA

 

Testimony 63

I’ve been very blessed by “The God Shaped Brain” and this ministry, through video and podcast, over the last few years. It’s truly opened up my eyes more to the truth about God and the importance of that truth in the present world. The message is so inviting, freeing and enlightening and MORE people need to know about it. I believe it is the last message that can truly, not only prepare a people for salvation and translation, but vindicate the character of God.

Michael V., Yonkers, NY, USA

 

Testimony 68

Your message of design law vs imperial law is so uplifting and makes so much sense- it is a game changer for me. The fact that Jesus’s death is not a big payment by an angry God is , quite frankly, a relief.

Laura G., London, Ontario, Canada

 

Testimony 31

It was very touching to hear the testimony of your class share how viewing God’s true character has changed their lives. My feelings are the same – there is so much freedom in knowing that God LOVES me – regardless of my… just, REGARDLESS! I’m still blown away by the true gospel, the fact that God is not ready to strike us when we fail. He is not arbitrary. He simply loves us and warns of the natural consequences because He can’t stand to see us suffer. I AM IN LOVE WITH THIS GOD!!!

Ceil V.,  UT, USA

 

Testimony 70

I have been watching you for many years and have learned to love God with all my heart. I was raised by a loving Christian mother that had been lied to about who God really was, so our religious upbringing was hell fire and damnation. As soon as I was old enough and moved out, I not only left the church, I ran as fast as I could to get away from it. Sad to say, it wasn’t until the past couple of years that I learned and understand who my Father really is and how much He loves me. I understand God’s Design Laws (which make sense) and when I’m teaching my church Bible study class, I’m able to really put to use the things I’ve been learning and Holy Spirit is leading. Thank you for introducing me to my Father of true, pure love. Everyday with Him is new and exciting. One thing that breaks my heart is that I didn’t know Him sooner. God Bless you and your ministry!

Judy Phelps, Reno, NV, USA

Testimony 51

I Love This Ministry!!!!!!! I see first hand how this message is desperately needed, how erroneous beliefs about God and His Character negatively affect humanity at every level. I thank God for your ministry, as I was searching on my own and was discovering some of your same beliefs and was blown away when I found your ministry. I know you hear it all the time, but it is truly life changing. May God continue to reveal His Will to you and Bless you!

Eric S., Sanford, FL, USA