Faith Venture

Detox. That word these days can conjure images of “New Age, hippy food obsessions.” It can also mean recognizing the toxic things that enter our lives and interfere with our ability to live a with-God life.

In fact, I often view Spiritual practices as a means to help re-focus my life when some of these influences infiltrate my defensive perimeter.

I read the blog of Michael Hyatt, the recently retired CEO of Thomas Nelson Publishing. Recently he promoted a book by Craig Groeschel, pastor of LifeChurch.tv. Hyatt says that in his new book, Soul Detox: Clean Living in a Contaminated World, he outlines various threats.

I have not read this book, but it has gone on my book list. (Do you keep a books-to-read list? It’s a good practice.)

Here are the things he discusses. Good list to measure your inner life by.

Toxic Behaviors

* Our personal lies
* Our false beliefs
* Our lethal language
* Our hidden sins

Toxic Emotions

* Bitterness and resentment
* Envy and comparison
* Anger and rage
* Fear and worry

Toxic Influences

* Materialism
* Culture
* Unhealthy people
* Religion

I love travel–well, mostly. It breaks my habits. Sometimes I get confused. I got up a little late today and just took a walk down Des Plaines River Road (O’Hare area of Chicago) to both get some exercise and to meditate. Trouble was, I was meditating on the sequel to this post–only I hadn’t posted it yet.

Mr. Johnson was the Superintendent of Schools in my hometown. He also taught some math classes. When he taught plane geometry, he told us that what he was really teaching was how to think. And he did–in my case, at least.

What we learned was how to prove theorems. It was an exercise in logical thinking. That concept is so deeply ingrained in me, that I cannot proceed without it.

So, a few weeks ago I was leading a class in the study of Romans. I introduced the concept of the logical development of Paul’s thought as he leads us in an exercise of spiritual formation. But as soon as I started the logical progression, someone wanted to jump ahead and latch on to the one thing that speaks to him from the letter. And the way he expressed it sounded almost vindictive. You know how some people sound accusatory even if they say they don’t mean to be? It’s one of those “I’ve got it, you don’t” sort of statements.

But I wondered a couple of things. First, can we have the patience to slow down and go through the logic of Biblical writers rather than grab a thought and cling to it without context? Then, can we be open to the leading of the Spirit as It guides us toward further spiritual formation?

I just heard someone talking about moving from one church congregation to another because “we weren’t being fed.” So I got to thinking, what does that mean? And just whose responsibility is it to feed you?

Does being fed mean that I don’t like the senior pastor’s sermons? Maybe I don’t agree with the theology? Or speaking style? Or maybe the type of worship service? You know, some people like a more formal service, and some people like something more up-tempo and lively. That’s the thing in America, we have so many “cultures” that you can literally go across the street and find an entirely different style of worship. And then again.

What really struck me about the phrase this time was the passive voice (if you remember your grammar lessons)–“being fed.” That means someone else is the actor. The picture I have is that of these adults as babies with mommy and daddy feeding them.

Paul talks about being a baby in the faith and then growing up. I’m thinking that if they had said they prefer guitars to organs, I could understand. If they said I don’t like the preacher’s style, I could understand. If they said we don’t have any friends or small social group in the church, I could understand–a little. With the last one, though, the individual person could take some initiative to invite people to a small group.

But back to feeding. As we mature, we learn to hunt and gather for our food. OK, so hunting these days is mostly at the super market, but still, we take the initiative. Is it someone else’s responsibility to figure out what I want and provide it to me–spoon-fed if you will? Or, is being spiritually fed my responsibility? Should I pursue study, prayer, meditation on my own? Should I seek out others to share with?

God’s grace is funny that way. It’s always available. But God expects you to seek it.

Are you being fed? Or are you assuming adult responsibility to seek your food and consume it?

Not only my own experience, but from the witness of many spiritual seekers before me, I see it is necessary to understand the bad that dwells within you. I can’t find the source of the quote right now, but someone said that awareness is the first step toward confession and redemption. Covering up your guilt is not healthy.

On the other hand, we are not all bad. Well, at least most of us. As you study the Bible and meditate on God, you can also see where God is leading you. That you are forgiven the bad. There is a hope. That God is there. I’ve had subsequent experiences in meditating on God and His Word where I’ve experienced God. It’s a vision to nurture. A reminder when life hits you with setbacks. Or when you are tempted to grow bad fruit rather than good.

As you meditate on your heart, it’s good to visualize the fruits of the spirit growing from it. That gives you a guide for the day. Spread some joy and peace where you go. It’s one of those things that the more you give away, the more returns to you.

Peace.

At the end of a Yoga class, we spend about five minutes in “final relaxation.” We lie on our backs in “corpse pose” and focus on slow, rhythmic breathing. For many people this is the highlight of the hour. Often I give the class something to meditate on. Sometimes it’s good to meditate on nothing–just focus on breath and clear your mind. Other times I’ll have them visualize lying on a beach or in a meadow or something.

There is one meditation that I like to give. Lie quietly, focus on slow, rhythmic breathing, then meditate on the question, “If your heart were planted, what would grow?”

There is more to this question than might meet the eye. Have you ever looked inside yourself? Do you know you, or do you know the you that you think you are? This may come as a shock to some, but you may not be the perfect person of your dreams.

Once when I was deep in meditation, I had an experience (some would call it a vision) of entering a basement room and seeing all manner of evil. Murder, adultery, specifics that I don’t really remember. What I remember is thinking that deep inside I really am capable of committing sin–maybe even grievous sin.

I remember this vision to this day even though it happened many years ago. It reminds me that I’m not perfect. I am in need of God’s grace (a later experience–probably first you have to realize you are sinning and capable of much more before you can really receive God’s grace).

So, where are you in life? What would grow. Are you living with God, and the fruits your heart would grow are love, peace, grace? Or are you still enmeshed in lust, self-love, materialism, greed, hate? Realizing where you are helps you focus on becoming what God would like you to be.