Normalcy Bias

   I heard a television / radio personality use the term "normalcy bias" the other day and it stuck in my head and spirit.  He used the illustration of the burning towers of the World Trade Centers, people coming down the stairs sudden struck with the normalcy bias, turning around, going back up to turn off the office lights or computer and never making it out of the building.  Message? What is normal has to be examined closely, for if you stick with what you think is normal, and it isn't, it could be disastrous.

   The moment I heard this, my spirit woke up and I realized, that is the problem with the church.  We are hanging on to the wrong idea of what is normal. And, it is killing us. What to do?  For me, I am going to use the Bible, and from the New Covenant, seek to know what God did, intended and produced.  Why?  Because He is perfect and being perfect, cannot and will not err.  Normal?  By His definition, a normal Christian was born again (new spirit within).  He was baptized with the Holy Ghost, spoke in tongues, was full of God's praise, saw and expected to see the demonstrations of the Spirit and the power of God.  He based his faith on those things.  His relationship with the Holy Ghost made it possible for him to know that Jesus was the resurrected Lord and that then made it possible for him to know his resurrection was assured.  He knew that to "mind" the things of the Spirit would bring him life but to "mind" the things of the flesh (natural thinking) would become enmity between him and God.

   The above description would quite accurately describe a New Testament believer as seen in the Bible.  What is normal to you?   What is your defining document?  What do you go by?  Are you hanging in there with a concept of normal that is minus of the manifestations of the power of God?  Of the gifts of the Spirit?  Minus Holy Ghost baptism? A heart filled with praise?  A language to speak spirit to Spirit unto God?  No joy?   No power?   Is all you have a church membership and a book with some promises within?  

   For me, I am committed to God's view of normal.  You can hang on to yours, if you like, but when things crash around you, and our normalcy bias takes over, best of luck to you.