Compulsions: Genetic or Learned Behavior

I had a discussion with a Good Brother on a chatroom vlog or blog about compulsion recently.  Hope you enjoy!

Good morning Brother Chuck Cohenour.  A compulsion or desire for something is based on our emotions.  While something we have been taught might have some impact, it's still an emotional issue.

Most Christians love their children, and they want to see them saved, but that isn't always the case. If someone's desire to see their child saved is greater than their love for the Lord, then in essence what is happening is that person loves their child more than they love the Lord, and could never abandon that child if that's what it takes for them to make the bride.  The same might be said for a spouse or any loved one.

People have desires/compulsions for different things, but if there is anything a person can not walk away from if God told them to, then that is the thing that is going to keep them out of the bride.  It is also what they will have to overcome when they resurrect if they want to have eternal life.

ME: Good morning, Bro David. I have read your compulsion comment several times. My thoughts about compulsion seem to be quite different from yours so I’ll do the finest I can to explain my point of view.

Compulsion is NOT based on emotion. I believe that emotion is dependent on compulsion. Compulsion is based on educated discoveries of time and chance.

Ecc 9:11  I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all.

Except for the inherited need for survival every action is driven by a learning experience. I agree that because of sin we all die and because our original earthly father and mother first sinned all mankind must pay a price. But it was death that passed from father to son and daughter. Death was and is the punishment for sin.

There is a hypothesis from the International Journal of Genetic Science (https://symbiosisonlinepublishing.com/genetic-science/geneticscience12.php#:~:text=The%20God%20gene%20hypothesis%20proposes,towards%20spiritual%20or%20mystic%20experiences.) that claims humans have what is termed the God gene hypothesis? The God gene hypothesis proposes that a specific gene, called vesicular monoamine transporter 2 (VMAT2), predisposes humans towards spiritual or mystic experience.  The God gene hypothesis is based on a combination of behavioral genetic, neurobiological and psychological studies. The major arguments of the hypothesis are: (1) spirituality can be quantified by psychometric measurements; (2) the underlying tendency to spirituality is partially heritable; (3) part of this heritability can be attributed to the gene VMAT2; [1] (4) this gene acts by altering monoamine levels; and (5) spiritual individuals are favored by natural selection because they are provided with an innate sense of optimism, the latter producing positive effects at either a physical or psychological level.

Fortunately the article is exactly what it claims to be: a HYPOTHESIS a speculation and invention of mankind's imagination.  Like your first sentence, the arguments in this article are based on the agenda of choice. The first argument is (1) spirituality can be quantified through psychometric measurements.

There are no physical instruments to measure psychometric phenomena. There are only accepted evaluation methods that are inconclusive in drawing conclusions. Psychometric testing tools are divided into three types:

• Intelligence.
• Aptitudes and skills.
• Personality.

(2) the underlying tendency to spirituality is partially heritable.

Sounds fancy but it simply means that the people they picked and tested for the trial had parents and grandparents who were religious beliefs.

(3) part of this heritability can be attributed to the gene VMAT2; [1]

VMAT2 transmits spiritual/mystical codes for a vesicular monoamine transporter that plays a key role in regulating the levels of the brain chemicals serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine. These monoamine transmitters are postulated to play a crucial role in regulating brain activities associated with spiritual/mystic beliefs.

(4) this gene acts by altering monoamine levels;

This is another way to say to make a truthful statement using guile in order to make the population appear to be true. While it is true that VMAT(2) does act to alter monoamine levels it does NOT prove what is the actual substance the VMAT(2) is altering the monoamines.

(5) spiritual individuals are favored by natural selection because they are provided with an innate sense of optimism, the latter producing positive effects at either a physical or psychological level.

The tester will choose subjects that fit his agenda for the outcome of his focused testing using these phycological tools.

This hypothesis explanation is based on research by psychologist Robert Cloninger. This tendency toward spirituality is quantified by the self-transcendence scale, which is composed of three sub-sets: "self-forgetfulness" (as in the tendency to become totally absorbed in some activity, such as reading); “transpersonal identification” (a feeling of connectedness to a larger universe); and “mysticism” (an openness to believe things that remain unproven, such as ESP) (This is an incorrect definition of mysticism). Cloninger suggests that taken together, these measurements are a reasonable way to quantify (make measurable) how spiritual someone is feeling.

Robert Cloninger created the God Gene theory like any fiction writer (such as Steven King) creates any sci-fi book. He gathered a bunch of scientific data and crafted his own theoretical theory and wrote a book about what he imagined.

The idea of spirituality being passed on in the fleshy cells of the human body is an old traditional teaching that keeps propagating generation to generation. This is because it fits the agenda of those who preach the flesh is the Devil/Satan.

Compulsion is an irresistible urge to behave in a certain way, especially against conscious wishes. This irresistible urge is the topic at hand and not the subject of the supposition. There is no scientific or biblical evidence that genetic predispositions makes a human sin. There is no evidence that emotions make people sin. There is biblical and accounted behavioral evidence that proves that educated learned behavior compels humans to sin.

Rom 7:8  But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead.

Concupiscence's origin is via Old French from Latin concupiscentia, from Latin concupiscent- ‘beginning to desire’, from the verb concupiscere, from con- (expressing intensive force) + cupere ‘to desire’.

Paul says in Romans 7:8 that as a result of being taught the Law of Moses it manifested or made known to Paul all the things he should not do. If he had not known the Law he would not have been compelled to deliberately do that which was against the law. Ungodly mankind is not subject to the law and, through their ignorance, be able to ask forforgiveness once they learn the law of righteousness.

Without the law, mankind was free to learn things to enjoy and desire that which pleased them but was against the law. Any thought or imagined thing could be researched, developed, or worshipped. The idea of a being or beings greater than them was created to explain TIME AND CHANCE.

Idols were created through imagination and worship was introduced to the gentiles. Killing was taught by Cain. Adam and Eve taught disobedience and obedience. In ungodly man’s ignorance of the law had no accountability and nothing was held against them for individual sin. When things began to spiral out of control for the gentile population, they created their own laws to preserve what they had built.  There had to be a law with a consequence given from a teacher to a student in order for TEACHERS to survive.

The law is not emotionally based. Law is a product of man’s natural instinct to survive and live safely with others.

Compulsion is knowledge that motivates our soul affecting our spirit which creates emotions within our body. Emotions are the interpretation of  messages given to your brain which makes you feel or want to feel whatever is compelling.

The lust was not created by God, it was created by the world mankind;

1 John 2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

Therefore, lust comes from mankind's knowledge.  It compels mankind to do things according to their imagination, which creates emotions stimulated by what mankind has learned, seen and desires to do.

Whatever outlet it can generate, emotions must be affected. Lust, then, is a powerful emotion that drives people to do extraordinary things. It can encourage people to try challenging things, take risks, and work hard to achieve their goals. It can, however, also lead to addiction and destructive behavior. Lust can be a positive and powerful force if it is channeled correctly and used to motivate and drive positive behavior. However, if it is not managed properly, it can have negative consequences. It is imperative to understand the power of lust and use it to our advantage, rather than letting it become a destructive force.

YOU WROTE: People have desires/compulsions for different things, but if there is anything a person can not walk away from if God told them to, then that is the thing that is going to keep them out of the bride.  It is also what they will have to overcome when they resurrect if they want to have eternal life.

ME: I do not believe anyone will resurrect in the First or Second Resurrection with an idol greater than Jesus. There will be no victory over idol worship.

What then do the dead who resurrect in the Second Resurrection, who are both just and unjust, have to overcome? What each must overcome is based in knowledge of good and evil.

Biological identity is shaped by your spirit, what you are known for and how you are known. Your identity must be remembered for identification. The knowledge of who you are at the time we die is who you will be in the resurrection.

Mankind is knowledge-based, driven by what we know and commit to.  If you die with the guilt of wrongdoing, you will be forgiven but you will resurrect with your former knowledge. This could compel you to choose once again to sin.

Your Old Man must be conformed to the New Man, according to the Bible. Therefore, it is imperative to become the finest version of ourselves to be like Jesus. We must strive to be filled with God's knowledge, which will help us make the right choices. We must also be filled with the Holy Spirit, which will lead us to make wise decisions.