Wholeness part 2

The Broken State

God the Father created us, the world broke us, and Jesus the son can recreate us. This is a significant statement in the creed of Christianity; one I don't think we take seriously enough. I say this because I don't think many people stop to consider the distinction between these three states.

The vast majority of men in prison have no relationship with their fathers at all. Most convicted serial killers were physically abused before the age of 5. Children of narcissists who don't become narcissists themselves will often have people-pleasing tendencies as adults. Children of alcoholics can be such habitual liars that they will often lie, even when there is no need to. I could name a dozen other examples, but I think I've made my point. That point being, our brokenness can go to the very core of self, which can have a tremendous negative effect on our path in life. This world is so fallen, few escape childhood unscathed.

Despite this, the world still tells us to just follow our feelings blindly. Even when the world does acknowledge brokenness, it's often just as a rationale or excuse for destructive behavior. Yet, when we follow the world's advice to embrace our brokenness, we will inevitably choose the quickest and easiest way to provoke the feelings we want or cover up the ones we don't. Which can lead to compulsive and self-destructive patterns as aforementioned. We may also transform ourselves into whatever validates us and grants us a feeling of acceptance and approval from the world. How can this lead to the true self, or healing?

If the church does not take this into consideration when dealing with the lost, their attempts to correct will only end up being critical, hurtful, and alienating. Which begs the question, would a truly holy new creation in Christ act this way? Well Matthew 7:1-6 would indicate no. (See my video Bad Judgment for more on this) Yet with this tactic being so common, it would seem to indicate that many in the church are not going far enough in their walk as disciples. They are stopping short of actual wholeness. Which is a huge obstacle in the growth of the church.

It's no wonder wholeness is such an alien concept to us, seeking it truly is the road less traveled. Where indulging your brokenness is a six lane highway. While God does indeed want you to embrace your true self, but you are probably will need to go through re-creation to get there. Where the world wants you to embrace your brokenness, so they have twisted and confused everything so much that many believe that it is the true self. The church isn't really helping by not leading by a good example, instead of a legalistic surface one. What state are you in?

The heart is devious above all else; it is perverse— who can understand it? I the Lord test the mind and search the heart, to give to all according to their ways, according to the fruit of their doings. -Jeremiah 17:9-10

I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. -Ezekiel 36:26

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