Christian View of Mind Control

How God Thinks

God’s Ultimate Promise:

“I will put my laws into their minds, and write them in their hearts:” (Hebrews 8:10, 10:16).

This simply means that God’s final plan for man is to have a mind and heart just like His. (His laws reflect who He is and what He is like.)

God gave man a part to play in this:  “Be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God” (Romans 12:2).

That’s where our story about “mind control” begins.

• Something is wrong with our minds (they need to be renewed or transformed).

• That mind can be changed into something so “good,” it is perfectly acceptable to God. 

• What has been the barrier?

• “Conforming” to this world (being at variance with God’s ways).

• He wants man to submit to things that He has approve

What then are our tools to make this happen? (This is really exciting!)

Tool One – The Holy Spirit (One of heaven’s divine Beings)
(His chief role is to personally work with man’s mind)

• He will guide us (John 16:13).

• He comforts us (John 14:16, 18).

• He stays near us.

• Eventually, He changes our hearts to be like His (Ezekiel 36:26-27):

• “A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: … I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do [them].”

• All of these promises are amazing. The “mind” can be changed in a way that God approves of.

Tool Two – The Bible – (God’s heart-changing manual)

• This is not a trite tool! It is for real, powerful and one of the best ways to get the Holy Spirit working with us!

• “All scripture is given by inspiration of God [that’s why it is called the ‘Word of God’], and is profitable for … correction [and] for instruction” (II Timothy 3:16) (Sounds like an excellent guide book, doesn’t it?!)

• This tool is so effective when combined with God’s Spirit that it is called a “weapon!”

• “For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it
  obedient to Christ” (II Corinthians 10:3-5 – NIV). Incredible!

Therapeutic Challenge:

By now you can see that man’s techniques to “discover self” or “manipulate the inner being” can only deal with an already problematic or sinful heart.

• God, who created us, said that we need a power outside of man – plain, simple, period.

• Any program that tries to change man’s heart outside of God’s way will only be temporary.

By now you can also see that the Bible talks about “spirit” beings – an invisible world!

• “For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together” (Colossians 1:16-17 – NIV

• The Bible says that those invisible beings are in “heavenly realms.”

• “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places” (Ephesians 6:12).

That is another reason the “therapeutic ways” of man will be incomplete.

• The mind and heart problem is related to invisible “powers of darkness.”

• The spirit beings of wickedness.

• The spirit world of Satan or the devil is so real and powerful that the Bible said in the last days of this world’s history, many will follow “seducing spirits.”

• “Now the Spirit spaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils” (I Timothy 4:1).

• Did you note who gave that Bible message? The “Spirit” – God’s Spirit – a divine
  Being – the One who really changes the heart and mind!

Any treatment or program that has lasting effects brings God into the equation.

• There is no need for an “altered state of consciousness.”

• The mind must be clear and open to the “influence” of God’s Spirit the Bible calls the “Holy Spirit.”

• There is no need for hypnotic induction with verbal or non-verbal manipulation.
• There is no need to move into an altered state of suggestibility.

God’s plan is to help one know the difference between right and wrong, truth and error, and then He provides power to follow His way!

• Can the devil’s spirit world control a person?

• Read Acts 16:16-18.

• That’s another reason why any therapy or help be only in a program that associates with Jesus Christ. His Spirit is what really transforms – permanently – for good.

• Satan can control the mind, if one permits. Often, when that is done it is very hard to heal the brokenness.

Peter, one of Jesus disciples, said: “Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed”
(I Peter 1:13 – NIV).

God’s Way the Right Way

There are many man-made ways to “discover the god in us.” That god is not God’s Spirit.

• The Bible (remember that second tool) says exactly how to get help.

• “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life’” (John 14:6).

There Is No Hope Through:

• Ouija boards

• Crystal balls

• Psychic power exercises

• Complex liturgy in churches

• Journeys “within”

• Breathing techniques

• Zen

• Yoga

• Neurolinguistic programming (NLP)

• Hypnosis

• Transcendent meditation (TM)

• Etc.

God simply wants us to give our “will” (power of choice) to Him! To fall in love with Him.  When we meditate on Jesus, when we concentrate on Him, things begin to change automatically.  He not only is a beautiful “person” to study and learn about, He has every persons best interest in mind.  

• Joshua, that ancient leader of the Jewish people who followed Moses, said: “Choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that [were] on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD” (Joshua 24:15).

• It’s really that simple. Choosing God’s way or man’s (which invariably is against God’s plan).

Some may argue, “I want a power I can touch and see. I don’t relate to this ‘faith’ stuff!”

• Most everyone feels that way.  But—there is a very special “sensory” way to relate to God!

• Here’s God’s plan:

• Rely on the men who I had write the Bible. They had special contact with Me or My
  representatives (angels).” What they said is precise and helpful. Some even saw Jesus personally. Not a bad place to start!

• “Follow My instruction and I’ll make a promise to you”:

• You’ll eventually be without any problems or heartaches (I Corinthians 15:53-55)
• You’ll eventually live forever with me (I Thessalonians 4:17).

That’s a mighty good deal.

• There’s a story in the Bible of a king named Jeroboam.

• He led ten of the twelve ancient Jewish tribes.

• But – he had a problem:

• He was an innovator of worship and helping his people.

• He was an innovator of worship and helping his people.  

• The result? (I Kings 14). He was killed and his people were taken into captivity – never to be saved.

That’s exactly what one is faced with if the mind is tinkered with through “innovative” plans that are not God’s way.

• Is it easy to “activate” God’s plan?

• Not if you go it alone.

• If you have counselors who know Jesus Christ, they can guide you into His way.

The program(s) that follow God’s techniques will make one have peace, and you’ll really “breathe” a lot easier!