If we're honest with ourselves, most of us must admit that at some time or another we have engaged in criminal thinking, which is but one form of disordered thinking. The bulk of critical theory on criminal thinking has been derived primarily from people who are incarcerated or have otherwise broken the law.
But there is often a thin line separating criminals behind bars from the rest of us. The research on criminal thinking underscores the most common patterns of irrational thought that lead to disordered decisions. Most common criminal thinking patterns are not so much convoluted as simplistic and one-dimensional. Then there is a tendency among some to see themselves as always the victim. People who think this way do not take responsibility for their choices. For others still, there is a lack of perspective about time, which results in living primarily in the present, without investigating in the future or taking into account the consequences of one's actions.
One aspect of criminal thinking patterns stands out most because of it's prevalence among noncriminal segments of the population. It is an attitude of ownership, or what can be referred to as a sense of entitlement. Inherent in this attitude is a cockiness that borders on blatant narcissism.
Those with an an extreme sense of entitlement are able to justify violating other people or their property without regard to their rights. if their thinking stems from an "inferiority complex," those who feel entitled see themselves as helpless and often as victims. They complain and protest greatly about the lack of opportunities they have had in life because of their ethnic, economic, or family background. They discount their own failure to put in the effort required to improve their lives. Some will choose to steal, manipulate, and otherwise take from others because of their belief that the world owes them. They fail to see their own negligence in considering alternative ways of thinking and living.
In others the sense of entitlement arises out of a "superiority complex." A person may believe he should always have first shot at everything, again because of ethnic, economic, or family background. He thinks those like him are also superior and therefore due anything they desire, even if getting it means taking from others.
He feels entitled to the best educational or job opportunities, and is often offended by others who want the best for themselves. Desiring the best in life is not the problem. This thinking is problematic when people are willing to violate others by discrimination, exploitation, and oppression, denying them the same rights, opportunities, and access to valued resources.
Of course, all of this is simplistic thinking. It is as apparent among those considered to be otherwise intelligent and successful, who have attended top-notch schools and run major corporations, as it is among the uneducated, underprivileged, and criminal and mentally ill populations. The common denominator is our human tendency of failing to think well.
Educational Book share, no ownership implied: The Road Less Traveled and Beyond Spiritual Growth in an Age of Anxiety by M. Scott Peck, M.D.
What Do You Want Jesus to Do for You?
Wanting to work with and watch Jesus is where transformation begins. Willpower and discipline alone can never fix your soul. Striving, pushing, and trying harder will not recover your life. unforced rhythms of grace depend on something more than self-mastery and self-effort.
The simple truth is that wanting to keep company with Jesus has a staying power that "shoulds" and "oughts" seldom have.
Jesus wants us to recognize that hidden in our desperations and desires is an appetite for the Lord and Giver of life. In fact, he says, "You're blessed when you've worked up a good appetite for God. He's food and drink in the best meal you'll ever eat" (Matthew 5:6 The Message). The very first thing Jesus asked his soon-to-be disciples was, "What do you want?" (John 1:37). Over and over again he asked about desires: "What is it you want?" (Matthew 20:21) , "What do you want me to do for you?" (Matthew 20:32; Mark 10:36, 51) , "Do you want to get well" (John 5:6) . Jesus knew you wouldn't get well if you didn't want the responsibility that came will wellness.
He also knew that the mother of James and John was clueless about the meaning of her request to have her sons be power brokers in Jusus' Kingdom (Mathew 20:21). So he pressed her to consider what her desire might mean.
Jesus never attempts to shut down peoples longings; nor does he ask people to transcend their longings as some religions do. He knew human desire to be an incurable black hole of opportunity. Accompany him and watch him welcome people who want something more; "A man with leprosy ... begged [Jesus] 'If you are willing, you can make me clean. ' " (Mark 1:40) , "They pleaded with [Jesus] to leave their region. " (Mathew 8:34) ,
"Save us! We're going to drown!" (Mathew 8:25) , "Grant that one of these two sons of mine may sit at your right and the other at your left." (Mathew 20:21) , "Sir, give me water." (John4:15) , "If you can do anything, take pity on us and help us." (Mark 9:22), "The man who had been demon possessed begged to go with [Jesus]." (Mark 5:18) , "Lord teach us to pray." (Luke 11:1) Jesus doesn't grant requests like a genie in a bottle. He works with people, allowing their desire to draw him into the core conversations of life. For Jesus, requests for water, healing, rest, vindication, approval, status and so on all engage soul hungers, Misguided, self-destructive, true or addictive desperations and desires opened doors to relationship.
Learn from Jesus as he keeps company with people who want something. Watch him attend to the hole in their heart that is bigger than the galaxy. Many of his deepest interactions with people get at two things: (1) the true nature of peoples desires, and (2) a spiritual practice that helps them make space for God in their lives (in the versus below, the spiritual discipline is in quotation marks). Martha desperately wants Mary to help her. Jesus tells Martha to "detach" from her drivenness to serve and attend to the first thing - to him (Luke 10:41-42) , The man cured of demon possession want to go with Jesus, but Jesus calls him to be a "witness," Knowing that telling his story to those who know him can change their lives (Mark 5:19) , The rich young ruler wants eternal life, but he doesn't want it enough to give his earthly wealth away. Jesus calls him to "confess" and reorder his priorities (Mark 10:21).
In conclusion, love the fact that the Lord's' Prayer comes to us through a disciple's desire connect with God like Jesus did. "Lord. teach us to pray" (Luke 11:1) . Jesus gave the disciple a spiritual practice to learn and do. He offered him a prayer to say. There was no seminar on prayer. No steps and techniques for talking to God. Through praying this prayer the disciples had access to the same relationship with the Heavenly Father that Jesus did.
Educational Book share, no ownership implied: Spiritual Disciplines Handbook , Practices That Transform Us by Adele Ahlberg Calhoun.
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