I’ve been reading about cognitive dissonance lately-I know, I know…I’m a nerd-and it has made me start thinking about the role it plays in the spiritual life of a Christian. If you aren’t familiar with the theory of cognitive dissonance don’t worry. I’ll go through the basics before I explain what I have dubbed (probably not original content) “spiritual dissonance.”
Cognitive Dissonance
According to the state of having inconsistent thoughts, beliefs, or attitudes, especially as relating to behavioral decisions and attitude change. The key word here is “inconsistent.” Often you can easily change that word to “contradictory” or “conflicting.” Basically what is happening is that a person’s mind is housing two opposing thoughts and this often distresses them. This leads to them developing a new belief to reconcile these conflicting thoughts.
Example
A magic trick where a magician levitates in front of a crowd and someone moves a hula hoop over/under his body to show there are no strings or platforms there. A woman watching the trick has the belief that magic does not exist and/or can be explained by logic. While watching, her eyes tell her that an act of magic is taking place right in front of her. At that point in time, she is mentally/emotionally (possibly even physically) distressed because only one of the two beliefs can be true.
The next step in this process is to either reject one of the beliefs (whether through denial or proving one to be false) or to develop a new belief to reconcile the two. She could reject this by saying to herself, “That must be a trick hula hoop” or “maybe he found a way to levitate with powerful magnets.” Otherwise, she could create a new thought such as, “My eyes are playing tricks on me. This is just an illusion.”
Most of us have had a similar experience. It can be very uncomfortable and, if the illusionist is talented enough, we can truly be at a loss. People experiencing grief go through cognitive dissonance in the first stage: denial. They hold the belief that they can not lose whatever has been lost and at the same time their senses are telling them that they have indeed lost the person or thing in question.
Spiritual Dissonance
Now let’s relate this to the life of a Christian and specifically to their spiritual life.
Romans 7 (NASB)
14 For we know that the Law is spiritual, but I am of flesh, sold into bondage to sin. 15 For what I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate. 16 But if I do the very thing I do not want to do, I agree with the Law, confessing that the Law is good. 17 So now, no longer am I the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me. 18 For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not. 19 For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want. 20 But if I am doing the very thing I do not want, I am no longer the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me.
21 I find then the principle that evil is present in me, the one who wants to do good. 22 For I joyfully concur with the law of God in the inner man, 23 but I see a different law in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin which is in my members. 24 Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death? 25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, on the one hand I myself with my mind am serving the law of God, but on the other, with my flesh the law of sin.
If you’ve attended church for a year or two or if you’ve spent some time studying the book of Romans, chances are you have heard of this passage. This passage may be titled something like “Conflict of Two Natures” or “Flesh vs Spirit.” Now, this war between good and evil is nothing new, but something interested is happening here. Typically when we see good and evil competing with each other it just happens to be two clearly separated individuals. Here we see the war taking place within one man. I could go on and on about the things Paul teaches us here, but I want to skip ahead to the last two verses I quoted.
In verse 24 we see distress similar to that of someone experiencing cognitive dissonance. In verse 25 we can see why. Paul says, “…on the one hand I myself with my mind am serving the law of God, but on the other, with my flesh the law of sin.” What stands out to me here is that he says ‘with my mind.’ Previously he put it this way, “the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want.” It sounds to me like Paul’s spirit is telling him to do the law of God while his flesh is telling him to do the law of sin.
Now I don’t know about you, but I know what this guy is talking about! Paul talks about this conflict again in his letter to the Church in Corinth.
1 Corinthians 2
14 But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised. 15 But he who is spiritual appraises all things, yet he himself is appraised by no one. 16 For who has known the mind of the Lord, that he will instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ.
The thoughts of the natural man and the thoughts of the Spirit of God are at war with each other within the same person. This is not only distressing but can be downright depressing if you are without Christ. This brings us the last step of cognitive dissonance: reconciliation. However, this reconciliation is so much greater than what we see in other areas of cognitive dissonance.
You see, Jesus Christ died for us so that we could know the truth and be set free. (John 8:32) He died for us so that we could overcome death and have abundant life. (John 10:10) In the process, he has enabled to “have the mind of Christ.” Having this mind essentially allows us to eliminate our “spiritual dissonance” by replacing our conflicting beliefs with His truth.
Conclusion
I’ll wrap up with two statements.
- If you are in the category of people who don’t have the mind of Christ and you haven’t experience the peace that “passes/transcends understanding”, then this is for you. I’ve experienced the distress that comes from being confused about right and wrong, truth and lies. It is miserable. There is a way out of that. The Bible is true and God doesn’t want you to be confused.
- Maybe you have the mind of Christ, but just like Paul and I, you still have moments where the “natural man” or “the flesh” rears its ugly head. In these moments you will no doubt experience what I’ve been talking about here. Let me remind you that Jesus Christ died so that you don’t have to fight that fight. We don’t have to struggle with that confusion and distress anymore. Listen to the voice of truth and allow him to reconcile you to the Father.
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