TSIYON NEWS

From Eliyahu

 

Consider this:

 

Sometimes people think they have come up with a new idea, when in fact, that idea has been in Scripture for thousands of years. Here's an example: I came across something like that while researching the topic of this newsletter. I'm not one to keep up with trends all that much, but I recently learned that the modern use of the word "toxic" as applied to people is a trend that arose from a song by Britney Spears. Wikipedia says this about the song:

"Toxic" is a song by American singer Britney Spears from her fourth studio album, In the Zone (2003). It was written and produced by Bloodshy & Avant, with additional writing from Cathy Dennis and Henrik Jonback.

I listened to the song and really didn't like it much. However, it does present the idea of a toxic person. "Toxic" brought the term out into common speech, so that now the term is used quite often. For example, when you do a quick search for the hashtag #toxicpeople on Instagram, almost half a million posts come up. Simply search for #toxic, and you get more than a million posts. Most of them include references like,  "Don't let toxic people rent space in your head" and "Distance yourself from negative energy" etc.

 

What does it generally mean when someone is described as "Toxic"? I found this informal description online:

Toxic people: 7 signs a person is toxic
You're left feeling emotionally exhausted after an encounter with them.
They try to intimidate you to get their way. ...
They try to control you by guilt tripping. ...
They are easily jealous. ...
They constantly see themselves as a victim. ...
They give backhanded compliments. ...
They're overly defensive.

This is not an official description, just a general consensus of  how people use the term. Along those lines, I also found this: "at the heart of a toxic person's behavior is the lack of concern around their impact on others. They come with a critical failure to see past their own needs and wants."

 

So, what do people generally do with someone deemed to be "toxic"?  As noted above, the common advice seems to be: "Distance yourself from negative energy" or even "cut them out of your life" i.e. cancel them.

 

My question is: Does it really have to come to that?

People behave as they choose to behave, which is also to say; they can change their behavior. Further, some people labeled "toxic" are not evil - they are just choosing the wrong habits - and there are a number of possible reasons for that. People like that may be willing to change their behavior once they understand why they should. Yes, "cutting them out of your life" may become necessary in extreme cases in which people choose to continue harmful behavior, but the Scriptures give good advice on ways to avoid such extremes.

 

Why are there so-called "toxic people" in the world? Aside from people who are just plain evil (that's a separate category) most people who might be labeled by some as "toxic" didn't come into the world that way. Instead, some trauma, loss, deep disappointment or deception impacted their being in their early life or even childhood. This is even worse in cases of repeated trauma, such as mental or physical abuse. These assaults upon one's inner spirit can deeply distort how a person sees and reacts to others, by planting what Scripture calls "poisonous roots" in their inner mental and emotional processes. Realize such a person is truly a victim of evil. That person is "afflicted" and bears the inner burden of that affliction which, unfortunately, gets spilled out onto other people in ways that seem incomprehensible to them.  

 

Here you might be thinking "It's not my job to fix people." If you think that, you are absolutely correct.  As believers in Yeshua it is not our job to "fix" people. That is a job for Yeshua and the individual who needs to be "fixed" (all of us). However, it is sobering to note that the Remnant are called in Scripture "the afflicted." There will be thousands of them in the Remnant Exodus! If we were to "cancel" all of the afflicted people from the Assembly there could never be a Remnant Exodus!

 

For the Assembly to be restored we must all, individually, come to grips with whatever "poisonous roots" may be afflicting us, causing us and others unnecessary trouble, pain and affliction. The Assembly itself must become a place of emotional and spiritual safety and security in and through which the afflicted can receive the love and truth of Yeshua, to remove the poisonous roots afflicting His people, to bring all of us into the sound mind of Messiah. Here is the process leading to sound mental and emotional health, as set out for us in Scripture:

Therefore I urge you, brothers, by the mercies of Elohim, to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to Elohim, which is your spiritual service. Don’t be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what is the good, well-pleasing, and perfect will of Elohim! Romans 12:1-2

The word is "transformation" and the Restored Assembly must be a place of transformation for all who are willing to submit themselves to be molded and re-shaped by our loving Creator. Transformation is possible, but it is also a lot of spiritual effort calling for a lot of love and forgiveness for ourselves and our brothers and sisters. Remember: Our Father in Heaven is not watching us with a check list in hand to condemn us for our mistakes - He is looking upon His afflicted children with love in His heart, celebrating every step of our progress, encouraging each of us on!

"For the mountains may depart, and the hills be removed; but my loving kindness shall not depart from you, neither shall my covenant of peace be removed,” says YHWH who has mercy on you. “You afflicted, tossed with storms, and not comforted, behold, I will set your stones in beautiful colors, and lay your foundations with sapphires. I will make your pinnacles of rubies, and your gates of sparkling jewels, and all your walls of precious stones. All your children shall be taught of YHWH; and great shall be the peace of your children."  Isaiah 54:10-13

Trust Him. Look to Him to identify and remove any and every poisonous root from your heart and mind and patiently keep growing in His Word and ways. Don't kick against the goads, but humbly accept His teaching and correction, which is meant to bless you. Be transformed -  As the afflicted are transformed, healed and restored, so also will be the Assembly.       

 

Our Tsiyon meeting tonight at Tsiyon.Net starts at 8 PM, CST. We will be presenting a teaching that gets specific about Poisonous Roots. We all need this. Invite your relatives and friends to sign-up at Tsiyon.Net absolutely free to consider this with you.  Yes, the afflictions of His people are many, but the blessings He holds in store for His afflicted people are far greater!

 

Blessings and good health to you,

 

Eliyahu
Tsiyon.Org

 

PS - See this Fast Track video bonus only at Tsiyon.Net!