rationale christian thinking part 4

I need to get the series on Rationale Christian Thinking completed (part 1, part 2, and part 3). Here is where it all comes together. It starts when we see (or my likely someone tells us) about some un-Christlike behavior in ourselves - or we recognize an emotion that is not consistent with the fruit of the Spirit. If we don't like our behavior/emotion, we try to control it. While that is right to do, that is to exercise self-control, it is ultimately not enough - we will eventually fail if that is all that we do.

In addition to trying to manage behavior/emotion, some look at the activating event (A), i.e., what they perceive to be the cause of their behavior/emotion. But who among us can really completely control our environment? Yet we are deceived, we do all kinds of things like ask our small group to pray for that boss that isn't treating us fairly, etc.. In the end, this doesn't work either.

Instead, we should use what is called Rationale Self Analysis. It runs something like this.

1. record the Activating Event. What was your perception of the event? Be specified regarding what you saw or heard but avoid feelings.
2. record the Consequential Feeling. Use feeling words not idea words and typically there is more than one feeling. Try to be accurate in terms of the degree of the feeling, e.g., bothered versus frustrated versus angry versus furious.
3. record the Decisive Behavior. What did you do or say as a response to these feelings. Is all of this consistent? Did you record a strong behavior that cannot be explained by a correspondingly strong feeling? If so, go back to rethink this and be honest. If the behavior was weak but the feeling strong, take a closer look at what you really did? You probably aren't aware of all of your responses. And then ask if all of that came from what you thought was the activating event or was there some pre-existing situation that is what really cause the degree of what you felt/did?
4. record the Belief System. What do you believe about A that explains C and subsequently D. Be sure to spend time on this. Don't fall into the trap of thinking it is A. What do you really, really believe about A that brought on the rest? You may need to go back and rework the whole thing.

Now we can move to steps 1 through 4. Like ABCD, we will take them out of sequence. Above we did ACD then B. Steps 1234 are the corollary and therefore we will do 134 then 2.

1. Reality Check - instead of your perception of the Activating Event, what are the facts? How would a video or audio recorder replay it back?
2. Feeling Goals - if this or something like it happens in the future, how would you like to feel (should be consistent with Scripture)?
3. Behavior Goals - if this or something like it happens in the future, how would you like to act (should be Christ-like)?
4. Challenge Belief System - is the thought fact, i.e., objective reality, Biblical principle, etc.? Is the thought protecting/nurturing my life either physically, emotionally, or spiritually? Is this thought helping me meet my goals? Is this thought keeping me out of inappropriate conflict with others? Is this thought keeping me out of inappropriate conflict with myself?

The above will lead you to the thought or belief that is the root of the feelings and behavior that are inconsistent with the Christian life you desire. You should be able to see that it is not the Activating Event that is the cause, but rather an unhealthy Belief System.

With the old belief now clearly identified, it is time to identify a new belief - one that is Biblical and rooted in truth. It is then that we can pray and ask that the Holy Spirit make that truth alive in our hearts and minds. Getting our eyes off blaming the event to properly identify the false truth is the first step. Finding the real truth is the second. Making that truth reality day by day and moment by moment is the goal. This is done by renewing ourselves in the Word and through the power of the Holy Spirit.

When we can live out our lives regardless of circumstance but based on God's Truth, we will then see the fruit of the Spirit in all that we say or do.

Technorati Tags: Christian living