Parasites
January 13, 2009 – 12:40 pmFrom page 182 of When People Are Big And God Is Small by Ed Welch:
Scott Peck, in his best-selling book, The Road Less Traveled, suggests that we can shape other people into host organisms. It is not a pretty picture: people are the intestine, we are the worm.
“I do not want to live. I cannot live without my husband [wife, girlfriend, boyfriend], I love him [or her] so much.”
And when I respond, as I frequently do, “You are mistaken; you do not love your husband [wife, girlfriend, boyfriend].”
“What do you mean?” is the angry question. “I just told you I can’t live without him [or her].”
I try to explain. “What you describe is parasitism, not love.”
The Bible summarizes these various shapes this way: People are our cherished idols. We worship them, hoping they will take care of us, hoping they will give us what we feel we need. What we really need are biblical shapes and identities for other people. Then, instead of needing people to fill our desires, we can love people for the sake of God’s glory and fulfill the purpose for which we were created.
-Ben
9 Responses to “Parasites”
a well made point, and i heartily agree. one question: does this not then infer that our relationship with God is parasitism?
By walt on Jan 13, 2009
“What you describe is parasitism, not love.”
Hot dog, that is good.
By Ray on Jan 13, 2009
great book. i need to read it again. ray needs to give it back to me (maybe now he’ll read it haha)
(no walt, cuz the whole point of the book is that we make people idols instead of worshipping and trusting god)
By john sullivan on Jan 13, 2009
“by god’s grace, he will restrain the foot” ~ button
By edgar on Jan 13, 2009
Hmm, careful this doesn’t turn into buddhism. I do agree though that love needs to be defined in the context of God’s glory.
By David on Jan 14, 2009
walt,
from the Bible:
a) we are far worse than parasites
b) the only thing that cannot be an idol to us is God
By behzad on Jan 14, 2009
Very interesting. Hm.
By Larry on Jan 27, 2009
well answered, behzad. we are far worse than parasites, and God far better than a host.
@david, what do you mean by this turning into buddhism? i’m afraid i don’t follow you.
By walt on Jan 27, 2009
good, convicting book. need to get it back from someone..
By sandy on Jan 29, 2009