“The terrible, tragic fallacy of the last hundred years has been to think that all man’s troubles are due to his environment, and that to change the man you have nothing to do but change his environment. That is a tragic fallacy. It overlooks the fact that it was in Paradise that man fell.”
-Dr. Martyn Lloyd Jones. Studies in the Sermon on the Mount
The sad, dominant worldview of the day and one that has been heralded in school rooms, self-help seminars, and the average commercial is simply this: “You are a victim, everything happens TO YOU. Therefore, you are powerless to change.”
If you take that bait, don’t be surprised to the depression that follows. Suicide and depression are on the rise in our nation’s youth, and it would be folly to believe that is simply just environmental.
New Mind – New Environment
The Scriptures are clear that the way forward for the new life isn’t as simple as getting a new environment. The Apostle Paul puts it this way:
“Therefore since you have been raised with Christ keep seeking the things above where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.”
It’s way too simplistic to say; “Get a new environment, and the sadness will go away.” Paul battles for his joy not by changing his environment, but by changing his mind!
How might this look? Instead of listening to false voices that say “You aren’t loved, you aren’t valuable, you’re a failure;” you would choose and intentionally stoke the voice of God, which tells you; “You are LOVED, you are KNOWN, and you are ACCEPTED.”
Instead of passively and helplessly letting your experiences define your life you would fight for the reality of what God says about you and redefine your life.
Don’t Lose Heart
Too many young people today aren’t skilled in preaching to themselves. They simply listen. They listen to culture, and they listen to media, and worst of all they listen to themselves.
This overwhelming wave of lies overpowers and destroys most young people, and they lose heart. Friends, don’t lose heart.
Find God’s voice amidst the chaos and build your life around what is most true about you. You are loved, known and accepted through Jesus Christ.
About the Author:
Ryan Moffat is the teaching pastor at Vast Church in Sisters, OR and is currently working on his Masters in Theology at Western Seminary in Portland, OR
Ryan received his BS in Bible and Theology and a minor in counseling from Multnomah University. He has pastored students, families and is passionate about Christ-centered recovery and healing. He’s been married to his beautiful wife Michelle for 13 years and they enjoy raising four crazy, unique and special kids together.
The opinions and views of our guest contributors are shared to provide a broad perspective of addictions. These are not necessarily the views of Addiction Hope, but an effort to offer discussion of various issues by different concerned individuals.
We at Addiction Hope understand that addictions result from a combination of environmental and genetic factors. If you or a loved one are suffering from an addiction, please know that there is hope for you, and seek immediate professional help.
Published on September 23, 2017
Reviewed By: Jacquelyn Ekern, MS, LPC on September 23, 2017.
Published on AddictionHope.com