Healthy and Unhealthy Spirituality
July 3, 2008
But what makes a healthy church? As we wrestle with this question I think it’s important to remind ourselves that there is a difference between healthy and perfect. Most Christians are painfully aware of the fact that there is no perfect church (this side of heaven that is). This doesn’t mean that a church can’t be a spiritually healthy community of faith. As I see it, a spiritually healthy church is one that embraces its own imperfection and brokenness, continuously depending on God’s grace to live out its ministry and mission in the world. It is a community of believers that surrender themselves to the life-transforming process of the Word and Spirit of God.
Recently I read Stephen Arterburn and Jack Felton’s book Toxic Faith: Understanding and Overcoming Religious Addiction. In chapter 6 they offer the Ten Characteristics of a Toxic Faith System. It’s a scary list. I offer this to pastors, leaders, congregation members, teachers, small group leaders and anyone else who desires to work for a spiritually healthy and vibrant church, but mostly I offer it to myself as a reminder of what to avoid and how to stay on track. Here’s the list;
Toxic Characteristic #1: The members of a toxic faith system make claims about their character, abilities, or knowledge that make them “special” in some way.
Toxic Characteristic #2: The leader is dictatorial and authoritarian.
Toxic Characteristic #3: Religious addicts are at war with the world to protect their terrain and establish themselves as godly persons who can’t be compared to other persons of faith.
Toxic Characteristic #4: Toxic faith systems are punitive in nature. (They are rooted in a ‘punishment’ mentality).
Toxic Characteristic #5: Religious addicts are asked to give overwhelming service.
Toxic Characteristic #6: Many religious addicts in the system are physically ill, emotionally distraught, and spiritually dead.
Toxic Characteristic #7: Communication is from the top down or from the inside out.
Toxic Characteristic #8: Rules are distortions of God’s intent and leave Him out of the relationship.
Toxic Characteristic #9: Religious addicts lack objective accountability.
Toxic Characteristic #10: The technique of 'labeling' is used to discount a person who opposes the beliefs of the religious addict.
I just found Arterburn and Felton's 10 Rules of a Toxic Faith System in chapter 8. Equally scary but very sobering;
Toxic Rule #1: The Leader must be in control at all times.
Toxic Rule #2: When problems arise, find a guilty party to blame immediately.
Toxic Rule #3: Don't make mistakes.
Toxic Rule #4: Never point out the reality of a situation.
Toxic Rule #5: Never express your feelings unless they are positive.
Toxic Rule #6: Don't ask questions, especially if they are tough ones.
Toxic Rule #7: Don't do anything outside your role.
Toxic Rule #8: Don't trust anyone.
Toxic Rule #9: Nothing is more important than giving money to the organization.
Toxic Rule #10: At all costs, keep up the image of the organization or the family.
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