The value that society places upon the presence of the Christian Faith Community is directly affected by the type of presence that the church establishes within the culture.  An insular "church presence" that prides itself and fixates upon in its man-made image is Narcissistic. 
 
Jesus being the express image of God became a servant and we as the church are directed in scripture to allow the Holy Spirit to form that same "servant" mentality within us.  Being a servant requires commitment and presence. (Philippians 2:1-11)
 
The church is not God's security guard and He does not require our protection.  Demanding those outside of the church, to align themselves with "Christian" values without allowing the Holy Spirit to establish His light and life giving presence among them through His church, further widens the gap between the church and surrounding culture. (The church will never fit into the world's mold nor should it try to.  But the distinct likeness of Christ formed within the church and established within culture often looks much different than we would define it.) The world is a desperate place and a dingy, smug presence offers little hope.  
 
The value that the church places upon people will determine the value that culture attaches to the presence of the church. Those outside of the church have little reason to value that which does not value those beyond the shadow of its steeple. (Luke 15)
 
Rather than building walls and demanding that people climb them to come to the Christ that we have constructed in our image, may Christ in us be revealed, connecting with people in every conceivable place where human breath is found.   (Matthew 23:13; Romans 10:15)
 
It would appear that fewer man-made shrines and "Christian" branding is needed.  Does the Living Christ need for His name to be placed in the hands of religious image consultants when His cause has been so well served by His church in whom He is enthroned upon their hearts and whom He directs by His Spirit. (Acts 1:8; 15:28; 16:6)
 
May Christ's valued presence be established in the living church that travels light and would rather be in the marketplace than imprisoned behind stained glass museums. Jesus is not a caricature and He is not hidden in the shadow of the Madonna.  He reveals Himself through the presence of those who realize that He is the bridge to the Father and not the wall that separates His church from the surrounding culture.  Light among darkness is Hope.  Light removed from darkness is Hopelessness.
 
The church is elect only because of Christ.  It is not elite, it is not entitled, and it would be a community of death without the heart of God providing it with a strong pulse.

Rather than being devoured by personal inadequacy in the Shadow of others, may we choose to dwell under the only shadow that will be enable us to live as we were created by God Almighty to live.

The fear of Inadequacy, not measuring up, is a common human struggle. The Shadow of the Almighty is always a place of provision and a source of supreme confidence in the One who enables us to do all things. God has not called you to live in the shadow of your predecessors. He has not called you to be a clone of someone else. He has established you as uniquely His and for your life to display His workmanship. What He does in you and through you is never inferior or inadequate! When we are less, He is More!

Psalm 91:1-2
Safety of Abiding in the Presence of God
91 He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High
Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress;
My God, in Him I will trust.”

1 CORINTHIANS 10:31......whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

May we not become misguided in the process by losing sight of the purpose. God gives purpose and character to the process.

PURPOSE:

the reason for which something is done or created or for which something exists.

CHARACTER:

moral strength and integrity

A Toxin is a poison that is able to cause and proliferate disease throughout the body.

As we speak of the Holy Spirit we must have a scriptural and experiential knowledge of Who He is and what He does with respect to our Spiritual growth and development. He is always providing intimate counsel to spirit led believers He reveals, confirms, empowers, transforms, and exhorts us on this faith journey. He identifies things in our spirit that we would not otherwise be aware of apart from the light of His presence.

There are some things that have happened in my walk with the Lord that have opened my eyes to see things in the Spirit that I would have missed or failed to address without His illumination of my heart and mind.

The faith journey traverses a course of many life variables. Along the way we experience things which touch us deeply and impact our lives significantly. At times we wrestle with the emotions that are produced in those things which are traumatic and painful. We can either look for God’s pity or for His deliverance. We can rationalize negative attitudes and we can attempt to justify a victim mentality. Life is not fair and there will always be injustice or inequity, and none of us will be exempt from the painful experiences of life. How we process the things that we perceive to be unjust and hurtful will either reflect the grace of God at work in our hearts and minds or the poisoning of our minds and hearts. Toxicity within our personal lives will lead to toxic attitudes, toxic interactions, relationships, and toxicity in every other part of our lives.

When we view ourselves as perpetual victims we are prone to seeking God’s pity. We tend to justify animous toward those who have offended us. It is at this time we may cease to seek deliverance from the victim’s mentality choosing rather to bathe in the stew of self pity, resentment, damaged emotions, a misaligned mindset and an untransformed heart. Most of the time this is disguised beneath rationalizations, citations of the wrongs we perceive to have been perpetuated against us, and a withdrawal from God’s calling upon our lives. Transformation ceases, and we speak death instead of life and instead of putting the unrighteous attitude to death, we enthrone it on the seat of our hearts. That being said, to enthrone anything upon our hearts other than the Lord Jesus Christ, is offensive to God. So that would make it evident that a poisoned attitude of the mind and heart are offensive to the Lord and poisonous.

One evening as I was reflecting upon things that had been sources of stress and pain, I sought to pursue God’s understanding of my sense of personal injury and self pity. The Holy Spirit did not validate the toxic attitudes of my mind and my self absorbed tendencies to nurse wounded-ness. God spoke into my heart about the manner in which I was cradling the hideous offspring of a toxic disposition. He began to shed light on things that had been neglected in my spiritual walk. I had not afforded the Holy Spirit the time to speak to me in a manner that would have led me to wholeness and right alignment with God. He broke me, and this time the broken-ness was transformational rather than crippling. He did as the palmist spoke of when He said,” he restores my soul.”

Our attitudes and actions either introduce others to transformation or toxicity. A sour spirit reflects toxic advancement in a believer’s life. When the well is tainted, all who come to it for refreshment will be offered waters that are bitter, and poisonous.

God has saved us from sin and from the enslaved lifestyle that is universal to life without Christ. He has called us out of darkness and into the light. Even when walking in the light, we limp when we could run if we are crippled by spiritual toxins.

It is healthy to evaluate:

* Are my thoughts predominately negative, cynical, and misaligned with Scripture?
* Are my relationships with others focused on giving or consistently receiving?
* Are my words introducing life or death into my interactions with others?
* Do I take pleasure in serving Christ and others, or am I resentful toward others?
* Do I focus on godly virtues or is my mindset toxically judgmental of others?
* If I am a well, when others come to me for refreshment do I offer them fresh or tainted water?
* Am I at peace with who I am in Christ or am I driven by the need for validation from others?

I need God’s deliverance more than I need His pity. God does not merely pity as we are immersed in things that poison the Spirit and the mind. He desires to deliver us out of them. His hand is extended, will we take hold of it?


Psalm 139:22-24
22 
I hate them with perfect hatred;I count them my enemies.
23 
Search me, O God, and know my heart;Try me, and know my anxieties;
24 
And see if there is any wicked way in me,And lead me in the way everlasting.

James 3:10-14
10 Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so. 11 Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening? 12 Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh.
13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth.