When we start with the Old Testament, we are introduced to the concept of "only God". There is nothing else, literally nothing. There is no created thing. But then God speaks and there is light, there is earth, there land and water, creatures, plant life and man. When God forms man and breathes life into him, he names him. This is the concept I would like to focus on.
God speaks as one with authority. In naming Adam, he is declaring that he is an authority over him and gives him an appropriate name. When God sees that it is not good for man to be alone, he brings all the animals to man and has man name them. From this we can see (and it is said outright later on) that man has authority over all the animals and all creation. In naming the animals, man is declaring his authority over them.
Later on, when God speaks to Jacob, he re-names him. In doing so, he is giving Jacob a new identity. Later still, when the angel speaks to Mary, he does not give her the option of naming her yet-to-be-born Son, instead God names him.
Now, moving into our personal lives, we can apply this concept to our actions as well. As parents, we name our children. By extension, we begin using nick names and pet names for those we love. But, in a negative sense, we do the same when we become angry and use unkind monikers for others. In this sense, we are taking a role for ourselves that is not ours. We do not have the right to re-name others, especially when those names are unkind or degrading.
Considering this from a psychological perspective, there is a large number of labels that are often applied to a variety of mental "disorders". These labels have the same effect upon people as actual re-naming. The power of suggestion is a great one, actually and literally moving someone into a mental perspective. If someone is diagnosed with dementia, sociopathy, autism spectrum or anything else of the like, they are being re-named, and we as Christians do not seem to even question such an act.
What is taking place when this happens and how does it affect us? Are we simply embracing what is being said and believing it? Of course, an actual medical diagnosis is different from a psychological labeling. One is a description of what is physically true, while the other is often merely a description of thought processes and behaviors, from typically a secular perspective.
We dare not allow the world to have authority over us and define us, especially when that definition is contrary to who we are in Christ. If you need medicine, take it. But don't simply swallow what secular thinking says about your habits, thoughts and behaviors.
God speaks as one with authority. In naming Adam, he is declaring that he is an authority over him and gives him an appropriate name. When God sees that it is not good for man to be alone, he brings all the animals to man and has man name them. From this we can see (and it is said outright later on) that man has authority over all the animals and all creation. In naming the animals, man is declaring his authority over them.
Later on, when God speaks to Jacob, he re-names him. In doing so, he is giving Jacob a new identity. Later still, when the angel speaks to Mary, he does not give her the option of naming her yet-to-be-born Son, instead God names him.
Now, moving into our personal lives, we can apply this concept to our actions as well. As parents, we name our children. By extension, we begin using nick names and pet names for those we love. But, in a negative sense, we do the same when we become angry and use unkind monikers for others. In this sense, we are taking a role for ourselves that is not ours. We do not have the right to re-name others, especially when those names are unkind or degrading.
Considering this from a psychological perspective, there is a large number of labels that are often applied to a variety of mental "disorders". These labels have the same effect upon people as actual re-naming. The power of suggestion is a great one, actually and literally moving someone into a mental perspective. If someone is diagnosed with dementia, sociopathy, autism spectrum or anything else of the like, they are being re-named, and we as Christians do not seem to even question such an act.
What is taking place when this happens and how does it affect us? Are we simply embracing what is being said and believing it? Of course, an actual medical diagnosis is different from a psychological labeling. One is a description of what is physically true, while the other is often merely a description of thought processes and behaviors, from typically a secular perspective.
We dare not allow the world to have authority over us and define us, especially when that definition is contrary to who we are in Christ. If you need medicine, take it. But don't simply swallow what secular thinking says about your habits, thoughts and behaviors.
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