[font="verdana][b]"Institutionalized" [/b][/font]
[font="verdana][color="#4D528C"]There are a variety of institutions today. For the sake of time and limited typing skills we will look at just a few. First let's look at the definition of institution. Websters says it is "an established custom or practice, an organization". Marriage and family are both institutions that would fall under the customs or practices. In this article, I want to focus on some of the institutions that fall under the "organization" definition.
An Organization is a functional, stuctured, systematic body or group. There are three institutions that I want to make mention of because of their simularities, mainly the condition of becoming institutionized. The term "institutionalized" in this article is not referring to the act of committing someone into a mental institute or hospital, but rather the act of becoming dependant to/on a particular institution's system. Let's begin with examining some characteristics of the prison, military and religious institutions.
The prison institution is an organization that confines those who are considered to be a threat to society. For the most part the institution consists of secured and guarded living quarters, a very structured set of rules and regulations and strict punishments to encourage compliance. Prisoners are dictated what time they are to eat, work, have recreation and sleep. For the most part it is a very disciplined atmosphere. For this reason they have an induction period or class of instruction for the new inmates. Because most of the prisoners lack self-discipline, a regulated system applied in a confined area is required. A long term exposure to this type of enviroment brings compliance and eventually dependency. When a long term prisoner is released or paroled back into society, they must again go through an induction. Some, once out in society have great difficulty functioning in this less restrictive enviroment and find themselves returning to the prison institution. Thus the term "institutionalized".
The military institution has many of the same characteristics as the prison institution. One acception is enlistment into the military institution is volintary unless the draft is applied during a time of war. Again there are a set of regulations perscribed to encourage/discourage certain behavor. A very controlled and systematic enviroment. Soldiers are dictated what time they are to eat, work, have recreation and sleep. Career soldiers typically have difficulty adjusting to civilian life at retirement and still practice the same disciplined life style.
The religious institution is very simular to the prison and military institutions in the way that it also has a set of rules and regulations to which the participants are required to comply. Like the military, it is for the most part volintary participation. Those involved in the religious institution long term also become institutionalized. They have difficulty functioning outside or apart from it's regulatory control. They may not be told when to eat, work, have recreation and sleep but it is dictated to them how to worship God, how to assemble, when to stand, sing, pray and listen. Man dictates how they should behave. This control is administered more mentally and emotionally than physically. There are some major manipulations used to bring about compliance. This religious system is not God instituted but man instituted.
Every member of the Body of Christ is to be governed and led by the Holy Spirit. When He is recognized as the governing presence there will be liberty not confinement.
Galations 5:19-26
19*When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, your lives will produce these evil results: sexual immorality, impure thoughts, eagerness for lustful pleasure, 20 idolatry, participation in demonic activities, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, divisions, the feeling that everyone is wrong except those in your own little group, 21*envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other kinds of sin. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.
22*But when the Holy Spirit controls our lives, he will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23*gentleness, and self-control. Here there is no conflict with the law.
24*Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. 25*If we are living now by the Holy Spirit, let us follow the Holy Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives. 26*Let us not become conceited, or irritate one another, or be jealous of one another.
Once someone becomes institutionalized in the religious institution, it is very difficult to become de-institutionalized but it is possible. Needing the religious institutions regulatory system to control behavor is an indication of inmaturity and irresponsiblity. It's God's desire that our behavor be regulated from within us. This is the function of the Holy Spirit. So let's adhere to God's way of regulating behavor, by the leading of the Holy Spirit and we will mature to the full stature and character of Christ.[/color][/font]
[font="verdana][color="#4D528C"]There are a variety of institutions today. For the sake of time and limited typing skills we will look at just a few. First let's look at the definition of institution. Websters says it is "an established custom or practice, an organization". Marriage and family are both institutions that would fall under the customs or practices. In this article, I want to focus on some of the institutions that fall under the "organization" definition.
An Organization is a functional, stuctured, systematic body or group. There are three institutions that I want to make mention of because of their simularities, mainly the condition of becoming institutionized. The term "institutionalized" in this article is not referring to the act of committing someone into a mental institute or hospital, but rather the act of becoming dependant to/on a particular institution's system. Let's begin with examining some characteristics of the prison, military and religious institutions.
The prison institution is an organization that confines those who are considered to be a threat to society. For the most part the institution consists of secured and guarded living quarters, a very structured set of rules and regulations and strict punishments to encourage compliance. Prisoners are dictated what time they are to eat, work, have recreation and sleep. For the most part it is a very disciplined atmosphere. For this reason they have an induction period or class of instruction for the new inmates. Because most of the prisoners lack self-discipline, a regulated system applied in a confined area is required. A long term exposure to this type of enviroment brings compliance and eventually dependency. When a long term prisoner is released or paroled back into society, they must again go through an induction. Some, once out in society have great difficulty functioning in this less restrictive enviroment and find themselves returning to the prison institution. Thus the term "institutionalized".
The military institution has many of the same characteristics as the prison institution. One acception is enlistment into the military institution is volintary unless the draft is applied during a time of war. Again there are a set of regulations perscribed to encourage/discourage certain behavor. A very controlled and systematic enviroment. Soldiers are dictated what time they are to eat, work, have recreation and sleep. Career soldiers typically have difficulty adjusting to civilian life at retirement and still practice the same disciplined life style.
The religious institution is very simular to the prison and military institutions in the way that it also has a set of rules and regulations to which the participants are required to comply. Like the military, it is for the most part volintary participation. Those involved in the religious institution long term also become institutionalized. They have difficulty functioning outside or apart from it's regulatory control. They may not be told when to eat, work, have recreation and sleep but it is dictated to them how to worship God, how to assemble, when to stand, sing, pray and listen. Man dictates how they should behave. This control is administered more mentally and emotionally than physically. There are some major manipulations used to bring about compliance. This religious system is not God instituted but man instituted.
Every member of the Body of Christ is to be governed and led by the Holy Spirit. When He is recognized as the governing presence there will be liberty not confinement.
Galations 5:19-26
19*When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, your lives will produce these evil results: sexual immorality, impure thoughts, eagerness for lustful pleasure, 20 idolatry, participation in demonic activities, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, divisions, the feeling that everyone is wrong except those in your own little group, 21*envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other kinds of sin. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.
22*But when the Holy Spirit controls our lives, he will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23*gentleness, and self-control. Here there is no conflict with the law.
24*Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. 25*If we are living now by the Holy Spirit, let us follow the Holy Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives. 26*Let us not become conceited, or irritate one another, or be jealous of one another.
Once someone becomes institutionalized in the religious institution, it is very difficult to become de-institutionalized but it is possible. Needing the religious institutions regulatory system to control behavor is an indication of inmaturity and irresponsiblity. It's God's desire that our behavor be regulated from within us. This is the function of the Holy Spirit. So let's adhere to God's way of regulating behavor, by the leading of the Holy Spirit and we will mature to the full stature and character of Christ.[/color][/font]
