The Physiology Of Faith - Class 5 Series

CLASS 5

IV. The Physiology of Faith Continued

A. The Nervous System Network

While under threat, two primary nervous system elements are jolted into action.

The voluntary nervous system moves our muscles and obeys our direct command.

On the other hand, the involuntary nervous system regulates ordinary automatic functions outside voluntary control, such as our heartbeat, respiration, and digestion.

This involuntary system is itself divided into two branches: Parasympathetic and Sympathetic nervous systems. The Parasympathetic nervous system maintains our internal organs' normal, smooth functioning when calm and at rest. The Sympathetic nervous system has an opposite function and is responsible for mobilizing the endocrine system causing the body to react when we are emotional or excited.

The blood flow to the Kidneys, Intestines, and skin decreases so that more blood can pump to the muscles.

The Adrenal Glands, which can produce more than 150 hormones, send out Glucocorticoid hormones which prepare the internal organs, shutting down systems that may not be needed and arousing others that are more critical.

Adrenaline pours out of the Adrenal Glands for up to an hour, causing blood pressure to rise and the heart to beat more forcefully. We feel a sudden "jolt," often accompanied by dread or terror.

Within seconds, the excess adrenaline can cause our heart to race, our respiration to become rapid and shallow, and profuse sweating begins, accompanied by trembling and shaking.

Our body perspires to cool down, and our hands and feet become cold. Excess stomach acid is released, digestion is inhibited, the spleen reduces our metabolic rate, and red blood cells increase.

Adrenaline simultaneously improves short-term memory and mental sharpness.

The pupils of our eyes dilate and become larger to see more of the surroundings in case of any more threats. We can make decisions fast and then act on them.

Glucose is produced and provided as energy as blood pressure rises due to some blood vessels dilating to ensure the body's muscles get the nutrients they need while others constrict.

Platelets get sticky as they prepare to clot and stop bleeding from any injury we might sustain.

Over time, however, the blood vessel walls get battered as plaque begins to form, which causes a narrowing of the arteries.

Sugar is then released from storage in the liver and pours into the bloodstream along with Fatty Acids because of this increased energy demand.

This rapidly burning fuel is delivered to our muscles, giving us superhuman strength, such as lifting a heavy object like a car pinning someone underneath it.

Next, these hormones continue circulating and keep the body on alert until the third phase, when the body reaches exhaustion and requires rest to refuel. Some consequences include sleeplessness that can result, at least partly, from a depleted source of Serotonin. People feel tense and irritable and experience nausea, acne, and headaches.

The high level of hormones and neurotransmitters can influence the Brain and wreak havoc on the immune system, making us more vulnerable to illness. For example, the hormone Interferon is necessary for specific immune system cells to do their jobs.

Stress can completely wipe out the body's interferon levels, reducing them to zero.

One kind of immune cell is the Lymphocyt, the natural killer cell. Natural killer cells have two functions.

First, they patrol the body and seek out virus-infected cells for elimination.

Second, they protect us from cancer cells.

The immune system has to kill off these invading infections and cells, or the body can be overwhelmed by the infection or the tumor.

B. The Epigenome

Because the human body is an immune system, genes can fix themselves. However, sometimes mutations can't be rectified, so the disease is the result. The Epigenome is a chemical compound that modifies or influences which genes are active and which proteins are produced in a particular cell.

Within the church, there has been the belief that sickness and disease directly result from personal sins committed or a generational curse causes them.

Every human being is born under the curse of sin. They are all individually responsible for their actions. People are not victims of curses placed on them through no fault or by the wrong actions of previous generations. Their sins are their responsibility, not anyone else's!

The Born-Again Christian is no longer responsible for - or subject to - the sins of their father or the generational consequences of their family blood-line because:

“there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.” (Rom 8:1-2 NIV)

The blood of Jesus has already broken every curse from a Christian’s life, or that may be in their bloodline. Because they are righteous in standing before God, they are redeemed from the "curse of the Law.” (Gal 3:13-14 NIV)