The dynamics of the human will
Human Dynamics is the way and manner people decide to act. The decisions of human beings are guided by mental and emotional faculties before the physical operations that are manifested externally. In law, an accused person is guilty if it can be established that the action in question was carried out after serious conception, reflection, […]
Human Dynamics is the way and manner people decide to act. The decisions of human beings are guided by mental and emotional faculties before the physical operations that are manifested externally. In law, an accused person is guilty if it can be established that the action in question was carried out after serious conception, reflection, premeditation and voluntary execution. The action of the will can affect a person and a whole community. The will of the human person is therefore an outward dynamic of the human mind. Peace and harmony in the community depend on the good will of each individual. It is the negative will of human beings that causes chaos, anarchy and insecurity in the society. Bad will makes human beings mischievous and mischief makers do not will what can make others happy. According to Sandra Seagal and David Horne, “Human Dynamics provides the necessary framework of human understanding, together with developmental tools based upon it, for enabling the organization’s members to recognize, appreciate, and optimally utilize their diverse capacities, and work together harmoniously and productively” (https://thesystemsthinker.com/human-dynamics-for-the-21st-century).
The divine nature of God in the human person goes with the responsibility to make meaningful moral choices (Gen 1:26-27 ; 2:16-17). One of the unique characteristics of the human person is that he / she is a moral agent who is endowed with the freedom and the capacity to choose between good and evil. The freedom to choose between obedience and disobedience; love and hate; life and death with the attendant knowledge of good and evil have become a serious challenge to human will. The eyes of Adam and Eve opened to the knowledge of good and evil (Genesis 3:5). God expelled them from the Garden of Eden because they preferred the evil of disobedience (Genesis 3:22). Externally, evil looks attractive with quick results and immediate material gains just as the forbidden fruit was delightful to the eyes of Eve (Genesis 2:16-17). The consequences of evil are grave hence every action must have good intention (Genesis 20:5-6). The universal will for humanity is to love God (Deuteronomy 6:5). This love is manifested in human relations.
The heart is the inner nature of the human person that generates thoughts, emotions, and will hence decisions are the setting of the heart (2 Chronicles12:14). Peace which is a core value in revealed religions could be attained, preserved and restored with voluntary transformation of the heart and the will of each human being. There is therefore need for each person to pray that his or her will may be tuned to the will of God. It is easy for a well formed conscience to confirm if an action is in accordance with the will of God (Psalm 86:11-12). The dynamics of the will of the human person is possible because God allows human freedom to flourish. It is the option of each person to carry out the actions that would benefit humanity. God does not will evil. It is human beings who will and execute evil to satisfy their materialistic and egoistic desires. Some people who prefer evil to good have some abnormal traits. The proliferation of all types of drugs are destroying many youths in the world today. Those under the influence of alcohol may not have the mental capacity to take right decisions. Others who choose evil do so as a result of brainwashing and mental manipulation as in the case of suicide bombers who prefer death to life. Sometimes, evil communications and relationships could corrupt people with good intentions.
Show me your friend and I will tell you who you are! The first book of the Psalms presents those with healthy relationships as blessed while those who keep bad companies are cursed. “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. The wicked are not so, but are like chaff which the wind drives away. Therefore, the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; for the LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish (Psalm 1:1-6).” Even though God gives freedom to each person, everybody will give account of how he or she uses the freedom at the dusk of life on earth.
God freely willed the choice of Israel to be his own people (1 Samuel 12:22). He did not abandon them when they preferred to do their own will in opposition to the will of God (Nehemiah 9:17; Hosea 5:11; Zechariah 7:11-12). This is because God is patient and he gives human beings enough time to return to him. Jesus is a model of perfect obedience to God’s will (Luke 22:42). Divine will leads to salvation hence humanity is called to respond to the will of God. In deciding, willing or choosing to carry out an action, the following considerations are relevant. “Does what I am intending to do give happiness to me and the people around me?” “Does it deviate from the societal norms?” “Will the action be pleasing to God and humanity?” “Christians believe in the formation of true conscience to do the will of God” (Colossians 4:12). Christians who are not trained in the will of God are regarded by Paul as foolish (Ephesians 5:17).
The will of God is not fatalism such that we ascribe every misfortune to the will of God. For instance, can we accept as the will of God the acts of terrorism, kidnapping, raping innocent women, ritual killings, electoral fraud and all forms of criminal activities? These things do not happen because God allowed them. They happen because the perpetuators are abusing the freedom God has given to humanity. Mischief makers are not in good relationship with God (Mark 3:35). True worshippers of God listen to God and do his will (John 9:31). Human beings are not created to conform to this material world. Paul wrote to the Romans, “be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect” (Romans 12:2). “The world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever” (I John 2:17).
The good will of a person can bring about renaissance, change and development. The will of a leader makes a lot of difference hence it is wise to enquire the intention of whoever is interested in religious, traditional and political leadership. If the followers or the citizens key into the will of a good leader, everybody will enjoy peace but if the leadership has a hidden agenda, then the penury of the people will cry to the heavens. “He who has a crooked mind finds no good” (Proverbs 17:20). “A man will be praised according to his insight, but one of perverse mind will be despised (Proverbs 12:8). “The integrity of the upright will guide them, but the crookedness of the treacherous will destroy them” (Proverbs 11:13). Every good leader knows that “Better is the poor who walks in his integrity than the rich who walks in crooked ways” (Proverbs 28:6). It is amazing and shocking that some leaders the people entrusted their political destiny could aid and abate crime in the same society they vow to protect. They feel secure in their wickedness because they think no one sees them (Isaiah 47:10). The situation in the various nations of the world today call for a renewed human will to genuinely change the world for good. The insecurity we are facing today calls for a renewed political will on the side of government to protect the innocent citizens who are suffering, dying, displaced, raped, exploited and dehumanized by people who have willed hell in preference to heaven. May God help us to do his will. Amen!
Rev. Fr. Cornelius Omonokhua is the Executive Secretary of Nigeria Inter-Religious Council (NIREC) ([email protected])