Toxic

Jennifer Bousquet is sharing our devotional thoughts this week! Be sure to stop by the contributors page to learn more about her.

What comes to mind when you hear the word toxic? Maybe it’s a barrel of radioactive industrial waste or the noxious fumes from chemical warfare gas. Or perhaps you think of a person. You may have noticed this popular sentiment pervasive in social media: cut out the “toxic” people from your life.

The dictionary definition of toxic is “poisonous; very harmful or unpleasant.” A “toxic person” seems to be anybody who has made one’s life slightly unpleasant.  I want to challenge the above mantra from a Christian perspective. Of course, genuinely abusive people exist, and we need to protect ourselves and our families from them.

And there may be some people in our lives for whom we establish firm boundaries. However, let’s not be too quick to snip! While being “done” with a difficult coworker, an annoying relative, or a nosy neighbor may seem appealing, being eager to cut people out of our lives leaves no room for repentance and grace.

We are to forgive 70 times 7 (Matt. 18:21-22). Matthew 5 commands us to love our enemies and to turn the other cheek when someone offends us. Proverbs 19:11 teaches us that it is a “glory to pass over a transgression.” As Christians, we are called to “live peaceably with all men,” (Rom. 12:18) even though it would make our lives easier if we decided not to engage with those who have upset us.

If we are truly going to live out our faith, let’s extend God’s grace to each person in our circle of influence, even the “toxic” ones.