Psychological Conditioning of monkeys –“If you put five monkeys in a cage and hang a banana on a string at the top of the cage with a ladder leading up to it, before long a monkey will go to the stairs and start to climb towards the banana. As soon as he touches the stairs, spray all of the monkeys with cold water. After a while, another monkey will make an attempt with the same response -- all of the monkeys are sprayed with cold water. Keep this up for several days. At this point you shouldn’t need anymore cold water. If, later, another monkey tries to climb the stairs, the other monkeys will try to prevent it even though no water sprays them.

Now, remove one monkey from the cage and replace it with a new one. The new monkey sees the banana and wants to climb the stairs. To his horror, all of the other monkeys attack him. After another attempt and attack, he knows that if he tries to climb the stairs, he will be assaulted. Next, remove another of the original five monkeys and replace it with a new one. The newcomer goes to the stairs and is attacked. The previous newcomer takes part in the punishment with enthusiasm. Replace the third original monkey with a new one. The new one makes it to the stairs and is attacked as well. Two of the four monkeys that beat him have no idea why they were not permitted to climb the stairs, or why they are participating in the beating of the newest monkey. After replacing the fourth and fifth original monkeys, all the monkeys which have been sprayed with cold water have been replaced. Nevertheless, no monkey ever again approaches the stairs. Why not?  "Because that's the way it's always been done around here."

We have a wonderful thing called Christian freedom. It allows us to do anything we want within the realm of God’s permission. God has given us wisdom to be more than monkeys. It’s good to regularly consider why we worship the way that we do. What things are harmful? What things are beneficial? What can change? What shouldn’t change? Are there good bananas that we are not making use of, simply because they aren’t traditional? “

Remember, everything that is LIVING is constantly CHANGING.

Here at CBC we are in the process of making a few changes that I feel will help us to grow and become more effective in our outreach, witnessing and missions. Some of those changes will be in programming our ministry methods and others in the area of leadership. I believe that we must have a firm foundation upon which to build. As your pastor it has been my privilege to watch the hand of the Lord at work here at CBC. God has an exciting future for Central Baptist Church and He is in the process of unfolding it.

 

Remember, we are here to GO, GROW, and GLOW for the Lord Jesus Christ until He comes again.