Knowing When To Say, “Enough”
In an early episode of The Bema Podcast, Bible teacher Marty Solomon articulated a profound theological perspective on the nature of humanity. According to Solomon, the defining characteristic of human beings, who are created in the image of God, is their unique capacity to declare “enough.” This ability to exercise self-restraint, regulate desires, and place trust in the overarching story of creation and redemption distinguishes humans from the rest of creation as bearers of the divine image. Solomon suggests that our desires are an important part of our flourishing. However, the failure to control one’s desires leads to a state of brokenness, emphasizing the critical importance of self-discipline and trust in the divine story for human flourishing.[1]
In The Molecule of More: How a Single Chemical in Your Brain Drives Love, Sex, and Creativity – and Will Determine the Fate of the Human Race, Authors Daniel Lieberman and Michael Long explain the neuroscience behind our challenge to say ‘enough’. They point to the neurochemical dopamine as the molecule in our brains that always want more. They write, “From dopamine’s point of view, having things is uninteresting. It’s only getting things that matters. If you live under a bridge, dopamine makes you want a tent. If you live in a tent, dopamine makes you want a house. If you live in the most expensive mansion in the world, dopamine makes you want a castle on the moon. Dopamine has no standard for good, and seeks no finish line. The dopamine circuits in the brain can be stimulated only by the possibility of whatever is shiny and new, never mind how perfect things are at the moment. The dopamine motto is ‘More’.”[2]
In their exploration of neurochemical influences on human behaviour, the authors posit that dopamine is a fundamental driver behind various aspects of life, including love, creativity, work, consumerism, religion, and politics. Dopamine’s primary role is to motivate individuals toward the pursuit of better things, highlighting its positive aspect. [3] However, the authors also acknowledge a darker side to dopamine: the anticipation it generates quickly fades, leaving individuals in a perpetual state of wanting more. This cycle can lead to a continuous search for new adventures, each of which ultimately results in a diminished sense of exhilaration once achieved.[4]
On the other hand, the authors introduce other neurochemicals, referred to as the “here and now chemicals” (H&Ns), which help people focus on appreciating what they already have. They explain, “Dopamine makes us want things with a passion, but it’s the H&Ns that allow us to appreciate them: the flavors, colors, textures, and aromas of a five-course meal, or the emotions we experience when we spend time with people we love.”[5] Essentially, the cultivation of the H&Ns enables people to say “enough” by engaging a different part of the brain. The authors note, “As opposed to the pleasure of anticipation via dopamine, these chemicals give us pleasure from sensation and emotion.”[6]
Next, I want to consider how dopamine may have impacted the growth of evangelicalism, both positively and negatively. Since The Molecule of More, delves into the role of dopamine in driving human behavior, particularly our pursuit of more—more success, more innovation, more experiences, I wonder if this biological perspective can provide a unique understanding of the evangelical movement’s dynamism and its historical shifts.
Bebbington’s work outlines the four characteristics of evangelicalism: conversionism, activism, biblicism, and crucicentrism.[7] While no work has been done to connect Bebbington to this week’s reading, by applying the insights from “The Molecule of More,” we might be able see how dopamine-driven desires for new spiritual experiences and societal impact might have fueled these evangelical traits. For instance, the evangelical emphasis on conversionism—the transformative experience of being “born again” and the ongoing quest for spiritual experience—can be seen as a dopamine-driven quest for personal renewal and spiritual highs. Similarly, the activism that Bebbington describes, which propelled evangelicals into social reform and missionary work, aligns with the dopamine-fueled drive for making a tangible impact on the world. These could all be viewed as a positive influence on the evangelical movement.
While dopamine may have had a positive influence on evangelicalism, it is worth considering whether our inability to say “enough” has led to some darker behaviors, normally associated with our sin nature, in our movement. This inability may manifest in various ways, such not celebrating the sabbath, workaholism that leads to pastoral burnout, religious consumerism, excessive spiritual experiences, and the pursuit of worldly power. These behaviors suggest a potential imbalance, where the relentless drive for more, fuelled by dopamine, overshadows the appreciation of current blessings and the steady growth of the Kingdom. Have we forgotten to cultivate our H&Ns and let dopamine run unchecked in our evangelical minds?
As I close, this reflection invites further examination of how neurochemical influences might shape spiritual practices, church growth, and the importance of cultivating a balanced approach to flourishing. Do we Evangelicals need to learn how to cultivate more of our H&Ns and learn to say, “enough”?
[1] “The Bema Podcast E2: Knowing When to Say ‘Enough,’” accessed November 8, 2024, https://docs.google.com/document/u/1/d/e/2PACX-1vRbBiAgwB_pROO4EPqQXE3wFI4x-mmwWBSd8nmgbth0Iz4bx4Jqqg0WtONGLCsJKsn3JX8xmaedFQD3/pub. Solomon says, “Beasts act on their desires every single time, you will never find a beast practicing self-restraint. You’re never going to be out in the woods and find a deer that’s out there going, ‘You know what’d be good for me today? To just pass on a meal. It’d be good for me, I might shed a few pounds.’ No, a deer is always going to eat. When a deer is hungry, it eats. When a beast is in mating season, it mates. The defining characteristic of what it means to be made in the image of God is that we are people who know how to harness our creative powers and our desires, just like the God who made us.”
[2] Daniel Z. Lieberman and Michael E. Long, The Molecule of More: How a Single Chemical in Your Brain Drives Love, Sex, and Creativity-and Will Determine the Fate of the Human Race (Dallas, TX: BenBella Books, Inc, 2018). Kindle,16.
[3] Lieberman and Long, 9.
[4] Lieberman and Long, 7.
[5] Lieberman and Long, 34.
[6] Lieberman and Long, 16.
[7] D. W. Bebbington, Evangelicalism in Modern Britain a History from the 1730s to the 1980s (London: Routledge, 1988).
About the Author
Graham English
I was born in Cape Town, South Africa 30 minutes from Table Mountain, the Indian Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean. My family immigrated to Vancouver, Canada where I spent my teen years, met Wendy, and got married. We now live on the Canadian prairies in northern Alberta. I think God has a sense of humour. I'm a follower of Jesus, work in leadership and church development, love my family and walk a lot.12 responses to “Knowing When To Say, “Enough””
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Hi Graham, I think you’re spot on. Even as believers, we struggle with the constant drive for more and have a hard time saying that it’s enough. I know I’m guilty of that. It’s like many things – too much of a good thing becomes a bad thing.
What are the most meaningful Biblical examples of “knowing when to say enough” stand out to you?
Thanks Christy.
God sets the example by resting on the 7th day of creation. Most of the time Israel is reprimanded for not celebrating it in a way that it was intended.
I would consider the apostle Paul to be an interesting example. In Philippians Paul writes, “I have learned to be content in all circumstances”. I was considering using Philippians because he demonstrates both the urge to press on to lay hold of all that Christ Jesus has laid hold of for him and at the same time he has learned contentment in all circumstances.
David learned contentment in some ways but not others. Psalm 23 is an example of contentment in God, yet there we all know about his failure with Bathsheba.
Graham,
I was on a walk today and saw a long driveway going into a wooded area and caught myself daydreaming/wishing I had a house far off the road in a wooded area. I stopped and asked myself, why am I thinking this, I am very blessed with what I have.
As I have been writing my syntopical essay I also drew the connection between social activism and dopamine. In the end I don’t know if I have the space to keep it. I reference a quote Friedman made in his A Failure of Nerve book about Altruism being one of the essential characteristics of an enduring society and discuss social activism as evidence of that.
Opposite of social activism and people knowing when to say enough, can we assume that dopamine plays into some of the negative behaviors that pastors have exhibited which has garnered media attention?
Jeff, it seems that dopamine could be the driver behind some of the darker behaviors that look like excess and abuse. The sin nature obviously has a part to play in this, but based on the book it appears that many of these behaviours are fuelled by dopamine.
Hi Graham, Thank you for this excellent post. I appreciate the question concluding your post. Evangelicals must learn to cultivate more of our H&Ns and say “enough.” I really didn’t realize the importance of this until I moved overseas and found myself in desperate need of therapy. In my week’s post, I discussed the importance of authentic community as a safeguard to remain balanced. I know you prioritize the sabbath, but are there any other helpful practices you maintain to stay in the here and now? How do you know when to say “enough?”
Hi Elysse, solitude/silence is a key practice. Henri Nouwen wrote, “Solitude is the one place where we can gain freedom from the forces of society that relentlessly mold us.” I think this practice is critical and a keystone spiritual practice upon which we can stack other spiritual practices.
As well, the practice of simplicity is important at home. We have made an intentional decision to downsize on things rather than upsize and accumulate.
Finally, at church I decided not to watch attendance each week but look at long-term trends instead and practice contentment through seasons when the ground seemed hard and no visible growth was evident.
Graham,
Great job and I appreciate the tie-in to Bebbington. I will let the pastors speak into their own ideas of how much H&N we should focus on in a church setting vs how much dopamine. I do think there is a need for both. I am reflecting back on the worship service in DC we went to. There was a significant H&N aspect to it: wooden pews, kneeling prayer boards, coldness to the place. Yet, there was a dopaminergic aspect as we walked in and looked up. We saw the beautiful artwork and we saw the stained glass. We were invited to look up at one point in the sermon as well. The liturgy of the service brought us back to the H&N. What are your thoughts?
I love that, Adam. I hadn’t thought about it but you’re right about the architecture and the liturgy.
I was in a stave church in Norway. It was all dark at eye level and the only light shining through was at the top, forcing one to look up and behold. As well, when the pastor delivered the sermon they stood with their back to the congregation and when they read Scripture, prayed, or preached the building was designed so that his voice would also come from above, as the voice of God to the people.
It’s amazing, how ancient people, without understanding or neuroscience, designed buildings and liturgies that would engaged human brains.
Hi Graham,
Have we forgotten to cultivate our H&Ns and let dopamine run unchecked in our evangelical minds?
H&N is similar to what my organization practices, “Be Here Now”, acknowledging the present.
How do you practice H&N?
Hi Shela, here are some of the ways I’m currently doing it…
1) Solitude – disconnecting from the social world to attach myself to God.
2) Sabbath – resting from productivity to trust God. This is a tough one when we’re in a doctoral program. I want to rest but I feel drawn into producing more.
3) Simplicity – rather than accumulating and scaling up, we are attempting to get rid of things and downsizing.
Hi Graham, I do like your thoughts about the H&N. My brain goes back to our advances. In both Oxford and DC the speakers, one after another, were bringing lots of things to consider and learn. Maybe not a dopamine high, per se but surely a highly tuned focus was needed. I think the I Am Here day in each advance was akin in some ways to practicing H&N. It’s been a time to take in the cities we visited and Be With the people in our peer groups. Not sure how the days played out for other groups but the time allowed for us to have richer conversations and freedom from a schedule to really appreciate one another. Not sure I have a specific question that others haven’t already asked but your post stirred some thoughts. Thanks.
Thanks for that perspective, Diane. I enjoy the “I am here day” but part of me thinks we should be doing more. When you frame it the way you did above it helps me realize that I am cultivating the H&Ns in a healthy way and can learn to appreciate the experience for what it is.