BiblicalInsights.net

     The soul of man is the immortal nature of man.  Paul wrote, “For who among men knoweth the things  of a man, save the spirit of the man, which is in him? (I Cor. 2:11).  The part that knows is the mind or heart.  This is the inward part of man.  There is an outward part of man (the body or the flesh) and an inward part of man (the spirit or soul) (2 Cor. 4:16). 
     The soul of man originates with God.  God is the Father of spirits.  “Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?” (Heb. 12:9).  God gives each person a spirit or soul at the time of conception.  When we die, the body and soul are separated.  “Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it” (Eccl. 12:7).  Whenever Rachel died, the Bible states, “And it came to pass, as her soul was in departing, (for she died) that she called his name Benoni: but his father called him Benjamin” (Gen. 35:18).  Whenever Jesus died, He stated, “Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit” (Luke 23:46).  His body was placed in the tomb of Joseph of Arimathea and His spirit went to the Hadean realm in Paradise ((Luke 23:43).  James affirms, “For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also” (James 2:26).  
     God created man in his image (Gen. 2:27).  This means that since God is a spirit (John 4:24), man has a spirit too!  Since man possesses a spirit/soul, he has intellect, reason, will, emotion and self-awareness (conscience).  These characteristics separate man from animals.  Animals do not have a spirit/soul.  God freely allowed man to kill animals, especially for food.  But, God forbade man from killing another human being. 
     Human beings are special in the sight of God.  The scheme of redemption was purposed by God to save man from the consequences of sin.  God shows His love for man by sending Jesus into this world to seek and save the lost (eternally damned because of sin).  The value of the soul exceeds the value of the entire world.  Jesus said, “For what is  a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul?” (Matt. 16:26).
     There are several thoughts that I would like to make regarding the significance of the Bible’s teaching about the soul of man.  First, the reality of the soul completely destroys the materialistic view of man.  If organic, macro-evolution is true, then man does not possess a soul.  Man would be nothing more than a mere animal.  This theory is false!  Second, reincarnation is false.  This doctrine affirms that the soul must pass through numerous transmigrations before it reaches its final state.  The doctrine of metempsychosis (the idea that at death the soul passes into another body, whether of an animal or a person) is false (Heb. 9:27)!  Third, the idea of total hereditary depravity is false!  This doctrine affirms that we are “born in sin.”  However, since God is the originator of the soul of man, the soul must be pure at the time God creates it.  The soul does not originate from the physical genetic material of the parents.  Hence, there is no “inherited sin.”  Each person sins whenever he/she transgresses the commandments of God (I John 3:4).  Infants are born pure!  Fourth, the scheme of redemption is valid and the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from sin (Heb. 9:14).  If we accept the materialistic/humanistic view of the world, we eliminate the need for redemption.  The fact that man possesses a soul, and that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God (Rom. 3:23) proves the need for a savior.  We have just such a savior.  It is Jesus Christ.  Salvation is in Him and only in Him (Acts 4:12).

     According to a recent English Church Census, regular churchgoers (of all denominations) amount to 6.3% of the total population.  The proportion of churches per individuals is now one church to 1,340 people.  The size of the average Sunday congregation is 84.  Between 1998 and 2005, there was an overall decline in regular church attendance of 15% –and the trend continues.  Only 2.5 percent of the population is attending Bible-based churches (Already Gone, Ken Ham and Britt Beemer, pp. 10-12).
     Christianity is on the decline in England.  Could the same thing be happening in the United States?  Ham and Beemer warn: “We are one generation away from the evaporation of church as we know it.” (p. 25).  George Barna indicates that a majority of twenty-somethings–61% of today’s young adults–had been churched at one point during their teen years, but they are now spiritually disengaged (i.e. not actively attending church, reading the Bible, or praying) (Already Gone, p. 19).  The top ten reasons for “dropouts” are as follows:
     -12% Boring Service
     -12% Legalism
     -11% Hypocrisy of leaders
     -10% Too political
     -9% Self-righteous people
     -7% Distance from home
     -6% Not relevant to personal growth
     -6% God would not condemn to hell
     -5% Bible not relevant/not practical
     -5% Couldn’t find my preferred denomination in area
     (Already Gone, p. 29)
     Most people assume that students are lost in college where they meet with ideas that challenge their faith.  But it turns out that only 11 percent of those who have left the church did so during the college years.  Almost 90 percent of them were lost in middle school and high school (Already Gone, p. 31).  About 40 percent of them were lost in middle school and elementary school. 
     The major challenge seems to be to the truthfulness and believability of the Bible.  Secular humanism (denial of the existence of God and affirmation of the theory of organic evolution) have taken their tole.
     -39.8% first had doubts about the accounts and stories of the Bible in middle school.
     -43.7% had their first doubts in high school.
     -10.6% had their first doubts during college. (Already Gone, p. 32).
     Young people are being influenced to accept the theory of evolution and reject the Bible account of creation.  When you add to this the disintegration of moral values and the destruction of the home, you have a combination that is challenging the basic values and principles of Christianity.  I might add that postmodernism, with its rejection of absolute truth and affirmation of acceptance of all religions as equal, has also destroyed faith in the objective truth of God’s Word and eroded faith in the Bible and New Testament Christianity.
     To counter this decline, we must reaffirm the basic principles of Christianity and do a better job of showing the evidence for the truthfulness of Christianity.  Christianity is rooted in historical and verifiable evidences that cannot be overthrown.  I personally invite you to investigate the evidence for Christianity.  Many have done so in the past and have accepted the truth that salvation from sin is available to all people based upon the merits of the death of Jesus Christ and Him alone!

     Patrick Carnes wrote, Out of the Shadows, a book designed to help identify and overcome sexual addiction.  In this book, he gives the signs of compulsive sexuality which can be a helpful guide to diagnosing sexual addiction.  The formula he gives is called SAFE. 
     1. It is a secret.  Anything that cannot pass public scrutiny will create the shame of a double life.
     2. It is abusive.  It is abusive to self or others.  Anything that is exploitive or harmful to others or degrades oneself will activate the addictive system.
     3. It is used to avoid or is a source of painful feelings.  If sexuality is used to altar moods or results in painful mood shifts, it is clearly part of the addictive process.
    4. It is empty of a caring, committed relationship.  Fundamental to the whole concept of addiction and recovery is the healthy dimension of human relationships.  The addict runs a great risk by being sexual outside of a committed relationship.
     Perhaps you can use the SAFE formula to help determine the danger of addiction in your life or the lives of others.  (taken from Out of the Shadows, p. 189).

     Drew Pinsky in his book, The Mirror Effect, identifies three parenting styles associated with the development of narcissistic traits.  Let’s consider each one.
     First, there is the blatantly lenient, indulgent and permissive style.  This style is characterized by: too much freedom, blaming others when the child gets into trouble and looking the other way whenever the child acts out (p. 219).  This style is further identified by a lack of interest on the part of the parent in the child.  There is no investment of emotional or physical time with the child.  Also, the parent displays self-interest.  The parent won’t risk second-guessing the child’s behavior because his achievements or career benefits the family.  Parents often teach the child that he is superior to others and entitled to special treatment regardless of his behavior (p. 219).
     Second, there is the enmeshed and manipulative style.  Enmeshed and manipulative parents often see themselves as intensely loving and protective, but, they selfishly undermine their child’s development of an independent sense of self by allowing their identity as a parent to become completely enmeshed in their child’s life (pp. 220-221).
   Third, there is the unloving and strict style.  Narcissism can develop when a child’s sense of self is shaped by a parent who is cold and hard, but nevertheless regards his or her child as gifted or special (p. 223). 
     What are some of the ways narcissism is expressed in teens and young adults? 
     1. Victimizing or bullying.  People with narcissistic personalities who experience social rejection are more aggressive–explaining why some teens are more prone to violence than others. (p. 201).
     2. Hypersexuality. Empty arousal of sexuality.  Use of sex to encourage the teenage inclination to avoid closeness and rely on strategies that help manage emptiness and unpleasant emotion (p. 202).
     3. Body image.  Multiple piercings, tatoos, eating disorders are all signs that a teen is distanced from his or her feelings or emotions (p. 203).  Others: substance abuse, self-mutilation, cutting, aggression, hypersexuality, are all ways teens use to control their emotions. People who employ these behaviors would rather destroy themselves than trust and be vulnerable with another person (p. 204).
     4.  Alcohol or drug abuse.  Normalizing substance abuse by teenagers is a huge mistake (p. 205).  How do we do this?  By saying things like, “Oh, kids will always experiment–that’s what they do.”
     5.  Self-harming/ acting out.  Emotional pain and unregulated emotions produce aggression.  Video game violence, ultimate fighting, and some reality television shows glorify aggression.  Young people mimic these behaviors and act out themselves.