Motivation without Relationships is Manipulation.
The world watches as the founder of Meta appears in Los Angeles County Superior Court in a trial to decide if his platforms are designed to be addictive. This blog is not about this case but about the biblical view of addiction. Last week’s blog was about the soul (psuche). To understand addiction, we need to understand this affliction of the psuche. We also need a cursory overview of Behaviorism. This study of human behavior was introduced in the 1800’s. Microsoft Copilot notes:
“Behaviorism argues that. . . All complex behavior can be explained through conditioning, reinforcement, and learned associations.”
Ironically, this philosophy gained notoriety because of the studies of Ivan Pavlov and his dog. He and other scientists developed their theories through observing animal behavior. Recall last week, we saw that animals were created as living souls like Adam and Eve. The difference was how and why humans were created.
Mankind was created body, soul, and spirit for the purpose of glorifying God by doing His will. But sin damaged the image of God in mankind so that we are born dead spiritually and alive to the desires of the flesh, i.e., the body and soul. Salvation begins with God’s foreknowledge in restoring the spirit of man to be the control center of life under the sun. However, the one who refuses the salvation of the soul is left to the seductive and destructive influences of the world. This is called addiction. If nothing else is gleaned from this blog, it is that behaviorism works, whether it comes from positive or negative motives and influences. Understanding how behaviorism works is not evil. It is the purpose of those who use this science that is good or evil.
It is also about whether we are willing to look within ourselves and choose to make the right decisions. This is called love (agape) in the Bible. This comes from being born of God (Jn 1:13). It also involves choosing to change what we desire in life and to focus on what glorifies the Lord and pleases Him. This is called love (philia).
Many have written about biblical love. Some say there are five terms in the Greek New Testament. Others four. But for the Christian, there are only two: agape and philia. I have written extensively on this subject both in my book and on my website. (https://www.drjerryback.com/) There is a search feature, as well as a tab that explains how to navigate the entire site.
Being born from above does not protect us from addictive behavior. Success in overcoming addictive behavior, whether developed before or after we received Christ as our savior, depends first on our relationship to Christ Jesus and then on our relationship to others and the influences of the world. James wrote, “Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed.” (Jas 5:16) Hidden addiction is the most difficult to overcome. This requires soul-salvation.