07.2 How do we change? Introducing technologies of change.

By asking the question “How do we change?”, we assume at least two things: first, that something is wrong with us that needs to be changed, and second that that change can actually happen.

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Dear reader, once again I’d like to remind you that these posts are “drafts” of what’s to come in the actual book. I’ve borrowed the phrase “technologies of change” from Simeon Zahl’s book The Holy Spirit and Christian Experience, and I love it. But I’m afraid it feels a little forced here, and doesn’t truly aid understanding. Your thoughts?

Also, thank you for bearing with any mistakes and clunky writing! The busyness of Fall has only increased, and at this point I feel it’s more important to plow ahead than to make sure each of these drafts is carefully proofread.

Thank you for being on this journey with us! I’m so grateful for your support and feedback!

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In the last chapter I covered a lot of theory, in the next several chapters I want to get my head out of the clouds and talk nuts and bolts. But first, we need to lay a little more groundwork for understanding. 

By asking the question “How do we change?”, we assume at least two things: first, that something is wrong with us that needs to be changed, and second that that change can actually happen. 

What’s wrong with me that needs to be changed?

Jesus’ answer is very simple: my heart needs to change. He said, “It’s not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth—this defiles a person. …what comes out of the mouth comes from the heart, and this defiles a person. For from the heart comes evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, sexual immoralities, thefts, false testimonies, slander.” (Matthew 15:11;18-19).

By “heart” I mean my desires and my loves. These are the engines that drive behavior. I pursue what my “heart is set on.” 

Sin is like a plantar’s wart. You can see the ugly surface behaviors, but treating those doesn’t do anything to fix the root of the problem. I might be able to alter a behavior or two but I have to dig out the seed buried deep down under the skin for real change to happen. In the same way my spiritual problem is that my desires and affections aren’t for God. My heart isn’t set on God.  

And hearts are extraordinarily difficult to change. As you’ll know, if you’ve ever tried to convince someone that their love interest isn’t good for them, or tried to reason someone out of their strongly held religious or political positions. 

More knowledge has little effect on me. More information, more awareness, has very little power to change me in significant ways. I know, for example, that eating a bag of Oreos is bad for me, but honestly, that information has done little to change my behavior. I really love the taste of those little cookies, especially when they are baptized by total immersion in milk! And the discovery that I’m lactose intolerant—or lactose “incompetent” as my kids like to say—hasn’t changed my behavior much either.