I am reading through Peter Scazzero’s book, Emotionally Healthy Spirituality. Scazzero believes that it is impossible to be spiritually mature, while remaining emotionally immature. He shares his stories of bottoming out in his marriage and the journey that led him on a revolutionary discovery.
I agree with his premise and conclusion. Our spiritual transformation is capped by our emotionally health. Scazzero states, “ It is essential for us to clearly identify the primary symptoms of emotionally unhealthy spirituality that continue to wreak havoc in our personal lives and our churches. The following are the top ten symptoms indicating if someone is suffering from a bad case of emotionally unhealthy spirituality:
1. Using God to run from God
2. Ignoring the emotions of anger, sadness, and fear
3. Dying to the wrong things
4. Denying the past’s impact on the present
5. Dividing our lives into “secular” and “sacred” compartments
6. Doing for God instead of being with God
7. Spiritualizing away conflict
8. Covering over brokenness, weakness, and failure
9. Living without limits
10. Judging other people’s spiritual journey
In my life right now, #6 and #9 are symptoms most active in my life.
Which of the 10 symptoms is most active in your life?
I appreciate the prayer Scazzero writes in the book following the chapter identifying the 10 symptoms:
“Lord, when I consider these symptoms, the only thing I can say is, “Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me, a sinner.” Thank you, O God, that I stand before you in the righteousness of Jesus, in his perfect record and performance, not my own. Lord, I ask that you would not simply heal the symptoms of what is not right in my life, but that you would surgically remove all that is in me that does not belong to you. As I think about what I have read, Lord, pour light over the things that are hidden. May I see clearly as you hold me tenderly.
In Jesus’ name, amen.”
I look forward to reading the rest of the book.
Let me know your thoughts on the book, the daily office and whether you agree or disagree with Scazzero.
Comment here:
I agree with his premise and conclusion. Our spiritual transformation is capped by our emotionally health. Scazzero states, “ It is essential for us to clearly identify the primary symptoms of emotionally unhealthy spirituality that continue to wreak havoc in our personal lives and our churches. The following are the top ten symptoms indicating if someone is suffering from a bad case of emotionally unhealthy spirituality:
1. Using God to run from God
2. Ignoring the emotions of anger, sadness, and fear
3. Dying to the wrong things
4. Denying the past’s impact on the present
5. Dividing our lives into “secular” and “sacred” compartments
6. Doing for God instead of being with God
7. Spiritualizing away conflict
8. Covering over brokenness, weakness, and failure
9. Living without limits
10. Judging other people’s spiritual journey
In my life right now, #6 and #9 are symptoms most active in my life.
Which of the 10 symptoms is most active in your life?
I appreciate the prayer Scazzero writes in the book following the chapter identifying the 10 symptoms:
“Lord, when I consider these symptoms, the only thing I can say is, “Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me, a sinner.” Thank you, O God, that I stand before you in the righteousness of Jesus, in his perfect record and performance, not my own. Lord, I ask that you would not simply heal the symptoms of what is not right in my life, but that you would surgically remove all that is in me that does not belong to you. As I think about what I have read, Lord, pour light over the things that are hidden. May I see clearly as you hold me tenderly.
In Jesus’ name, amen.”
I look forward to reading the rest of the book.
Let me know your thoughts on the book, the daily office and whether you agree or disagree with Scazzero.
Comment here:
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