Our toxic world

The entire family seemed to be sick all of the time. Fearing that something was terribly wrong, the family, then living in the Philippines where doctors are very much on top of tropical diseases, packed up and returned to the US.

Finally, the evidence pointed to a poison, a toxic substance that was gradually taking their lives. But where did it come from? Who was striving to poison them? Ultimately the toxicologist determined that this toxic poison was what was used in killing cockroaches, ants and mites. “Did you ever use this in your home?” he finally asked. And then as the mother’s brain whirled like a computer searching for data, it came together. She knew what had happened. 

Every night after the children went to bed, the mother went through the entire house spraying insect poison in every room. Yes, she killed the mosquitoes, the cockroaches and whatever else crawled or crept, but she almost killed her entire family.

Our word toxic comes from a Latin word toxicum that means poison. It was related to the word that ancient Greeks used for a bow and arrow. Today, however, we are confronted with toxic substances that the ancients never even thought possible. The word is applied to far more than chemicals that are sprayed on your vegetables to prevent their being eaten by insects, mites and pathogens. This adjective can also be applied to religion, to your thinking, to friendships that have gone bad – even to your marriage that is slowly dying.

The Bible has a lot to say about toxicity in our relationships and our faith. The Bible gives clear direction about what is to be embraced and what is to be rejected as being toxic that can destroy you.

Used with permission from Guidelines International Ministries. To learn more about Guidelines and the ministry, send an e-mail to [email protected]. You may also visit www.guidelines.org.