Dr. Andrew Newberg, director of research at the Jefferson Myrna Brind Center of Integrative Medicine, Thomas Jefferson University and Hospital, in Philadelphia is one of the foremost researchers in the field of neurology and spirituality. He has conducted a significant number of researches to ascertain whether the human brain is actually wired for faith, or if man needs to really develop a special interest in having faith in God. This aspect of neurology is termed neurotheology, which means “the study of the relationship between the brain and faith.” From the findings, it has been ascertained that man is a being that is created to grow spiritually when we are exposed to an environment that supports spiritual things. The brain responds to whatever it is exposed to and this has an overriding effect on our spiritual growth and general wellbeing. Also, the magnitude of activities we put our brain to has a lot to do with what it is conditioned to.
According to Dr. Newberg’s findings, an average man has the capacity to grow spiritually, proportionately with the level of exposure he has within the spiritual circle. One of the typical instances he gave is that a pastor or church leader has a great influence in impacting the members, as long as he hammers on a particular aspect of his teaching.
Compassion, faith, charity, dedication to the service of God and volunteering are perfect examples of what the brain can easily absorb as it is exposed to them.
After a critical analysis of Dr. Newberg’s findings regarding the human neurology, it then became so clear to me that the making of the human brain has a lot to do with what it is exposed to. It is therefore a fact that this influence has to do with individuals. It implies that a man now has a choice either to allow himself (brain) to be influenced by the things around him or not. It is entirely a thing of choice. It is a wrong notion to conclude that some people are called to be dedicated to faith and some are allowed to do what they want to do.
“I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing;…” (Deuteronomy 30:19).
“I have given you a land for which you did not labour, and cities which you did not build, and you dwell in them; you eat of the vineyards and olive groves which you did not plant.’’ “Now therefore, fear the Lord, serve Him in sincerity and in truth, and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the River and in Egypt. Serve the Lord! And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” (Joshua 24:13-15).
As humans, we have all been wired to either respond to our immediate environment or take an intentional decision to remain who we are and not adapt to what we are exposed to. Charles Spurgeon in one his statements mentioned the case of Moses as a prince of Egypt:
“Moses, in taking up with the people of God, decidedly and once and for all acted most disinterestedly, without any promise from the right side, or any friend to aid him in the change. For the Truth of God’s sake, for the Lord’s sake he renounced everything! He was, by God’s Grace, content to be numbered with the down-trodden people of God.” Charles Spurgeon
It was an entirely Moses’ choice, even as a prince in the palace, highly confortable, to stoop low to identifying with slaves. It was possible for him to be lackadaisical about the plight of the Hebrews, as it was not his duty to look after them, and for any reason, no one would have expected him to do otherwise.
It is therefore a sane notion that we only need to re-condition our hearts to develop our minds to have faith in God. We are spiritual beings, with our brain and mind wired to have faith and engage in a conscious spiritual migration.
Meaning we only need to accept this truth in order to begin to experience a well-functioning and divine walk with the Almighty God, the creator of the heaven and earth. “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name.” (John 1:12). “Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.” (John 14:6). “Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 8:1). The only way forward is accepting the truth of the gospel of peace. Receiving this truth opens a door for everlasting peace in God, and the only prerequisite is just “belief”. Though sounds simple, but that is how it is.
