Contagious Cantaloupes and Cognitive Contamination

Have you purchased any cantaloupes lately? The Center for Disease Control reports over 100 illnesses and 18 deaths, so far, from listeria-tainted cantaloupes—the worst such outbreak in a decade.

As I read the story, what seemed especially worrisome is that it can take up to two months before the food-borne illness, listeriosis, manifests. The thought that many people may still have the contaminated cantaloupe in their refrigerators is disturbing. Unlike other bacteria, listeria grows well at low temperatures. Why then is the FDA recommending that consumers rinse the cantaloupes under running water. I don’t know about you, but I think I’ll just toss the melons until this is under control.

About the same time, I was learning of this slow-growing bacteria, I read an article about “cognitive contamination”—the spoiling of our minds by cultural influences. Likewise, the contamination of our minds is a slow, methodical, gradual mental makeover. And, like listeriosis, it is covert.

Yes, indeed, clandestine cognitive contamination is a subtle Satanic scheme. Is this not the reason for Paul's war cry: “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ” (2 Cor. 10:3-5).

“Tear Down this Wall!” Mr. Gorbachev

This week as the Nation celebrated former President Ronald Reagan’s 100th birthday, these now-famous words came to my mind with fresh spiritual insight. “For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups [Jews and Gentiles] into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall” (Ephesians 2:14).

The barrier of the dividing wall is an allusion to the wall that separated the Court of the Gentiles from the Court of the Jews in the temple. But Paul goes on to apply a universal meaning to the “wall” analogy. By His death on the cross, Christ has broken down the wall that separated us from God. It is the “wall of shame” we all have tried, unsuccessfully, to climb on our own. It is the wall that holds us captive from the abundant life just on the other side—a wall of mis-beliefs and outright lies.

Later to the Corinthians, Paul refers again to the “wall” analogy when he challenges them to demolish this fortress made up of arguments and speculations that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and to take captive all these lying thoughts and make them obedient to Christ. (2 Cor. 10:4-5)

The “wall” analogy is as old as Adam and Eve. When Satan succeeded in bringing into question the absolute “truth” of God (Did God say?), the wall was up, and the rest was easy. The challenge of believing God is no less real than it was then. So then, let us “Tear down that wall!”

What Does God Long For?

Miriam Webster defines “longing” as “a strong persistent yearning or desire, especially one that cannot be fulfilled.” We are aware of our longing for God (Psalm 42:1-2; 63:1-2). But does the God of the Universe have longings? “Unfulfilled” longings?

The answer lies in looking at Jesus. God’s longing is seen through Jesus as He seeks to heal those who are hurt and sick and held captive to sin. Does Jesus not say “I have come to seek to save that which was lost?” (Luke 19:10) Is this not the longing of God's heart.

In Luke 15, Jesus tells three stories of longings—each one representing the “Father-heart” of God: the shepherd searching for the one lost sheep out of a hundred, of a woman who searches for a lost coin, and of a father who welcomes his wayward son home. Each parable pictures a longing—even an urgency—to find that which was loved and lost. In our sometimes self-centered (please-meet-my-needs) search for God, we forget it is God, initially and preveniently, who is longing for us.

Are You Being Sabotaged by Little Foxes?

To grow in faith, you must be tested. I’ve had a lifetime of tests—failing as many as I pass, I'm sure! Surprisingly, I have less difficulty managing the big tests in life than the little ones. After thinking long on this, I’ve figure out that when a big test of faith comes along, I am able to resign myself to the sovereignty of God. But the little tests (pop quizzes?) stumble me, revealing more about my ‘faith position’ than the big ones! It’s one thing to stand firm in your faith through a life-or-death crisis over which you have little control anyway; but it’s quite another thing to ‘remain’ in faith when some irksome driver is tailgating you on the freeway.

In Solomon’s Song, he refers to the “little foxes that spoil the vines” just as the vines begin to blossom (2:15). As the foxes attempt to eat the sweet blossoms that will become grapes, they not only limit fruitfulness, but spoil the vineyards by breaking and damaging the tender vines—not destroying them, but certainly stunting their growth. These little foxes hide and lurk about, doing their best to avoid detection—their best work at night, in the dark.

The little foxes are the little trials that do not destroy our faith, but certainly sabotage it—preventing increase, stealing our peace and joy, and causing discontent. Just as these little foxes need to be caught and driven out of the vineyard, so we need to be quick to “take every thought [every saboteur] captive to the obedience of Christ” (2 Co. 10:5). These saboteurs will always show up just as you begin to make spiritual progress. Let us catch the little foxes that are spoiling our fruitfulness and fellowship with Jesus.