How Do I Change?
Channel: Daily Disciple
Date: 2019-06-03

What causes a change in human behavior, attitude, and belief has been greatly debated over the course of human history.
Psychological thought, in the form of Behaviorism,  such as suggested by B.F. Skinner, would argue that change takes place with the use of positive and negative reinforcements. These reinforcements are designed to curb behavior until it reaches its desired result.
In addition, John Watson, who provided seminal writing in this area, believed that environment almost exclusively controls behavior. According to Watson, personal change only takes place when the necessary external forces are adjusted to result in the desired behavior.
Practical Behaviorism is better known as "behavior modification", which is commonly applied in school, work, and parenting. In fact, it has such a broad reach throughout our society that people are frequently unaware that this method is being applied to them or others. Moreover, even in many Christian communities, this idea of "behavior modification" is often something to be celebrated.
What's the problem with that, you may ask? People often report that the use of these strategies and methods yield the desired result in their classmate, co-worker, or child.  They will report that they get the external change and desired result they wanted—or do they?
You see, it really depends on the internal motivation rather than external behavior. For example, in parenting, is the positive external change that I see the result of a genuine "heart-change" or a childish desire to demonstrate better outer appearance, so to avoid greater punishment. Or is the external behavior a true, real, lasting change?
Let's think about it. Behavior modification has little impact on the heart of a person. The focus is only external. This dismissal of the inner heart attitude drives the belief that assumes that only the behavior is is important. This attitude will harden the heart and weakens the conscience.
It is evident in God's word that He desires us to engage in His transforming within our mind and heart, which will modify or change our behavior towards more of what God wants for us. (Romans 12:2)
Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. Ezekiel 36:26
God begins with our heart in salvation, removing our heart of stone and giving us a heart of flesh—He has enacted change within us. God also is intent on focusing on our heart in our sanctification, that is, our growing in holiness—He is continuing to enact change within us all our lives.


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