An interesting group of people I get to deal with, almost daily, are folks who are constipated.

Seriously! I’m not kidding.

When someone gets in bad shape, bowel-wise, everything takes on a different perspective. The things that once gave joy no longer do because they can’t be done. Things that you take for granted become monstrously important because you can no longer do them. Bloated, stuffed and uncomfortable become the words you use to describe yourself.

Given long enough, you become anxious, depressed and seriously sick.

People become obsessed and consumed by their constipation. It’s all they want to talk about; nothing else matters. Life goes on hold; it passes them by, literally.

Which got me to thinking.

A person who is constipated is full of toxic material. These toxins continually re-contaminate the body. It has the potential of ending your life.

I find it interesting that many Christians live their lives this way . . . stuck up, down south. Toxic in their “faith,” dying because they are so full of . . . it.

I came across a group recently online that is so constipated spiritually that they reek. So full of hatred, contempt and false righteousness (the proverbial “holier-than-thou”) that it takes you aback. It boggles the senses. They are so constipated, full of it, that they drive people to hell.

Is this the way the world sees us? Are we so full of it that we’re willing to condemn folks to an eternal separation from the Life-Giver?

These folks aren’t living this way because they are mean people; they sincerely believe it. That is what is so scary. The broad “evangelical right” falls into this camp. How did we go from being unique to being exclusive? How did we move from being the light of the world to being the keeper of the light? How did we migrate from seeking the lost to declaring them persona non grata?

Somthing is wrong here.

When John realized that a lot of Pharisees and Sadducees were showing up for a baptismal experience because it was becoming the popular thing to do, he exploded: “Brood of snakes! What do you think you’re doing slithering down here to the river? Do you think a little water on your snakeskins is going to make any difference? It’s your life that must change, not your skin! And don’t think you can pull rank by claiming Abraham as father. Being a descendant of Abraham is neither here nor there. Descendants of Abraham are a dime a dozen. What counts is your life. Is it green and blossoming? Because if it’s deadwood, it goes on the fire.  — Matthew 3:7-10