Using Technology to Illustrate Spiritual Concepts of Control
The concept of control, particularly in a spiritual sense, can be illuminated through analogies drawn from technology, especially when considering the human condition of sin and the divine power of God. The Bible describes humanity as inherently sinful, a state that impacts one's ability to control their actions and thoughts. From birth, all human beings are considered sinners [1], and this innate tendency can manifest as "vanity"—a term that encompasses various sinful acts [2].
Sin is not merely an occasional misstep but a fundamental orientation. It is described as being "of the devil," implying a deep connection to evil, though not through direct generation but through imitation [3]. The first sin, committed by Adam and Eve, is characterized not just as eating forbidden fruit, but as a profound act of self-love, dishonor to God, ingratitude, and disobedience, prioritizing the created over the Creator [4]. This initial act established a pattern of rebellion, which is considered a "great sin" [5].
This pervasive sinfulness means that humanity is "under sin’s power" and cannot achieve favor with God through their own efforts [6]. This lack of control over one's sinful nature can be likened to a computer system infected with malware or a virus. Just as a virus can corrupt a system's functions, redirect its processes, and compromise its security, sin corrupts human nature, influencing thoughts and actions. The "reasonings" or "imaginations" of natural men often stand in opposition to God, His purposes, and the truths of the Gospel [9, 10]. These can be compared to corrupted algorithms or faulty programming that lead to undesirable outcomes.
However, the biblical narrative also presents a solution to this lack of control through divine intervention. God's "anger" is not an arbitrary emotional outburst but a necessary response to sin [6]. The Apostle Paul uses military metaphors to describe the spiritual battle against these corrupted "reasonings" and "high things that exalt themselves against the knowledge of God" [8, 9, 10]. The "weapons" used in this spiritual warfare are not carnal but possess "divine power" to dismantle these spiritual strongholds [8]. This suggests a powerful, external force capable of overriding the corrupted internal programming.
The concept of divine control is further emphasized by God's "strong hand" and "powerful arm," which represent His sovereign power [11]. This can be understood as a divine administrator gaining full access and control over a compromised system, not merely to patch vulnerabilities but to fundamentally reprogram and restore it. Through Christ, individuals are "claimed" by God [7], indicating a transfer of ownership and control from the dominion of sin to divine authority. This divine intervention allows for the "casting down imaginations" and every "high thing" that opposes God's knowledge [10], effectively resetting the corrupted system and bringing every thought into obedience to Christ.
Sources
- Psalms (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 58:3: 58:3 All human beings are born sinners (see 51:5); however, whereas the wicked indulge their sinful nature, the godly fight against it (Rom 7:19-23; Jas 4:1-10).”
- Proverbs (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Proverbs 30:8: vanity--all sorts of sinful acts (Job 11:11; Isa 5:18).”
- 1 John (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 John 3:8: He that committeth sin is of the devil--in contrast to "He that doeth righteousness," Jo1 3:7. He is a son of the devil (Jo1 3:10; Joh 8:44). John does not, however, say, "born of the devil." as he does "born of God," for "the devil begets none, nor does he create any; but whoever imitates the devil becomes a child of the devil by imitating him, not by proper birth" [AUGUSTINE, Ten Homilies on the First Epistle of John, Homily 4.10]. From the devil there is not generation, but corruption [BENGEL]. sinneth from the beginning--from the time that any beg”
- Genesis (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Genesis 3:13: beguiled--cajoled by flattering lies. This sin of the first pair was heinous and aggravated--it was not simply eating an apple, but a love of self, dishonor to God, ingratitude to a benefactor, disobedience to the best of Masters--a preference of the creature to the Creator.”
- Psalms (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 19:13: 19:13 An individual who commits deliberate sins does so with an insolent (86:14) or arrogant (119:21, 69) attitude. • The great sin is rebellion (see 32:1).”
- Romans (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Romans 1:18: 1:18–3:20 Paul delays exploring the theme of righteousness through faith (see 3:21) until after he first teaches about universal sinfulness. Gentiles (1:18-32) and Jews (2:1–3:8) are equally under sin’s power and cannot find favor with God by any action of their own (3:9-20). 1:18 God’s anger is not a spontaneous emotional outburst, but the holy God’s necessary response to sin. The Old Testament often depicts God’s anger (Exod 32:10-12; Num 11:1; Jer 21:3-7) and predicts a decisive outpouring of God’s wrath on human sin at the end of history. While Paul usually de”
- 1 Corinthians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 1 Corinthians 3:23: 3:23 Just as they may now claim everything as their own, so Christ has claimed them for himself (see Rom 14:7-9), and in Christ they are ultimately claimed by God (see 1 Cor 6:19-20; 7:23).”
- 2 Corinthians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 2 Corinthians 10:3: 10:3-5 A military metaphor enforces Paul’s rebuttal: Paul’s weapons have divine power over spiritual strongholds (see 4:3-4).”
- 2 Corinthians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 2 Corinthians 10:5: imaginations--rather, "reasonings." Whereas "thought" expresses men's own purpose and determination of living after their own pleasure [TITTMANN]. high thing--So it ought to be translated (Rom 8:39). A distinct Greek word from that in Eph 3:18, "height," and Rev 21:16, which belongs to God and heaven from whence we receive nothing hurtful. But "high thing" is not so much "height" as something made high, and belongs to those regions of air where the powers of darkness ::exalt themselves" against Christ and us (Eph 2:2; Eph 6:12; Th2 2:4). exa”
- 2 Corinthians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 2 Corinthians 10:5: Casting down imaginations,.... Or "reasonings"; the carnal reasonings of the minds of natural men against God, his providences and purposes, against Christ, and the methods of salvation, and every truth of the Gospel; which are all disproved, silenced, and confounded, by the preaching of the word, which though reckoned the foolishness and weakness of God, appears to be wiser and stronger than men; and whereby the wisdom of the wise is destroyed, and the understanding of the prudent brought to nothing: and every high thing that exalteth itself against the know”
- Deuteronomy (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Deuteronomy 4:34: 4:34 strong hand, a powerful arm: Describing divine qualities in human terms is called anthropomorphism (see study note on 8:2). Here it represents God’s sovereign power in delivering Israel from bondage in Egypt.”