IN THE MEDICAL FIELD, there exists a distinct subclass of disease known principally by its means of infection. The Latin labels these iatrogenic diseases, and they refer to a particularly frightening concept: illnesses that arise as the direct result of treatment from another illness.
This is an unfortunate reality in medicine. Prescriptions treat pain and infection, but also have side effects which may make you more susceptible to other disease. Surgeries remove or repair dangerous tissue, but the resulting wound may make you prone to infection. Rest and relaxation are critical for repair following a substantial injury, but the prolonged immobility can result in muscle decay and bodily sores. Physicians are trained specifically to help prevent against these complications, but their prevention requires a devout attentiveness. It is the uniqueness of these locales of healing which give these diseases their strength.
It is no different within the church today. Our communities are called to gather as congregations of healing, bastions of restoration in the midst of a broken world. Yet, it is precisely here that we find unique opportunities for spiritual infection to arise within the Body of Christ. The very nature of the healing hand of the Christian community gives space for these, and I contend that we find them arising from three noble pursuits: the pursuit of holiness, the quest for fellowship, and the hope for accountability.
- The Holiness Infection: Holiness, or the pursuit thereof, is central to the Christian life. Yet it is precisely within a community that values righteousness that we provide self-righteousness the fuel to grow. At some point the shift occurs, and we begin the subtle slide from sinners in need of grace, to the holy ones enthroned upon a pillar of spiritual elitism. Let us not forget why we gather in a place of healing… it is because we (still) need healing ourselves.
- The Fellowship Infection: John Wesley once said that “…the Bible knows nothing of solitary religion.” To be a Christian trekking out on an exclusively personal spiritual journey is to cut yourself off from the work of God who has, since the inception of Israel, always worked in the midst of a community. Yet, it is also in the midst of a people who value communication and prayer that we find gossip. We tend to cultivate a unique form of gossip, often clothing it in the veil of concern with a request for prayer. The call for fellowship, however, recognizes the appropriateness of timing and audience, and calls us first to speak with the person of our concern, rather than about them. Even when the need for wisdom arises, we know ourselves well enough to distinguish between seeking advice from the wise among us, and seeking conversation from among the talkative. Let us not forget why it is that we gather, and that healing flows out of love combined with wisdom and self control.
- The Accountability Infection: At the heart of deep discipleship is the willingness to become vulnerable to a trusted group of confidantes, and to expose ourselves to the accountability they bring. It is also incumbent upon us to be a people who hold our brothers and sisters accountable, urging one another towards faithful and repentant living. This urging, however, is easily mistaken for judgment, whereby we take it upon ourselves to patrol the “holy halls”, calling people out for their misdeeds, and sounding the gavel against them. Paul admonishes us to “speak the truth in love”, which means temperance and gentleness in all things. Let us never forget that we do not sit in the judge’s chair holding the gavel, but in the defendant’s seat signing our confession.
It is these three infections – elitism, gossip, and judgment – that so many of those outside the faith use to describe the believers whom they have encountered. It is these which debilitate the church’s witness, and destroy the church’s credibility. Just as with iatrogenesis, the best cure is attentive prevention, and the best medicine love.
How have you experienced Christians slipping into these infections? How can we, as the Body of Christ, best prevent against it?
Image Credit: Alex Proimos
Morgan Guyton January 22, 2013 at 12:52 pm
Good stuff. I’ve seen all of these. I preached a sermon this weekend on the difference between piety and holiness (both of which I’m defining somewhat arbitrarily). I define piety as “conspicuous correctness,” the zeal for acting and speaking in perfect conformity to your values. I would define holiness as pursuing intimacy with God, which is very different. Here is a blog post I wrote about all this: http://morganguyton.wordpress.com/2013/01/21/justice-as-a-question-of-piety-vs-holiness/
T. E. Hanna January 22, 2013 at 12:59 pm
How interesting! I think you’re getting at what John Wesley calls personal and social holiness. When I think of piety, I think in terms of spiritual disciplines. When I think of social justice, I think in terms of the outward expression of our faith.
melanie jean juneau January 22, 2013 at 2:29 pm
I still cannot wrap my mind around the concept of holiness and self-righteousness. That is the false piety of the Pharisees. Jesus spelt it out quite plainly. I know, I know human brokenness and gut deep pride.- sigh
T. E. Hanna January 22, 2013 at 2:59 pm
I think we are all guilty of this to some extent. It happens when we externalize it, or view ourselves as somehow “above it” or exempt. And this is the great irony… it even happens the moment we start accusing others of being self-righteous (as opposed to ourselves, of course, who are the very image of humility), or wondering how others can could possibly fall to such a sin while “knowing” that we would never do such a thing. The moment we do this, we who value holiness create a pedestal and forget that, while we chase after holiness, we are every bit as sinful as the next person.
melanie jean juneau (motherofnine9) January 22, 2013 at 7:57 pm
OOPS
Actually pride, the thought that I can do it on my own, is THE root sin of Adam and Eve. The FIRST time I forgave my parents, ancestors and even poor maligned Adam and Eve, it felt like a rug of self-righteousness was pulled out from my feet. It was nice blaming all my terrible ancestors because then I was simply an innocent victim. It never occurred to me to ask God to forgive that whole root back to original sin.
It seems to me that if I can’t love even Hitler with the Mercy of God, I still need a Saviour just as much as the worst “sinner”. And I always will.
Rhonda January 22, 2013 at 9:22 pm
Excellent. I’ve been a victim and a perpetrator of all three. Great post.
T. E. Hanna January 22, 2013 at 9:36 pm
Hello Rhonda! Thanks for stopping by!
Linda Crawford January 29, 2013 at 11:06 pm
Thank you T.E. for liking my blog today, the very first day of its existence! I am thrilled you did, because I am blessed to discover your excellent writing and intelligent perspective. As a health care professional (occupational therapist), I particularly enjoyed the accurate insights and use of metaphor in this post. God bless you in your ministry.I look forward to reading more.
T. E. Hanna January 29, 2013 at 11:41 pm
Hi Linda! Thanks for stopping by! Stick around, let’s get acquainted.
j molloy February 24, 2013 at 6:45 pm
Thanks for the reality check ! The Lord just used this article to nudge me out of the danger zone. I forget sometimes that we all have fallen short in the Lord’s eyes and the only cure for this is an ever deepening relationship with Christ that continues to transform us day by day/
jean April 12, 2013 at 2:58 am
Hi, this post reminded me of the work of Dom Lorenzo Scupoli in his spiritual treatise on peace in the soul named “The Spiritual Combat”.
It was first published in 1589, and various Jesuits added to it to bring it to its present form.
The “Infections” as you call them, are described in the early writings of Catholic Christian language as “Spiritual Pride, Spiritual Ambition, Spiritual Sloth” and so on.
Many of these early Christian works on spirituality which contain much wisdom have been lost to Protestant Christianity because of the rejection of Catholicism in the reformation years.
It is good to see in your post that a remnant of it is being re-discovered, and also that you are using modern language to present these ancient truths to contemporary Christians, thanks for posting, I am enjoying reading your blog .
T E Hanna April 12, 2013 at 9:47 am
I think there is a lot of ancient Christian wisdom that has been lost over the years, and I am a huge advocate for reading the church fathers.
There was certainly a much-needed break from a Catholicism that had become overwhelmingly corrupt at the time of the Reformation. Thankfully, this then triggered a Catholic counter-Reformation where they reshaped themselves as well.
We still see struggles in the various branches – Catholicism, Eastern Orthodox, Anglicanism, and Protestantism – but there is no reason not to embrace them all as Christian brothers and sisters.
jean April 12, 2013 at 1:06 pm
Hi,
Yes I perceived the church fathers echoed in your writings.
Its true; corruption entered Catholicism as it does all Christian denominations – we fight against principalities, not people.
The church was made for sinners in need of salvation.
I can’t agree that the break with the Catholic Church was ” necessary” as I think biblically God is the one who always restores his temple; As you say: there was a Catholic counter reformation which happened at the time also, so with a bit of patience, for God to act in his time ; – there needn’t have been a breakaway from the body; Could Christians have been so wrong for 1,000 years…? Just a thought.
while I embrace my brothers and sisters in Christianity – the split fractured the body of Christ into the 20,000 plus denominations we have today and I can’t think Christ could have wanted that; – as he said in John: May they all be one as I am in the Father ….etc
I’m not a theology scholar, just a mum – but that’s how I see it.