Matthew 23:1-12 New Living Translation
Jesus Criticizes the Religious Leaders
23 Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, 2 “The teachers of religious law and the Pharisees are the official interpreters of the law of Moses.[a] 3 So practice and obey whatever they tell you, but don’t follow their example. For they don’t practice what they teach. 4 They crush people with unbearable religious demands and never lift a finger to ease the burden.
5 “Everything they do is for show. On their arms they wear extra wide prayer boxes with Scripture verses inside, and they wear robes with extra long tassels.[b] 6 And they love to sit at the head table at banquets and in the seats of honor in the synagogues. 7 They love to receive respectful greetings as they walk in the marketplaces, and to be called ‘Rabbi.’[c]
8 “Don’t let anyone call you ‘Rabbi,’ for you have only one teacher, and all of you are equal as brothers and sisters.[d] 9 And don’t address anyone here on earth as ‘Father,’ for only God in heaven is your Father. 10 And don’t let anyone call you ‘Teacher,’ for you have only one teacher, the Messiah. 11 The greatest among you must be a servant. 12 But those who exalt themselves will be humbled, those who humble themselves will be exalted.
Word of God for the Children of God.
Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.
Religion can be a beautiful thing.
It can unite people, offer comfort in difficult times, and inspire individuals to lead more meaningful lives.
But when religion becomes toxic, it can do just the opposite.
It tears people apart, causes deep trauma, allows individuals to do unspeakable things in the name of their faith.
So, exactly what is toxic religion, how can you spot it, and why should you steer clear of it?
Let’s find out!
First things first, it’s exactly what it sounds like – a poisonous, harmful, and damaging version of spirituality that’s more about control than connection.
It’s the kind of religion which relies on, uses fear shame, and guilt to control, manipulate and coerce people into following its dogma.
It’s the kind of religion that tells you what to think, feel, and do without leaving room for questioning or doubt. It’s the kind of religion that thrives on power imbalances and hierarchies, with a select few at the top calling all the shots.
Now, you might be thinking, “Okay, but isn’t all religion kind of toxic?”
And sure, there are certainly elements of this in many religious traditions.
But harmful religion takes it to a whole new level.
It’s when religion becomes less and less about fostering love, compassion, and understanding and far more about enforcing rules and beliefs that benefit the people in power.
It’s when those in power use that religion as a tool of oppression rather than liberation.
Toxic religion can take many forms, but at its core, it is any belief system or religious practice that causes significant harm to individuals or communities.
This harm can be physical, emotional, or psychological, and it can come from a variety of sources, including congregants, leaders, doctrines, and traditions.
So, why is it such a problem?
For starters, harmful and toxic theology can have severe mental and emotional consequences for those caught in its grip.
It can leave people second guessing themselves, their choices, and those around you.
When there is a strict line of black-and-white, it can create an us-versus-them thinking pattern dehumanizing people outside of the ‘in group.’
Perhaps you have experienced this while sitting in church if you are gay, and the pastor is condemning LGBTQIA+ from the pulpit, the desire to be safe and leave conflicts with the desire to belong, causing religious trauma over time.
People in toxic religious communities may feel intense shame, guilt, anger, fear and open hostility if they don’t adhere to the group’s rules and beliefs.
When a religious leader or community or church or denomination insists on absolute certainty in their beliefs, questioning or dissent is not allowed.
Deep control can lead to groupthink, dogmatism, and even cult-like behavior.
People who disagree may be ostracized or seen as a threat for questioning authority or expressing doubts.
And in extreme cases, they may even be subject to crippling abuse or violence.
When any religion, denomination claims to be the only correct, legitimate path to salvation, it creates a dark toxic unfriendly environment where those who do not believe as they do are immediately considered inferior, misguided, and evil.
This invites discrimination, division, hostility, intolerance, and violence to flourish while reinforcing biased harmful stereotypes and prejudices, which promote bigotry and discrimination, hostility. It suffocates critical thinking and curiosity, growth preventing people from exploring new ideas and perspectives.
Another red flag is when a religious leader or community or church is not held accountable for their actions.
It allows dangerous abuses of power, corruption, and even criminal behavior to go unchecked. Reckless leadership which traumatizes followers and can lead to a loss of faith and spiritual disillusionment.
So, what can we do to avoid toxic religion?
Well, for starters, we can educate ourselves about the warning signs.
A church or religious community is often never completely out of the blue toxic that no one saw coming.
There are usually multiple signs although some are more subtle than others, like who is in charge, if there are women or diverse people of color, ethnicity in the community or on the board.
Other signs could include what they expect from volunteers, how they treat volunteers, to even the way they speak about people when they aren’t around.
Listen to your gut, and see if the church lights you up with joy, or lights up your flight or flight response, they can feel similar, but they are very different.
If a religious community seems to be excessively controlling or demands absolute obedience, that’s a red flag.
If a religious leader or group is using fear, shame, or guilt to manipulate its followers, that’s a sign of toxicity.
And if a spiritual tradition promotes harmful beliefs or practices that cause harm to others, that’s a problem.
Cults can look shiny and clean from the outside but can feel like a pit of vipers or quicksand once you are in. If it seems too good to be true, it probably is.
A church that only shares it’s doctrine after you get baptized may be an obvious red flag.
A church subtly guilting you repeatedly for not attending a weeknight service or for not being a part of a small group ministry may seem like an slight innocent kind nudge at first, but those yellow flags are waving.
Don’t be afraid to ask questions or challenge authority, especially if you feel something is wrong.
So what is toxic religion?
Toxic religion isn’t just a church we don’t like; it’s a genuine threat that harms individuals inside and outside of the church’s walls.
But we don’t have to accept it, and we can choose to reject harmful and dangerous theology and seek a spirituality that promotes love, tolerance, compassion, and understanding.
Doing so not only holds space for our own healing, it prevents us from throwing our weight and resources into a toxic system.
Is the Church Itself a Barrier?
Luke 11:46 The Message
46 He said, “Yes, and I can be even more explicit. You’re hopeless, you religion scholars! You load people down with rules and regulations, nearly breaking their backs, but never lift even a finger to help.
Jesus spoke pointedly and critically against the leaders of God’s people in that day. Instead of helping people draw near to God and enjoy his blessings, those leaders put up barriers through their legalistic, self-serving practices.
Sadly, throughout history, some churches and church leaders have blocked access to spiritual life for people and have even abused people.
We often hear of such cases in the news today.
Corrupt leaders put barriers instead of bridges in front of people.
As God’s people who make up the church today, we must repent of these sins, be sure we have measures in place to prevent them from happening again, and be agents of healing to people who have been hurt.
Have you been hurt by the church or its leaders?
If so, you may be hesitant to participate in the life of a church.
That’s understandable.
What can you do?
Here are some suggestions:
(1) Keep your focus on Jesus himself, especially through prayer and Bible reading.
(2) Ask God to provide a few caring Christians with whom you can fellowship and grow spiritually; they can be a helpful bridge.
(3) Through a Christian counselor, seek healing and strength to forgive.
(4) Remain open to a time when you can fully participate in a healthy church again.
In the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit ….
Praying …
Psalm 96 New American Standard Bible
A Call to Worship the Lord the Righteous Judge.
96 Sing to the Lord a new song;
Sing to the Lord, all the earth.
2 Sing to the Lord, bless His name;
Proclaim the good news of His salvation from day to day.
3 Tell of His glory among the nations,
His wonderful deeds among all the peoples.
4 For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised;
He is to be feared above all gods.
5 For all the gods of the peoples are [a]idols,
But the Lord made the heavens.
6 Splendor and majesty are before Him,
Strength and beauty are in His sanctuary.
7 [b]Ascribe to the Lord, you families of the peoples,
[c]Ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
8 [d]Ascribe to the Lord the glory of His name;
Bring an [e]offering and come into His courtyards.
9 Worship the Lord in [f]holy attire;
Tremble before Him, all the earth.
10 Say among the nations, “The Lord reigns;
Indeed, the world is firmly established, it will not be moved;
He will judge the peoples fairly.”
11 May the heavens be joyful, and may the earth rejoice;
May the sea [g]roar, and [h]all it contains;
12 May the field be jubilant, and all that is in it.
Then all the trees of the forest will sing for joy
13 Before the Lord, for He is coming,
For He is coming to judge the earth.
He will judge the world in righteousness,
And the peoples in His faithfulness.
Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.
Loving God, Living God, Loving Hope, Living Hope, Loving Living Life His Way! "Many things are possible for the person who has hope. Even more is possible for the person who has faith. And still more is possible for the person who knows how to love. But everything is possible for the person who practices all three virtues." - Brother Lawrence (1605-1691), Practicing the Presence of God (1692). 