The person, the puppy, the crocodile, and the fleshly man.

I will say that this is a work in progress. My thoughts are being laid before you as I work through an issue. I recently finished listening to a webinar on the science of conflict. It was very good and I appreciated it. There was one concept that I had studied before but this time it caught my attention in a new way. It was the breakdown of the human brain.

Here is the summary:
Reptile Brain- crocodile - basic instinct safety, food, reproduction
Feeling Brain- Puppy- feeling of belonging emotions
Rational Brain- Person- reasoning person, purpose in life

The idea one participant threw out that this conflict sounded like Paul's war in himself as talked about in Romans 7. The logical end of this idea is the "flesh nature" is really just the puppy and the croc. A natural part of who we are. Leading us to the conclusion that living in the flesh is natural and thus could not be the result of sin. All of life therefor is just trying to be a better person.

I don't think the instructor was making that conclusion, but some were. There is a problem with this. First, these instincts are never referred to as sin in the Bible. Seeking safety, emotional security, and the like are all promises God wants to give to his people. So where is the struggle?

The struggle is there is a fourth aspect of the flesh nature which wants to live according to its own wishes. This person isn't in the croc or the feeling brain (though it is where they act out) it is in the rational brain. The reason this isn't seen in science or in brain scans is this nature/sin wasn't originally part of God's plan. God's plan was for us to have these levels in our life and have them work in harmony.

As I see it, God's greatest condemnation isn't for those who react out of the croc or the puppy, but those who live in disobedience because of rational choices. It is also for those who know they can or should do better but don't, again a rational decision.

The problem with sin is that it puts things out of harmony. Like the illustration of the brick. Give it to a criminal and they throw it through a window. Give it to a good person and they build a hospital. The problem isn't the brick. The problem is the person. The ultimate enemy we have to conquer is, as Paul calls it, the flesh, not our own nature.

Are there things we need to relearn so that we are in harmony with ourselves, Yes. Is there something to be said about the science of conflict and people responding as a croc? Yes. However, do we still have a problem and it isn't what God gave us? Yes.