Brainwashing

Webster defines brainwashing as “a forcible indoctrination to induce someone to give up basic political, social, or religious beliefs and attitudes and to accept contrasting regimented ideas.” Every human being is brainwashed to some degree by one philosophy or another. If the right kind of “wash” is used, there is nothing wrong with brainwashing.

In a sense, everybody’s beliefs, habits and attitudes are influenced by some form of “indoctrination.” A person grows into the type of influence he or she is exposed to by society.

What about moral indoctrination? The church has the responsibility of teaching the morals of God. However, the church must be indoctrinated in the Word of Truth, for “sound doctrine” cannot be endured in our modern day.

2 Timothy 4:3,4 says, “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned into fables.” Depravity itself holds the human creature captive to a satanically inspired humanism, in direct opposition to the truth of God. The natural unregenerate human cannot receive the things of the Spirit of God.

1 Corinthian 2:14 says, “But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness unto him; neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” Jesus said, “Ye must be born again.” Being born again is a spiritual regeneration in which an individual realizes his sinful unregenerate state and is in need of a savior. The process has begun by praying to the Lord and submitting his will to him or saving him. The spirit of God is placed in him, and his mind begins to be deprogrammed from sinful falsehood to program or “brainwash” with the Truth.

To effectively reprogram the convert, the Word of God must be preached, regardless of modern trends.

Acts 20:27 says, “For I have not shunned to declare unto you the whole counsel of God.”

To continue the reprogramming process, the Lord told Joshua in the Book of Joshua 1:8, “This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein; for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.”

For modern contemporary Christians, it is difficult to slow down and meditate on the Word of God. We are too busy to wait on the Lord.

Another factor is modern society is accustomed to “instant” results. It has found its way into the church. The modern believer wants God to answer in time to his expectations. God’s blessing takes time and effort. Still, another is we desire modern audible stimulation from media devices that the art of quietude is all but lost.