I am seeing all kinds of things about eliminating toxic things from life.
Toxins, toxic environment, toxic situations, toxic people.
It's a good idea, overall, but we all come in contact with toxins at some time or another, by choice, or by accident.
How many of us can truly control our entire lives?
None of us.
First of all, we should ask ourselves, "Am I toxic?"
"Who am I a toxin to?"
"How am I toxic to this person?"
"What is the antidote?"
I think, as Christ instructs, we need to pull the proverbial log out of our own eye before we extricate someone else's.
So, we establish that certain people may think we are toxic to them. It is a big clue to recognize who is toxic to you. You probably have found the ones that think YOU are toxic!
Let's look at the antidotes.
Avoidance
Wouldn't it be nice just to avoid these toxins in your life? To an extent you may, but perhaps this person is related to you. You see them every day? You may want to gently confront the person about the toxic behavior. They will hear you, though they may not listen. That is their choice.
If they don't listen, it's time to put up boundaries.
Boundaries are good. They are protection. They are definitive of rights and rules. We all need them, because humans function with rules and rights better than without them.
Boundaries are God-given. Elemental. We are separated from God by our sin. That's a big boundary. God kindly and lovingly saves us from that separation through Christ Jesus. Only Christ. That's a boundary.
When we translate boundaries to our mundane lives they may look a little different. If there is a breach of human love in the form of abuse of any kind there are grounds to separation and legalize a boundary.
But perhaps this toxicity isn't quite so dramatic. Perhaps you are bound by a family tie, or a child. Maybe you are a sibling, or even a son or daughter, mother, father, husband, or wife. Toxic abuse requires a severing of even those ties.
But maybe it isn't quite abuse. Maybe it's just personality. Maybe it's a huge difference of opinion. Maybe it's misunderstandings that have accumulated over the years, never clearing up. Maybe it is a lack of Christian love and brotherhood, or just plain sin.
So many things can draw wedges between people. People can try to overcome the division, but it always takes both sides to meet in the center, and that isn't possible for those who adhere to strict lifestyles, especially for those who cling to a faith that defines them more than anything else.
Everything is relative---except the black and white of a faith founded on an unchanging creed.
It's true.
There are lots of people out there claiming to be Christian, or Muslim, or Jewish, perhaps Buddhist or New Age, and these terms have little to do with their own personal definition of those terms. It's all relative to them.
We cannot define God. We must let Him define himself. If we let ourselves define Him we will always have division. When we accept Him as he defines Himself we have unity.
Back away from those that seek to define God in their own way. Back away from toxic people who insist on a prideful and selfish definition of god. It isn't worth arguing with such folk. They will never see the true God. Their toxicity will only poison you and your peace in Christ!
Back away from the ones that hurt you, use you, wound your spirit. Place that boundary carefully, and give it to the Lord. He alone can nurture you and comfort you. He alone can heal the pain of poison in your heart. You must turn to Him to enforce that boundary and that healing. It's truly the only way.
He may protect you from the toxin. He may heal the breach. He may even help you love and understand the one who has so hurt you. Why do you think He says, Love your enemies? It's the first step in applying the antidote to toxins.
Start by praying for them, and asking the Lord to give you love. Boundaries are fully enforced, yet there is a supernatural option for breaching the situation. It's the most exciting option, and it takes courage to trust in it. Sometimes the solution is very long in coming, and we like our quick fixes. Be assured that God is working things out in you, too. Your toxicity is also under treatment.
God is good. Always. He's the omnipotent Ruler of Creation. He can do anything. He chooses to define Himself in the Bible, and we need to trust Him in that. We need to humble ourselves and put our faith in Him, as He defines Himself, in His word.
That's so hard for people. So get those boundaries up!
The Lord has all the answers.
Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. All these things will be added unto you.
Peace of heart, mind and soul, the greatest treasures that exist.
Toxins, toxic environment, toxic situations, toxic people.
It's a good idea, overall, but we all come in contact with toxins at some time or another, by choice, or by accident.
How many of us can truly control our entire lives?
None of us.
First of all, we should ask ourselves, "Am I toxic?"
"Who am I a toxin to?"
"How am I toxic to this person?"
"What is the antidote?"
I think, as Christ instructs, we need to pull the proverbial log out of our own eye before we extricate someone else's.
So, we establish that certain people may think we are toxic to them. It is a big clue to recognize who is toxic to you. You probably have found the ones that think YOU are toxic!
Let's look at the antidotes.
Avoidance
Wouldn't it be nice just to avoid these toxins in your life? To an extent you may, but perhaps this person is related to you. You see them every day? You may want to gently confront the person about the toxic behavior. They will hear you, though they may not listen. That is their choice.
If they don't listen, it's time to put up boundaries.
Boundaries are good. They are protection. They are definitive of rights and rules. We all need them, because humans function with rules and rights better than without them.
Boundaries are God-given. Elemental. We are separated from God by our sin. That's a big boundary. God kindly and lovingly saves us from that separation through Christ Jesus. Only Christ. That's a boundary.
When we translate boundaries to our mundane lives they may look a little different. If there is a breach of human love in the form of abuse of any kind there are grounds to separation and legalize a boundary.
But perhaps this toxicity isn't quite so dramatic. Perhaps you are bound by a family tie, or a child. Maybe you are a sibling, or even a son or daughter, mother, father, husband, or wife. Toxic abuse requires a severing of even those ties.
But maybe it isn't quite abuse. Maybe it's just personality. Maybe it's a huge difference of opinion. Maybe it's misunderstandings that have accumulated over the years, never clearing up. Maybe it is a lack of Christian love and brotherhood, or just plain sin.
So many things can draw wedges between people. People can try to overcome the division, but it always takes both sides to meet in the center, and that isn't possible for those who adhere to strict lifestyles, especially for those who cling to a faith that defines them more than anything else.
Everything is relative---except the black and white of a faith founded on an unchanging creed.
It's true.
There are lots of people out there claiming to be Christian, or Muslim, or Jewish, perhaps Buddhist or New Age, and these terms have little to do with their own personal definition of those terms. It's all relative to them.
We cannot define God. We must let Him define himself. If we let ourselves define Him we will always have division. When we accept Him as he defines Himself we have unity.
Back away from those that seek to define God in their own way. Back away from toxic people who insist on a prideful and selfish definition of god. It isn't worth arguing with such folk. They will never see the true God. Their toxicity will only poison you and your peace in Christ!
Back away from the ones that hurt you, use you, wound your spirit. Place that boundary carefully, and give it to the Lord. He alone can nurture you and comfort you. He alone can heal the pain of poison in your heart. You must turn to Him to enforce that boundary and that healing. It's truly the only way.
He may protect you from the toxin. He may heal the breach. He may even help you love and understand the one who has so hurt you. Why do you think He says, Love your enemies? It's the first step in applying the antidote to toxins.
Start by praying for them, and asking the Lord to give you love. Boundaries are fully enforced, yet there is a supernatural option for breaching the situation. It's the most exciting option, and it takes courage to trust in it. Sometimes the solution is very long in coming, and we like our quick fixes. Be assured that God is working things out in you, too. Your toxicity is also under treatment.
God is good. Always. He's the omnipotent Ruler of Creation. He can do anything. He chooses to define Himself in the Bible, and we need to trust Him in that. We need to humble ourselves and put our faith in Him, as He defines Himself, in His word.
That's so hard for people. So get those boundaries up!
The Lord has all the answers.
Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. All these things will be added unto you.
Peace of heart, mind and soul, the greatest treasures that exist.
No comments:
Post a Comment