Associates in Christian Counseling

When Faith Gets Sick

Nearly everyone has been asked the question, “What’s the first thing that comes to your mind when you hear the word…..?” If that blank is filled in with either the word “Christian” or the word “church,” how would you respond? How would your co-worker, or your neighbor, or member of your family respond?

If your experience with other Christians or a church has been good, your response will be something positive. You may think of your own community of faith or the depth of your personal relationship with God. If your experience has not been positive, your response may reflect your hurtful memories.

In “When Faith Becomes Toxic: The Poisonous Strain of False Piety” [Christian Counseling Today, 2006 Vol.14 No.4, p52-55], Ergun Caner suggests five stages of toxic faith which he sees as universal to all systems of faith, not just Christianity. Caner, who is the President of Liberty Theological Seminary at Liberty University in Lynchburg, VA, is a former Muslim so speaks with authority regarding Christianity as well as Islam.

Stage One: When Traditionalism Replaces Tradition
Caner states “the confusion arises when an individual confuses the principles of the faith for the preference of the adherent.” (p.53-54)
Stage Two: When Legalism Replaces Holiness
The distinction Caner draws here is that “people interested in your sanctification
want you to look more like Jesus. Legalists always want you to look more like them.” (p.54)
Stage Three: When Bureaucracy Replaces Ministry
“Faith becomes toxic when the end justifies the means.” (p.54) Caner believes “the gifts given by God are for the purpose of meeting individual needs.” (p.54)
Stage Four: When Servants Become Celebrities
Jesus washed the disciples’ feet, a model of servanthood. Power can become intoxicating. (p. 55)
Stage Five: Toxic Faith is an Airborne Virus—and Lethal
Caner points to the Islamic jihadists as examples of actions which become physically lethal. “However, on an eternal scale, toxic Christianity has been responsible for much destruction.” (p.55)

“In the summer of 2006, the research arm of LifeWay Christian Resources conducted a survey of 469 ‘formerly churched adults’ who regularly attended a Protestant church as an adult in the past but who no longer do so” (“LifeWay Research Surveys Formerly Churched; Can the Church Close the Back Door?” Part 1 of 2, www.lifeway.com/lwc/rd) Some losses are inevitable such as people moving away. But what of those who leave a church, or all churches, because of toxic faith?

In his newest book, Pastor Rob Bell talks about meeting people who “don’t want anything to do with God because of ‘all those religious hypocrites.’ Often they have great pain that they blame on ‘the church.’ But it’s not possible for an institution, whether it’s a church or a school or a business or even the government, to hurt somebody. Institutions are made up of people. People hurt people…..We’ll never heal until we can identify who did what when. Only then can we begin the process of being set free.” [Sex God: Exploring the Endless Connections between Sexuality and Spirituality, p. 45]

In II Corinthians 5:18 Paul tells us that we have been given the ministry of reconciliation. As individual believers, we need to be mindful of our role as ministers of reconciliation and not carriers of the virus of toxic faith.

If you or someone you know has been wounded and needs help to heal,
call 336-896-0065, ext. 203, and begin the process of being set free.