Taking Control – The Peters Place

KP at Living Room Worship Service – December 18, 2021.

Fruit. Delicious, juicy, nutritious, sweet and abundant. There is nothing like a juicy fruit to tantalize your taste buds.

Fruit. The world is filled with it. The Bible is filled with it too. The quintessential verses in the New Testament that speak about fruit is found in Galatians 5:22-23. Today we want to focus on one part of that fruit; the last part, the difficult part and that is self-control or temperance.

Self Control and Temperance [Meanings]

In the Strong’s Bible Concordance, the word in the Greek is egkrateia (transliteration), and it means mastery or self-control [Phonetic Spelling: (eng-krat’-i-ah)] Usage: self-mastery, self-restraint, self-control, continence. [1]

In The Merriam Webster dictionary, Self Control means restraint exercised over one’s own impulses, emotions, or desires [2]. Temperance means (a) moderation in action, thought, or feeling : restraint. (b) habitual moderation in the indulgence of the appetites or passions and (c) moderation in or abstinence from the use of alcoholic beverages. [3]

In the dictionary, you could see the slight differences between the two words, but they are really used interchangeably.

Although temperance is clearly stated as a spiritual fruit, this doesn’t stop humanity from trying to understand it outside of the spiritual realm. I want to now look at both self-control and temperance as they have appeared in popular culture:

1. The Self-Control Theory

In the 90s, two researchers (Michael Gottfredson and Travis Hirschi) defined self-control as “the ability to forego immediate or near-term pleasures that have some negative consequences and to the ability to act in favor of longer-term interests.” [4]

In their book, A General Theory of Crime (1990), they argue that “those who learn early in life to exercise self-control will have much less involvement in delinquency, crime, and other problem behaviors (such as substance abuse, accidents, and employment problems) later in life. Those who develop high levels of self-control in childhood will be less likely to be delinquent as adolescents and less likely to be arrested or convicted as adults; have greater success in school; obtain more successful employment; attain higher incomes; and even experience many and better health outcomes throughout life.” [4]

According to these two men, self-control is linked to crime causation, and that those who develop high levels of self-control while they are children, will be less likely to be delinquent, less likely to be arrested and convicted, and have greater success in life and health.

Of course, we understand that even if you do exhibit great levels of self-control in your life, that doesn’t mean situations may not still arise that cause undesirable outcomes in your life.

The Marshmallow Test

One popular experiment that has been studied in relation to self-control is the ‘Marshmallow Test’. Two researchers, Mischel & Grusec (1967) conducted this test to reveal the innate ability to resist urges. The experiment measured children’s ability to resist eating marshmallows for a set time, in favor of receiving more marshmallows later. The results of this experiment were thought to predict academic performance and success in later life” [5]. Although the test does have some issues, it is still widely used to understand the benefits of delayed gratification for a later and greater goal.

A big variable that affects our self-control levels is time. In the Marshmallow test, some children preferred to eat the marshmallow that was present before them, instead of waiting and then being offered more marshmallows later. This indicates humanity’s impatience and desires for immediate rewards. Plus, society craves ‘instant gratification’, ‘speed dating’, ‘same-day delivery’ and so much more. Because of this and also because of overindulgence, we gorge on sweets knowing its ill-effects on our health, we find it difficult to avoid an illicit relationship, we spend hours on websites and devices to our detriment, we spend money we don’t have to purchase things we don’t need, and the list goes on.

The Example of The Children Of Israel

The children of Israel were no different. They had just listened to those who went to scout out the land in Numbers 13, and believed the report of the faithless spies. In their response, they said they would not be able to fight against the other nations because they were stronger than they were (Numbers 13:31). Because they manifested unbelief in God’s promises, The LORD passed judgement on them (Numbers 14:30), BUT, by chapter 14, they impulsively decided to go fight the Amalekites without Moses and without The LORD’s leading:

Numbers 14:40 And they rose up early in the morning, and gat them up into the top of the mountain, saying, Lo, we be here, and will go up unto the place which the LORD hath promised: for we have sinned.
Numbers 14:41 And Moses said, Wherefore now do ye transgress the commandment of the LORD? but it shall not prosper.
Numbers 14:42 Go not up, for the LORD is not among you; that ye be not smitten before your enemies.
Numbers 14:43 For the Amalekites and the Canaanites are there before you, and ye shall fall by the sword: because ye are turned away from the LORD, therefore the LORD will not be with you.
Numbers 14:44 But they presumed to go up unto the hill top: nevertheless the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and Moses, departed not out of the camp”.

In verse 45, we read they were sorely attacked and beaten.

There are many examples in The Bible where people failed to wait on the LORD (The Children of Israel, Sarah & Abraham), or failed to refrain from relationships and actions that would lead to death (Samson, Amnon). We can also look at our own lives. We are reminded of situations where we failed to exhibit self-control and we may still reap the effects of said actions even now.

2. The Temperance Movement

The Temperance Movement was a social movement that was dedicated to the complete abstinence of intoxicating liquor. Although alcoholic temperance was present as far back as early colonial times (1600’s), early temperance organizations were founded in New York and Massachusetts in the early 1800s, and with the help of many churches, gained popularity in the following years.

Here is one interesting excerpt from the book, The Evolution of Prohibition in The United States that I found interesting:

The Church of colonial days did not recognize the liquor traffic as a great evil. On the other hand, even the immoderate use of liquors was common at church functions and especially at weddings, church councils and funerals. This condition existed until about the middle of the eighteenth century, when the colonies one by one either by law or by action of the church bodies themselves began to insist upon the elimination of liquor consumption in connection with funeral ceremonies. The first recorded action of this character was taken by the General Court of Massachusetts in 1742, the decree of the court forbidding the use of wine and rum at funeral services. [7]

Many religious groups supported the temperance movement including The Seventh-day Baptists, The United Presbyterian Church, The Ohio Conference of the A.M.E. Church, A New Jersey Assoc of Baptist Churches and The Reformed Presbyterian Synod, The Independent Order of the Rechabites and The Methodist Episcopal Church reinstates an original rule by John Wesley. [8]

And of course, the Seventh-day Adventist church. [9]. Ellen G. White spoke at length about temperance in her day. The Trustees of The EGW Publications created a compilation of her writings on the topics of temperance and prohibition that you can read online (or purchase the hard copy) called Temperance. One notable paragraph from this compilation reads:

Intemperance of any kind benumbs the perceptive organs and so weakens the brain-nerve power that eternal things are not appreciated, but placed upon a level with the common. The higher powers of the mind, designed for elevated purposes, are brought into slavery to the baser passions. If our physical habits are not right, our mental and moral powers cannot be strong; for great sympathy exists between the physical and the moral. [10]

How do we exhibit more self-control and moderation in our lives? Are there things that hijack our brains and take away from our ability to control our thoughts, appetites and inclinations?

Items and Behaviors That Affect Our Minds

This is not an exhaustive list, but here are a few things that affect our self-control levels:

1. Disease and Injury – Sometimes we are unable to control our behaviors, thoughts and actions because of disease and brain injury. (The famous case of a man name Phineas Gage is one example of how injury to the frontal lobe can affect one’s control levels and behavior). [11]. Other times, it could be disease that destroys a part of our brain function. I have a friend whose child contracted a disease that left him with severe brain damage for the rest of his life.

2. Addiction – Addiction is a complex disease involving neurobiochemistry, drug chemistry and genetic, environmental and social factors [12]. There are different levels, but they all involve uncontrollable, compulsive cravings for substances, items and behaviors that affect overall health. Now for me, I was surprised to first learn that Substance-Related Addiction is considered a brain disease because the drugs change the brain by changing its structure and how it works [13].

Some Substance Addictions include alcohol, opioids, caffeine, and nicotine. [14]
Some Non-Substance Addictions include shopping, technology addiction {Internet Addiction Disorder}, gaming addiction {Gaming Disorder}, sex and gambling. [15]

Sometimes, being addicted to something leads to other consequences. A person who is addicted to using their cell phone, may find it difficult to stop texting or using the device even when driving. This leads to distracted driving, tickets, accidents and death.

3. Peer Pressure – Sometimes the pressure to keep up with others, or to fit in, causes us to do things that affect our levels of self-control.

How Do We Take Control Of Our Lives

1. Examine yourself/ Take real inventory of your life. Identify the people, situations and items that are affecting the power you have over your life. 2 Cor 13:5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves…

2. Ask and pray for strength from The LORD – Matt 7:7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you & Jam 1:5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

3. Get counsel from others when appropriate – Prov 19:20 Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end & Prov 11:14 Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.

4. Consume good things in moderation – Prov 24:13 My son, eat thou honey, because it is good; and the honeycomb, which is sweet to thy taste & Prov 25:16 Hast thou found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for thee, lest thou be filled therewith, and vomit it.

5. Avoid things that are unprofitable for Christian growth – Ephe 5:11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them & 1 Thes 5:22 Abstain from all appearance of evil.

Additional Ways To Help Strengthen Self-Control

The next 9 points are from Registered Dietitian Susan McQuillan (on Psychology Today) on strengthening self-control:

Mend Relationships.
Forgive Mistakes including Your Own.
Avoid Negative Self-Talk.
Spend Time Journaling.
Set Personal Boundaries.
Let go of Emotional Dependencies.
Eat a Balanced Diet.
Reduce your Stress Load.
Find Ways To Stay Motivated. [16]

No matter what our shortcomings are, The LORD is very present to help us if we are willing to be honest with Him. He had given us a community of individuals to help us with our quest for mastery over our inclinations. May we be steadfast and unmovable in our walk with The LORD.

1 Corinthians 9:25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.

If you are looking for help with taking control of your health and life, visit our health coaching website at www.perfectsoundness.org.

References

[1] Self-Control. https://biblehub.com/greek/1466.htm.
[2] Merriam-Webster. (n.d.). Self-control. In Merriam-Webster.com dictionary. Retrieved December 12, 2021, from https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/self-control.
[3] Merriam-Webster. (n.d.). Temperance. In Merriam-Webster.com dictionary. Retrieved December 12, 2021, from https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/temperance.
[4] Gottfredson, M. Self-Control Theory and Crime. Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Criminology. Retrieved 14 Dec. 2021, from https://oxfordre.com/criminology/view/10.1093/acrefore/9780190264079.001.0001/acrefore-9780190264079-e-252.
[5] Self-Control Theory. https://positivepsychology.com/self-control-theory/.
[6] Check out the revised version of The Marshmallow Experiment: Watts, T. W., Duncan, G. J., & Quan, H. (2018). Revisiting the Marshmallow Test: A Conceptual Replication Investigating Links Between Early Delay of Gratification and Later Outcomes. Psychological science, 29(7), 1159–1177. https://doi.org/10.1177/0956797618761661.
[7] Cherrington, E. H. (1920). The evolution of prohibition in the United States of America; a chronological history of the liquor problem and the temperance reform in the United States from the earliest settlements to the consummation of national prohibition. Westerville, Ohio American Issue Press. https://archive.org/details/evolutionofprohi00cheruoft/page/n5/mode/2up. Pg 13-14.
[8] Ibid, pgs 112, 117, 119, 125 and 131.
[9] Miller, J. (2011, November/December). Adventists, Prohibition and Political Involvement. Liberty Magazine. https://www.libertymagazine.org/article/adventists-prohibition-and-political-involvement
[10] White, E. Temperance. https://m.egwwritings.org/en/book/110/toc. Pg 13-14.
[11] Macmillan, M. (2008, September). Phineas Gage – Unravelling the myth. The Psychologist. The British Psychological Society. Vol 21 (pp. 828-831). Retrieved 15 December 2021 at https://thepsychologist.bps.org.uk/volume-21/edition-9/phineas-gage-unravelling-myth.
[12] Watts, M. (Ed.). (2012). Nutrition and addiction : A handbook. Pavilion Publishing. Pg 1.
[13] Finch, C. (2019). Foundations of Personal Health and Wellness. Pg 124.
[14] American Psychiatric Association. 1994. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition. Washington D.C. American Psychiatric Association. Pg 105.
[15] Finch, C. (2019). Foundations of Personal Health and Wellness. Pg 135-136.
[16] McQuillan, S. (2019, May 9). 9 Ways to Practice Self-Control and Improve Your Life. Psychology Today. Retrieved 16 December 2021 at https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/cravings/201905/9-ways-practice-self-control-and-improve-your-life.