There appears to be something ingrained in all of us to cause stress or discomfort if our behavior conflicts with our beliefs.

Psychologists call the phenomenon "cognitive dissonance" and happens among believers and nonbelievers alike. Cognitive dissonance has implications for the business world and for the kingdom.

According to psychologists, we have developed a number of defense mechanisms to reduce this stress from the conflict between our beliefs and actions. We can and often will: 

• Change our belief or behavior.
• Get new information to rationalize the conflict.
• Add additional beliefs or behaviors to justify the discomfort.
• Ignore the offending belief or behavior.

The business world regularly uses the concept of cognitive dissonance to increase profits. A car salesman will regularly contact recent buyers to minimize any dissonance. They may tell them that they sold the car at too low of a price or congratulate them on their bargaining skills.

Marketers often attempt to either change beliefs or tie current beliefs to their product. Managers attempt to change business culture so dissonance will help create the desired organizational behaviors. Economists may use cognitive dissonance to help predict acceptance of varied economic policies.

The relationship between belief and behavior is God ordained and biblical. "Cognitive Dissonance" may have been recognized by psychologists, but it describes the process God uses to bring us closer to Him. The Holy Spirit creates the dissonance and points us to Jesus as the only solution. The defense mechanisms recognized by psychologists also give warning signs and imply strategies to keep us moving closer to God. 

When a Christian sins, the Holy Spirit brings conviction. The proper response is to change our behavior. We should humble ourselves, confess our sin to God, repent and seek forgiveness. The Lord will forgive and restore us. Unfortunately, other responses are too often seen. For example, when a Christian sins they:

• may learn that many Christians engage in the same behavior and use that knowledge to justify their behavior.
• may back away from Christian fellowship and its lifestyle.
• may change their beliefs to correspond with their sinful lifestyle.
• may believe that their sin is unforgivable and disqualifies them from future service in the kingdom.
• may engage in other good works to make up for their failings.
• may feel that they cannot change.
• may believe that since we are saved by grace behavior doesn't matter.
• may reject Christ and totally renounce their beliefs.

Unrepentant sin creates conviction by the Holy Spirit. But many of our sheep will have soothed the pain of that conviction with unbiblical beliefs, withdrawal, depression, hopelessness or even additional wholesome works. As ministers, we need to ensure that our sheep:

• have beliefs based on ultimate truth. We need to teach the uncompromised Word of God, emphasizing the expectation for holiness and the promises for forgiveness when we repent.
• feel loved by us and our churches. We need to make sure our churches are known for their love and go the extra mile to minister to every person.
• have a support system of fellowship, counseling, prayer and teaching.
• have ministers that model Christ, teach the Word and are led and empowered by the Holy Spirit.
• have a daily personal relationship with the King of kings.

"For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks, it will be opened" (Matt. 7:8).

Dr. James Russell is a professor of economics and undergraduate chair of the College of Business at Oral Roberts University.

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