Classic Conditioning

Wednesday, January 20, 2010 Print Article
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Classic Conditioning
Milan Ford
In a set of experiments that spanned ten years (1890-1900), Russian psychologist Ivan Pavlov made a startling discovery regarding the cognitive learning habits and behavior of dogs.

If you happened to stay awake in your college Psychology class (I barely did), you may remember hearing about this experiment.

Pavlov attached a device to a dog in order to measure the amount that dog would salivate when hungry. Pavlov then would ring a bell or tone every time he gave the dog food. He did this several times.

Ring the bell.
Feed the dog.
Ring the bell.
Feed the dog.

Pavlov repeated this sequence until he noticed that the dog would eventually salivate at the sound of the bell, whether there was food available or not.

Believe it or not, this kind of automatic, non-conscious learning is not only present in dogs and other animals, but it is present in us as humans as well. At the sight of a favorite restaurant, or the smell of a familiar meal, a previously learned response or experience can instantly be triggered. Especially if the previous experience was a favorable one.

Pavlov called this pattern of learned behavior 'classic conditioning' - a term he coined back in the early 1900's. Fast forward 100 years, I wonder what Pavlov (a seminary dropout) would have to say about how many of us as believers if he were alive today.

Although difficult to admit, many of us have allowed certain religious traditions and practices to limit our perspective of God, causing our relationship with Him to be bound by a mindset that what may have helped us earlier in our walk with Him, will still sustain us for where we now need to go today.

We pray.
And expect God to answer.
We give.
And expect God to give back.
Many of us even take time out to serve.
And as a result, we expect God to serve us.

While this conditioned pattern of faith may have fed us when we first believed and began our relationship with God, as we continue to mature as believers, it is very dangerous to believe that we can control how God desires to operate in our lives today, simply because of something He may have done for us on yesterday.

News flash: You and I are not a stimulus provider for God.

In Romans 12:1-2, you'll find these words:

"I beseech you therefore brethren by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God."

Now more than ever before, we as believers must RENEW our minds as to what God's will is for our lives, and what that will is specifically for TODAY. As children, we are trained by a world system, as well as systems inside of the local church, that 'practice makes perfect.' Well unfortunately, that is incorrect.

Practice does not make perfect.
Practice makes PERMANENT.

If you and I don't take an examination of what we practice, especially when it comes to our relationship with God, we will live our life salivating, Sunday after Sunday, waiting for God to ring a bell of hope about something He has ALREADY given us the ability to conquer.

What God did for you in 2009 cannot be compared to what He desires to do for you in 2010. God cannot be tamed. He cannot be controlled.

No matter how hard you and I try.



Milan Ford has been a leader (and survivor) of ministry within the local church for most of his life. A lover of Red Vines Licorice and all things pointing North, Milan released his first book, 83 Things I Wish The Black Church Would Stop Doing in December (2009), which was recently ranked #1 on Amazon.com (Religion & Spirituality / African-American). You can find Milan rambling and writing at at ThePewView.com.