Human beings are born with many natures, some of which are beneficial, some of which are harmful, and some of which may be beneficial and harmful depending on the situation. For example, the human nature is to eat as much as possible so that it can be turned into fat to be stored for emergencies. This can be beneficial in emergencies by providing humans with energy and extending their lifespan. But in normal times it can become obesity and cause health problems, which is harmful.
Eating is a human nature because of the need to replenish energy. To sustain our life, the brain must encourage us to eat more. For this reason, our brain secretes dopamine (the pleasure hormone) to make us feel joyful and happy when we eat. This is why we are in a very happy mood when we enjoy a delicious meal. This nature was originally beneficial, especially in the face of famine. However, in times of material abundance, it has become a major problem for human health.
Therefore, in order to deal with the human nature to eat, we have to fight against it. Only by fighting and limiting the nature to eat can mankind have a healthy body.
The same reasoning can be applied to all human natures.
Another example: To live comfortably is human nature so that we can save energy and prevent our bodies from using too much energy. This is extremely important for the ancient people because they may not have food everyday, or they can’t preserve the food for too long. This nature protects our lives and allows us to live as long as possible in the face of food shortages and poor living conditions. But in this modern and highly competitive society, being “comfortable” will make us lose the competition and be eliminated by the society. So in order to be more competitive, we must fight our nature for comfort so that we can be more progressive.
Similarly, in the church, an attitude of staying in the comfort zone prevents us from fulfilling God’s mission. Although comfort is our nature, we cannot let this nature control us. We must fight against comfort and must be willing to work hard to break out of our comfort zone.
Many members who are reluctant to participate in discipleship training have one thing in common: they are afraid that they won’t be able to complete their homework. They are also afraid to leave their comfort zone and face the demands of discipleship.
The truth is that our discipleship training is conducted in progressive manner, going from strength to strength. People don’t have to worry about not being able to do their homework or not understanding what they are reading. Devotional homework can start simple and then progress slowly. If the homework of reading is not understood, the pastor will explain it during the lesson. The purpose of doing homework is for you to concentrate in discipleship training. As long as you are serious in what you are asked to do, the pastor will be happy to accept your homework.
The human nature is trying to avoid difficult challenge. However, if we want to grow, we must fight against our natures. Discipleship Training is to help you continue to grow and fulfill your life.