Someone asked Albert Einstein how a paradigm is formed and he responded with a story about monkeys...

A group of scientists placed 5 monkeys in a cage.  In the middle of the cage was a ladder with bananas on the top. Naturally, every monkey’s first thought was to climb the ladder and grab a banana.  Each time a monkey went up the ladder, however, the scientists soaked the rest of the monkeys with cold water. After a short while, any time a monkey moved towards the ladder, the others beat him.  It did not take long before no monkey dared to go up the ladder regardless of the temptation.      

 The scientists then decided to substitute one of the monkeys. The first thing this new monkey did, of course, was to head towards the ladder. Immediately the other monkeys beat him up. After several beatings, the new member learned not to climb the ladder even though he never knew why.

        Then, a second monkey was substituted and the same thing occurred. This time, though, the first monkey participated in the beating of the second monkey. A third monkey was changed with a similar result. Then a fourth was substituted and the beating was repeated.  Eventually the fifth monkey was replaced.  What was left was a group of five monkeys that never received a cold shower, yet continued to beat up any monkey who attempted to climb the ladder.

        I imagine that if monkeys could talk and someone asked why they beat anyone who climbs the ladder, they would reply, “That’s just the way we do things around here.” 

        I can’t help but wonder how many of our modern “Christian” paradigms are not based in authentic, first-hand experiences with Jesus Christ, but instead, in traditions and second-hand teachings.

        That’s not to say that traditions and second generation teachings are all wrong; but if the goal of Christianity is intimate, personal relationship with God, we also need to experience first-hand the love of God.  Second-hand teachings and traditions can never replace first hand, experiential knowledge.

        The reason we are so reluctant to examine our spiritual paradigms is because we have a tendency to view our theological framework (worldview) as something rigid and set -like a stone tower.  If we begin removing stones, even to examine them more closely, our entire tower may fall down.  From this point of view, asking theological questions seems very risky.  Jesus, however, seemed to invite us to view things a bit more organically; the paradigm He often used was that of a grapevine.  Inspecting the vine is sometimes necessary, and pruning the vine of dead, useless or fruitless branches actually makes the vine healthier and more fruitful.  It really is ok with God for us to seek authentic Truth and ask questions and search Scriptures for ourselves and develop a personal, real and intimate relationship with Him in the process.

-Written by Steve Pennell, By His Stripes Ministries- 

Questions To Consider:

Why are we generally so reluctant to examine our paradigms?

What is the problem if our spiritual paradigms are grounded more in religious tradition than relationship?