What The Stanford Prison Experiment Teaches Us

The Stanford Prison Experiment was a project designed to find out how people use or misuse power over others. The BBC documentary at the link below will explain the background of this psychological exercise. Suffice it to say that it was a huge disaster.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F4txhN13y6A

What many people don't realize, and refuse to believe, is that we all are born wicked. Live with a toddler for a while and you'll understand the assertion of Jeremiah 17:9. The Bible in Basic English says, "The heart is a twisted thing, not to be searched out by man: who is able to have knowledge of it?"

Holy Scripture makes it abundantly clear that not a single individual is righteous. As Psalm 14:3 (BBE) frankly admits, "They have all gone out of the way together; they are unclean, there is not one who does good, no, not one."

But, some might ask, aren't babies innocent? The truth is that we're all tainted by Adam's rebellion against the Father. According to 1 Corinthians 15:22 (KJV). "For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive."

Since this is so, who can go to heaven? Trusting God and obeying the gospel is the answer. As Paul said to the Athenians in Acts 17:30 and 31 (BBE), "Those times when men had no knowledge were overlooked by God; but now he gives orders to all men in every place to undergo a change of heart: Because a day has been fixed in which all the world will be judged in righteousness by the man who has been marked out by him for this work; of which he has given a sign to all men by giving him back from the dead."

When people gain power, they tend to be cruel. But God will punish those mighty rulers. Psalm 76:7-9 (BBE) declares regarding the Almighty, "You, you are to be feared; who may keep his place before you in the time of your wrath? From heaven you gave your decision; the earth, in its fear, gave no sound, When God took his place as judge, for the salvation of the poor on the earth. (Selah.).

What a relief it is to know that wicked rulers and powerful people won't get away with their crimes. The Lord's wrath is slow but absolutely sure.

Holiness Can't Be Feigned.

The world considers certain religious leaders to be holy. But the world can't judge holiness as it knows nothing about it.

God has much to say on this matter. The most famous passage is 1 Samuel 16:7 (BBE) when David was selected as king of Israel. "But the Lord said to Samuel, 'Do not take note of his face or how tall he is, because I will not have him: for the Lord's view is not man's; man takes note of the outer form, but the Lord sees the heart.'"

Another good passage which shows how God knows our innermost secrets is Psalms 44:20 and 21 (BBE). "If the name of our God has gone out of our minds, or if our hands have been stretched out to a strange god, Will not God make search for it? for he sees the secrets of the heart."

In the Old Testament, circumcision was a rite which separated Israelite males from those of other Nations. God used metaphorical circumcision to sanctify his people spiritually in Deuteronomy 30:6 (BBE). "And the Lord your God will give to you and to your seed a circumcision of the heart, so that, loving him with all your heart and all your soul, you may have life."

We also have the responsibility to warn others who are sliding toward destruction. As Solomon wisely wrote in Proverbs 24:12 (BBE), "If you say, 'See, we had no knowledge of this:' does not the tester of hearts give thought to it? and he who keeps your soul, has he no knowledge of it? and will he not give to every man the reward of his work?"

Likewise, we read this truth in Jeremiah 17:9 (BBE). "The heart is a twisted thing, not to be searched out by man: who is able to have knowledge of it?" God is the only one who can figure it out.


This truth is even expressed in the New Testament. Hebrews 4:12 (BBE)says plainly, "For the word of God is living and full of power, and is sharper than any two-edged sword, cutting through and making a division even of the soul and the spirit, the bones and the muscles, and quick to see the thoughts and purposes of the heart."

It's obvious that people who say they're holy will be proven wrong on Judgement Day. That's why I feel compelled to write my next book called You Think You're Going to Heaven? All bishops, priests, and whatever else they're called will answer to God Almighty. Most won't have a decent answer to give.

On Thursday, I hope to post about God's reward for sanctified deeds.

The Born Basically Good Error

Liberal Christian denominations teach that humanity is basically good and all people need to do is be nice to one another. But these misled folks forget that we live in a fallen world where humanity has been corrupted by the fall.

Even in the beginning, humanity quickly sank into wickedness. Genesis 6:5 (KJV) shows just how bad folks became. "And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually."

The very first human family was dysfunctional. After Cain's offering to God was rejected, he became bitter. Genesis 4:8 (KJV) reports, "And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him."

In fact, we are so corrupted that we can't possibly even know how bad we are. Jeremiah 17:9 (KJV) describes how far gone humanity is. "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?"

Isaiah 64:6 (KJV) shows that we have no hope of saving ourselves from God's wrath. "But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away."

Even children aren't innocent. Proverbs 22:15 (KJV) states, "Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him."

Even David, a man after God's own heart, was born under Adam's curse. He admitted in Psalms 51:5 (KJV) that, "Behold, I was shapen in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me."

Gospel means good news and this is the best news which any sinner can hear. Romans 5:15 (KJV) explains, "But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many."

This is the theme of my next book called You Think You're Going to Heaven? People figure they aren't so bad but even a small sin is an affront to the Almighty. We wouldn't like it if there was a black speck floating in our glass of milk and the waitress said, "It's only a little dirty." Imagine how much more offensive our sin is to a pure and holy God.

On Saturday, I'll post about a secular rock group and their song about Christ's return.