The
Power of Negation: The "Meta-No" In Scripture
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The
Bible, Meta-States and the Neuro Semantic Model - Part I
Rev.
Michael Davis
Over ten years ago I began my journey and research in the
area of "renewing the mind" (Romans12:2). My purpose
then, as now was to understand how the mind works. My prayer
and goal were to find more effective ways to renew my mind
to the liberating truths of God's word.
My research first took me in the field and literature of the
"self-help" movement. From there I began to read books on
psychology, neuro-science, cognitive neuro-science and even
quantum physics! Eventually I found my way to Neuro-linguistic
Programming and began to find the answers I was looking for.
A few years later I discovered the fields of Meta-States and
Neuro-Semantics and my understanding has increased a hundred-fold!
As an ordained minister, with over twenty years of experience
I have learned how important it is when teaching concepts
and principles for renewing the mind in using the models of
cognitive psychology, NLP, Meta-States, or Neuro-Semantics
to "crouch" the teaching in biblical language, i.e.,
to provide a Scriptural basis for the concepts I am presenting.
If you have been around Neuro-semantics for any length of
time you know how important and powerful "frames" are ("He
who sets the frame controls the game." Hall 2001)1.
Since
most evangelical Christians hold the Bible in high regard,
as the Word of God, there is already in place a very powerful
frame of reference. Working with and in the Biblical frame
of reference as one learns and teaches Meta-states/
Neuro-semantic concepts makes it easier for Christians to
embrace and apply those concepts. Since it is "in" the Bible
and we are committed to "living by every word that proceeds
out of the mouth of God"2.
The purpose of this article and future articles is to provide
scriptural frames of references for those who are working
with Christians and using the Meta-States/ Neuro-semantic
models to help them renew their minds. I also seek to give
you materials when you may encounter resistance from those
who ask "where is that in the Bible?" (a legitimate question
given their frame of reference for not wanting to do anything
contrary to God's will). I have found in my experience that
using the Meta-States/ Neuro-Semantic models within the framework
of supporting scriptures adds strength and power to the application
of the models and their patterns.
The Meta-No within Scripture
During the 2000 Summer Intensive Meta-States training in Tampa,
Florida Dr. Bob Bodenhamer made a statement that really struck
me and made a lasting impression on my mind. During our session
on the Meta-Yes and
Meta-No Pattern3 he said
"All change in essence boils down to "No" to what
you don't want and "Yes" to what you do want. That
was a simple statement yet to me a very profound one. Several
months later during my own study and personal devotion time
I got to thinking about that statement as it related to obedience
to God. I realized that all obedience to God boils down to
saying saying either "Yes" to God or "No"
to God. When I obey it is because I have in some way said
"Yes" to God, and when I disobey it is because I
have in some way said "No" to Him.
Some passages from the New testament illustrates this quite
well. In Hebrews 3:18 the Bible states that the children of
Israel could not enter into God's rest because they" BELIEVED
NOT" (this passage is in reference to an incident in
Israel's history as recorded in Numbers chapters 13 and 14).
In chapter 4:6 it states that could not enter in "...because
of UNBELIEF"; In vs.11 of chapter 4 we are exhorted to
to not follow their "...example of UNBELIEF".
The word for "believe not" (vs.18) in Greek is APEITHEO.
It carries the meaning of "disobedience". Thayer's
Greek-English Lexicon gives as one of its meanings "to
REFUSE belief and obedience"4. The
word "UNBELIEF" (Chp.4:6,11) in Greek is APEITHIA.
It also carries the meaning of "DISOBEDIENCE"5
(some translation use the word "disobedience" in place
of "unbelief"). Both of these terms come from the root
word APEITHES6. This word
is composed of two words in Greek: the particle "a"
and the word peitho. Peitho means "to persuade
to convince, to assent (to evidence or authority); to induce
one by words to believe." The prefix "a"
is known in Greek as a privative, a negative, which
when added to peitho creates a NEGATION7. Thus
apeitho/ apeitheia/ apeitheo all carry
the meaning of "to refuse to be persuaded, to refuse to be
induced to belief by words, to refuse to believe"; again apeitheo
itself means "to refuse belief AND obedience."
Here then in Hebrews 3:18;4:6,11 we see that to disobey God
involves a refusal, a NEGATION. To disobey God one
must first say "No" to God and to His word. The
bible tells us that "faith comes by hearing the word of God"
(Romans 10:17). This means that for me to disbelieve/ disobey
His word I must first "go meta" to the word I hear and utter
a "No!" to it.
In
thinking about this I began wondering " what caused the Israelites
in the wilderness to say "'No!'" to God and to His
promise? Then it hit me "frames"! They had
a frame that kept them from saying "Yes" and that
compelled them to say "No." And what was that frame? In
Numbers 13:30 ( the original reference for this incident)
the Ten Spies said ".... we BE NOT ABLE to go up against
the people of the land for THEY are STRONGER THAN WE.' In
vs.33 they said, "....and we were in our own eyes as grasshoppers."
No wonder they said "No" to God! Just look at the
frames they were operating by, the "frame game"
they were playing! They were playing the "we don't have what
it takes" frame game (or maybe the "victim"
frame game). With that type of frame there was no way they
could say "Yes" to God and His will.
Contrast this with Joshua and Caleb who said "Let us go up
at once and possess it. We are well able to overcome it",
and, "....neither fear ye the people of the land for they
are bread for us and their defense is departed from them..."
Joshua and Caleb were able to utter a confident "Yes!"
to God. What was their frame? " ....the Lord is with us ..."(Num.14:9c).
Joshua and Caleb were playing the "God, the Almighty
God, is with us; with Him on our side how can we lose " frame
game. When God Himself becomes your frame of reference how
can you say "Nope! Can't do it." So Joshua and Caleb
possessed a frame of reference that enabled them to say "Yes!"
to God. The frame of references we have determine
what we say "Yes" to and "No" to.
The Apostle Paul and the Power of "No!"
Two other examples of the power of "No" in the scriptures
come from the apostle Paul. In Titus 2:11,12 Paul writes
that the grace of God has appeared "Teaching us that DENYING
ungodliness and worldly lust we should live soberly, righteously,
and godly in this present world." The word translated
as "denying" in Greek is arneomai. It means to disavow,
to reject, to refuse, to renounce, to disown. Arneomai
is composed of two words "a" the privative,
denoting negation and rheo meaning to say or speak8.
Literally arneomai means "to say 'no'" to something
or someone. Thus in Titus 2:12 we are instructed to "say No!"
to thoughts and frames of mind (the word "ungodly"
refers to an attitude or way of thinking towards God9)
that will hinder or prevent obedience to God. We are to disown,
reject, and renounce through the power of "No!" all that does
not support us in living according to the Truth.
Another example of the power of negation, of "No!" in Paul's
writing occurs in an oft repeated phrase of Paul's "God Forbid!".
Paul uses this phrase fourteen times in the New Testament. In
Greek the Phrase is actually me genito and is an expression
of strong abhorrence, rejection and negation. Thayer's
Greek-English Lexicon states that the term "me" in Greek
denotes the denial of the thought of a thing, or the denial
of a thing according to the judgment, opinion will, purpose
and/ or preference of some one10.
Thus "God forbid!" or me genito! means "Away with such
a thought! Don't even think such a thing! Don't even allow
such a thought to arise in your mind or remain in mind!" As
used by Paul it is a total rejection of concepts, of ways
of thinking that are contrary to the mind ,will and purposes
of God. And because it is a rejection of thoughts, of concepts
and ideas it means that to reject them one first must "go
meta" to them. Paul's use of "God Forbid!"
can be used as an example to all believers that a thought,
concept or frame of mind needs to be examined to see if it
accords with God's will before it is unthinkingly accepted.
Paul's serves as an example of running a "quality control
check" on our thoughts.
In part two we will deal with "The Power Of Affirmation:
The Meta-YES in Scripture."
REFERENCES
1. Hall L. Michael Frame Games: Persuasion
Elegance, Winning The Games Of Life p. 310
2. Deuteronomy 8:3
3. See "Updating
the 'Submodality' Model" Institute of Neuro-Semantic
website.
4. Thayer's Greek-English Lexicon;
pg. 55, #544 part b.
5. See Strong's Concordance #543
6. Strong's Concordance #545
7. See Strong's Concordance, Greek dictionary
#1and #3982;Thayer's Greek-English Lexicon #3982
8. Strong's Concordance Greek dictionary
# 720; #1 and # 4483
9. "Ungodliness/"'Asebeia'" Vines:
An Expository Dictionary Of New Testament Words
10. "me" Thayer's Greek English Lexicon, # 3361, pg. 408
All
Biblical Quotes are from the King James Version.
About
the Author:
Michael L. Davis is an ordained minister, business consultant,
trainer and coach. His Biblical teachings focuses on
The Renewing of the Mind, the Semitic background of the
Christian faith, the study of the Bible in the light
of the Cultural, Linguistically and Historical context in
which it was written.
Contact information:
Michael Davis
PO BOX 3000-469 Chino, Ca. 91708
E-mail: kard@gte.net
Ph. (909)988-6067
Fax: (909) 988-5558
Taken
from www.neurosemantics.com
©2001 Michael Davis All rights reserved.
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