The Nature of Conflict Within the Soul
Greetings and good morning, brothers and sisters. This is Dr. James Perry continuing with our series
where we seek to explore the deeper meanings of our relationship with Jesus Christ. Over the years,
the heavenly Father has revealed many revelations of spiritual truth to me, and I want to share them
with you. This morning we ponder our lives as we seek to understand the nature of conflict within
the soul.
And now, sit back and listen to today's message.
The Nature of Conflict Within the Soul
"And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying ‘‘O my Father, if it be possible,
let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.’’" Matthew, Chapter 26, Verse
39
Brothers and sisters, in today's broadcast, we shall examine the nature of the conflict of the soul. We
shall show why the conflict exists, and hopefully show how this species of war within the self can
be resolved. Conflict is something that is very much a part of our life. Since we are imperfect
stability and tranquility of spirit depends upon the consistent choosing of the Father's will. Without
our choosing the Father's will, our souls are like straws in the wind, blown from pillar to post. It is
the very nature of growth that causes conflict, for growth implies moving from that what is known
to that which is unknown. It means choosing the superior value over the now inferior value and
always is this choosing toward more and more spiritual values. "All forms of soul conflict consist
in the lack of harmony between the moral, or spiritual, self-consciousness and the purely intellectual
self-consciousness."
The creation of the soul whose purpose seeks to identify with the Father of its existence in the midst
of the material mind is bound to create conflict. These two realities represent values that are
diametrically opposed to each other. At least this is true of those who have not yet mastered the
doing of the Father's will, and therefore their minds are not in subjection to the Father's will. The
intellectual self-consciousness is primarily concerned with the three great material drives of human
existence-self maintenance, self gratification, and self perpetuation. All drives not covered under this
umbrella meets with firm resistance from the material mind. The values of the soul represent the
unselfishness well being of other selves. The values of the soul are in direct opposition to the values
of the material mind. The material mind is aware of its mortality, is aware of the limited amount of
resources that it has at its disposal. While the material self is not able to change its fate of material
death, it does do everything in its power to delay it, and attempts to use all of its resources to
maintain its life while it has it. This is the paradox that Jesus referred to: He who seeks to save his
life shall lose it, and who seeks to lose his life shall save it. A commentary upon this statement is in
order at this point. If a mortal tries to use all of its resources, and all of its efforts to save its life, it
is doomed. Conversely if a mortal tries to use all of his resources and all of its efforts in loving
service to others shall save it. "The technique of survival is embraced in those adjustments of the
human will and those transformations in the mortal mind whereby such a God-conscious intellect
gradually becomes spirit taught and eventually spirit led.””
We know that the material self has rights as well as the spiritual self. The material self has to
function in this material world, but it can best carry out these drives of self-maintenance, self-
perpetuation, and self-gratification by linking them to spiritual purpose. Here is what is needed: first
the self must be able to differentiate the things of God from the things of Caesar. That is, the
separation between the spiritual and the material must be understood and actualized. This will
eliminate a considerable amount of conflict in the self, as the self can render to Caesar the things of
Caesar and render to God the things of God. The things of God are spiritual values and their
associated meanings. The things of Caesar are the material realities of this world. While living in the
flesh, we must pay attention to both of these arenas; however, we must only give our supreme
allegiance to God. This means the recognition of God as Father to each person and each person as
a brother or sister. It is in this arena where the soul conflict exists and must be resolved.
"The human mind does not well stand the conflict of double allegiance. It is a severe strain on the
soul to undergo the experience of an effort to serve both good and evil. The supremely happy and
efficiently unified mind is the one wholly dedicated to the doing of the will of the Father in heaven.
Unresolved conflicts destroy unity and may terminate in mind disruption. But the survival character
of a soul is not fostered by attempting to secure peace of mind at any price, by the surrender of noble
aspirations, and by the compromise of spiritual ideals; rather is such peace attained by the stalwart
assertion of the triumph of that which is true, and this victory is achieved in the overcoming of evil
with the potent force of good." Retreating from noble aspirations and the compromise of spiritual
ideals spells delay at best and eternal death at worst.
Treating others in a true, beautiful and good manner, a loving unselfish manner is the task for
acquiring the supremely unified and happy soul. And as might be expected, the material self rebels
at this use of its resources for unselfish use. And thus give rise to evil--actual and potential. Perhaps
at this point a working definition of good and evil is in order. Goodness represents those values that
are associated with the Father. And these values are the unselfish regard for others, even love and
mercy. These attitudes require us to adjust and turn from our preoccupation with self to the service
of our brothers and sisters. Evil represents all of those values of selfish interest that are chosen in the
face of the need and impulse to respond with goodness. And this re-occurring choice of good over
evil and the need to choose is what causes the conflict. But how does the self harmonize these two
divergent interest?
The material mind must be taught in the ways of God and thus spirit led to follow in them. This
instruction begins when of our own free will becomes dedicated to doing the Father's will. The
material mind increasingly begins to see the Father’’s point of view in all moral and spiritual matters.
It becomes spiritualized and always submits to the Father's will, which is effected by prayer. Prayer
is the process whereby the self learns how to do the Father's will. And it is the process of worship
that supplies the template for becoming like the Father. As the self continues to choose good over
evil in the ever-progressive arena of moral and spiritual choices, it eventually unifies, and the self
perfectly switches between the things of Caesar and the things of God, while its ever-increasing
moral and spiritual insights and enlightenment steadily reduce the conflicts of the soul. This now
spiritualized will comes in harmony with the soul and always says in every crisis of decision, "Not
my will but your will be done." And when the will chooses the Father's will, right then and there are
all moral and spiritual powers made available to sustain and stabilize such a spiritualized soul.
This concludes today's message on understanding the nature of conflict within the soul. We hope you
find something in this message to ponder and pray about as you go about your day.
Until next time, this is Dr. James Perry.
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By Dr. James Perry
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The Nature of Conflict Within the Soul
