"Freedom" and what we allow access to our minds
What we think about matters greatly. We cannot be too intentional about what we dwell upon. I came across a quote by Dallas Willard, in Renovation of the Heart, that is perceptive.
"Our present American culture boasts of complete freedom in what one sees, says, and hears. Many professing Christians are paralyzed or even destroyed by adopting "freedom" as a lifestyle. For they allow images into their that eventually overwhelm them. If we allow everything access to your mind, we are simply asking to be kept in a state of mental turmoil and bondage. For nothing enters the mind without having an effect for good or evil."
A good word...
By the way, thanks for the comments...i will interact with them soon...keep 'em coming.
"Our present American culture boasts of complete freedom in what one sees, says, and hears. Many professing Christians are paralyzed or even destroyed by adopting "freedom" as a lifestyle. For they allow images into their that eventually overwhelm them. If we allow everything access to your mind, we are simply asking to be kept in a state of mental turmoil and bondage. For nothing enters the mind without having an effect for good or evil."
A good word...
By the way, thanks for the comments...i will interact with them soon...keep 'em coming.
Labels: Dallas Willard, Mind, Spiritual Formation, Thinking Christianly
posted by Jonathan Morrow at
3:02 PM
4 Comments:
The question is, what's the practical effect of that statement you quoted? If it's to involve the government in regulating what we can tune into on television, radio, and the Internet, then I say, "No!" If, on the other hand, the take away is that we need to discipline what we invite into our homes and therefore our hearts and minds, I say, "Right on!" A people that are free from government tyranny are free to submit themselves to God personally and communally to rule over their passions, but not to impose their beliefs by force on others.
Jonathan,
Thanks for finding somebody who's willing to say that it does make a difference what we watch and listen to. Our values and ultimately our behavior are influenced by what we experience and the company we keep, including our TV's and monitors. As far as government curbing back pornography, gross violence, and other garbage that depicts and glorifies harmful behavior, I say why not? That's what laws are for. Because some people don't exercise discipline. That's not tyranny, that's protection. We're not free to run red lights or murder people, our we? Maybe it's time to stop the leaks in the boat before we all go down together.
Rob Beaird
where can that quote by willard be found in his book? thank you.
Thanks for the input.
In response to jwsherrod - the context of the quote refers to freedom to do whatever one wants or desires being the highest value...not censorship per se. the diff between a classical def of freedom (e.g., Aquinas) freedom is the power to do as i ought vs. modern view of freedom is the power to do what I want - my desires are the only limitation. thanks for questions...
drbrown3 - it is from Renovation for the Heart in the chapter on Transforming the Mind part 1.
rob - you are right it absolutley makes a difference...you raise a good question especially regarding the pornography issue and the common good...as statistical studies keep coming out this is more like an epidemic - effecting familes, jobs, expectations, abuse...I think this will become a public good issue, not a religious issue...when I don't know. 2nd hand smoke is bad for people...so is pornography...
morality is always legislated; it just depends on whose. As Christians, i think the best udnerstanding is that we promote issues of common good - family, unborn, saftey, justice etc....
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