I had an undergrad this past week tell us that recipients of body parts from others imparted personality characteristics from the donors. It is called cellular memory. As gently as possible I tried to assure her and the class that cellular memory is only anecdotal. If it were true, I would be one very mixed up human being. Once a month I receive an injection of human antibodies containing the antibodies from a pool of over 1000 donors. If she was correct, with that many added personality characteristics each month, I would be a different me each month and my wife would never know to whom she was married.
Of course we have for thousands of years been speaking metaphorically about hearts. One thousand years before Jesus David wrote, “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” (Psalm 51) Two thousand years ago Paul spoke of our being a temple for the Holy Spirit. Our prayer is that with the infusion of divinity will come personality and character changes. Of this we would not deny. As a matter of fact, quite to the contrary of denying it, we advocate and long for it.
Christianity is about change. Salvation without transformation into something better would be a curse and not a blessing. Sanctification or the growth toward divinity’s righteousness is essential. When we speak of eternity and do not include growth toward becoming better creatures we are speaking of the reappearance of sin and impending danger not only to ourselves but to all who would come into contact with us. We are talking about a pandemic. Obviously this can never be allowed. It was for this cause that Jesus died.
Written by Roger Bothwell on November 18, 2013
Spring of Life, PO Box 124, St. Helena, CA 94547
Rogerbothwell.org