Holistic Christians

I am reminded this week that we are whole beings.  It’s a shame that the word “holistic” has such non-Christian connotations, because precisely what I want to emphasize is that we are holistic beings.  The definition of holistic is “Emphasizing the importance of the whole and the interdependence of its parts.” But please don’t conclude that I’m chumming up with the folks as holistic.com – I’m not.  I’m using the word based on the definition above. 

Sometimes I like to read through old things that I have written in years past.  As I read my journals, poems, and reflections, I marvel at the grace of God who has brought such growth in my life!  Sometimes it’s hard to even recognize the girl who wrote about such frustrations and struggles.  Not that I have attained some great spiritual state, but I praise God that I am not where I once was!  It fills my heart with thanksgiving to God for what He has done!  This is one advantage of keeping journals – we can remember what God has done. 

But as I read, I drew this conclusion:  I think one of the main reasons why I experienced defeat in my spiritual life in the past was a failure to recognize this powerful connection between body, soul (mind & emotions), and spirit.  If you prefer you can divide the human into just body and spirit instead (there’s a whole theological debate there!).  Whichever way you dice us up as humans, the important thing is that we recognize that none of our dimensions exist apart from the others.  In the past, I had placed all my emphasis on cultivating my spirit, believing that that was all that “mattered.”  But as I look back I can see that that is so dangerous.  When I believe this I am buying into the ancient Gnostic heresy that says that all matter is evil.  The way that this plays out is that I live a frustrated life because I only focus on the things of the spirit, but am constantly frustrated and “weighed down” by these other aspects of my person.  Instead of embracing those dimensions and recognizing that those are avenues by which we grow and develop our spirits, we see them as hindrances.  When I do this, I am living a dangerously dualistic life that in no way reflects the heart of the Father in His Word. 

It wasn’t until the past few years that I began to recognize and embrace this holistic view of life as a follower of Christ.  For example, when I challenge my mind, through learning, reading, studying, creating, and simply discovering, my senses are awakened to the greatness of God and I am thirsty to learn and know Him more.  The more I know Him, the more I love Him.  When I embrace and learn to express my emotions honestly and responsibly, I know myself better and am freed to truly know and love and be vulnerable with others, enabling me to grow in Christian fellowship and love, and to experience the richness of the body of Christ.  When I exercise my body and take delight in nourishing it through healthy, energy-giving food, I feel alive, I feel energetic, I feel strengthened for the work that God has for me.  When I feel freed from the shackles of physical struggles, I am able to freely give myself to God, to others, to the things around me.  Health in my mind, body, and emotions brings health in my Spirit, as I am freed to know God more, love God more, and enjoy God more. 

I’m thankful for the emphasis on this, remarkably enough, during my studies at Multnomah.  The course, Biblical Counseling, emphasized this truth.  My professor reiterated, innumerable times, that pastors and Christian workers don’t leave the ministry because they no longer love God or don’t want to read their Bibles anymore, they leave because of personal problems.  They don’t learn to cultivate themselves as whole beings, and so they are lopsided, unbalanced, susceptible to burn-out.  They spend 99% of their time trying to be spiritual, but huge parts of their lives are left uncared for.  Their physical, emotional, and mental health are neglected, which impacts one’s spirit.  It is impossible to flourish spiritually without flourishing in these other areas.  My professor even went so far as to demand that we create time for fun, recreation, fellowship with people who don’t drain our energy (!), sleep, vacation.  Imagine this!  I would add that we must be diligent to challenge our minds, and to exercise our bodies and nourish them with healthy food and not energy-sapping garbage.

I was reminded of this last week when I felt so crummy physically.  One thing led to another.  First, I was sick.  This led to a lack of sleep and an inability to exercise.  By the end of the week (which you all know who follow my blog), my whole being was a wreck.  This is an example of how we are not always in control of all of our dimensions.  We may get tossed around through circumstances and physical challenges, but our job is to continue to cultivate our whole beings, as best as we are able. 

So this week I have determined to get back in the holistic swing of things.  Saturday I indulged in a bath while reading a fun and creative book, The Secret Life of Bees.  I went for a hike with my brother, even though my lungs were hurting and my thighs were burning (!).   Sunday I enjoyed a passionate, powerful praise services, worshipping my precious Savior.  I have been going for long walks with Dutch every day this week.  I’ve taken Dutch down to the river each day to show him the beauty and splendor of nature.  I’m tutoring students, doing everything from long-division to reading comprehension problems.  I’m getting sleep.  I’m feasting on roasted yams, beets, and carrots, steaming hot green tea, and delicious Asian slaw.  I’m spending time with God in His Word.  I’m praying for people.  I’m reflecting.  And all of these things, put together, make for a refreshed, replenished, whole child of God.  We are holistic beings.  I am more than a spirit, body, and mind, disjointed and disconnected.  I am a whole daughter of God—magnificently complex.  I will love the Lord my God with all that I am—heart, soul, mind, and body.

And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.   Mark 12:30