Working in a University environment, we are asked to attend workshops from time to time. Several months ago I was asked to attend a “Team Building” Workshop. In the end it was clear evidence of the spiritual warfare that wages daily by the ideas that were presented.
These ideas were self-actualization, self-empowerment, self-esteem and spiritual oneness. While reaching one’s full potential (self-actualization) or feeling worthy (self-esteem) are not, on the surface, bad ideals to achieve, how they are achieved is a very heart based issue. These ideals cannot be achieved without the renovation of one’s heart and by building it up in one way or another. There are some very inherent dangers in some methodologies used for those purposes as presented at the workshop.
In my opinion, this workshop entered into one of those danger zones. There was an emphasis on the individual person and his or her inward energy. There was an emphasis on the personal achievements, goals and abilities of the individual. Again, on the surface these seem like valuable insights and are helpful in personal growth and development, but any value is overshadowed by the danger involved in going down this path.
What then is the danger? When bringing these ideas together and into focus with giving one’s self the authority (self-empowerment) to act upon and achieve these inner developments and cultivating this in an atmosphere of an individual spiritual being completely capable of these purposes, the religion of “new age” thinking is born. It is impossible to answer the great questions that our hearts yearn for, without entering into spirituality. This is what a true renovation of the heart requires, the indoctrination of some form of spirituality.
This is what the eventual focus of the day took and it was all under the false pretense of building better teams and communication skills. It was this focus and this ideology that I was most uncomfortable with, especially after being singled out by the presenter as Christian. Feeling as an alien and stranger in this world, I was not uncomfortable with being singled out for my beliefs. I truly believe in the words of Jesus Christ, “If anyone is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.” (Luke 9:26) But the idea that I was not open to growth and that I was close-minded and intolerant was the approach taken by the presenter in undermining my beliefs and promoting the focus of the presentation even further. In terms that the presenter would use, “I was not going to take his energy”.
It was this approach and these attacks that I felt were contrary to the foundations of Christian theology. I realize my views are based upon this theology and not everyone shares the idea that "(Christ is) the way and the truth and the life No one comes to the Father except through (him).” (John 14:6) Very exclusionary theology, I will admit. But it is also a theology that teaches grace, “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control” (Galatians 5:22), which is foundational to Christianity and was completely absent from the presentation. I doubt many people would disagree that these are valuable virtues to live by.
This absence and the focus on the power of oneself, is the danger zone that I am referring to. When the focus of your heart and your mind and your spirit are on yourself, it is impossible to focus on God and those people around you. It is a very easy step to become a selfish, prideful and self-centered human being with this focus, which is a frightening reality in our world today, that more and more people are focused on their own needs, wants and desires and less focused on those around them. We have become increasingly unaware of the altruistic belief that the author of the book of Hebrews reminds us of, “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” (Hebrews 10: 24-25)
For myself, this requires that I live my life in an upwardly (towards God) and outwardly (towards others) manner. This standard of living helps me to act justly, to love mercy and to walk humbly with my God (Micah 6:8). I realize I fail at these tasks daily, but those are my ultimate goals. And to ask me to act contrary to those is not acceptable. I do not judge others for not holding these beliefs, but carefully discern that theirs differ from mine.
I firmly believe in our 1st Amendment rights to freedom of religion, as opposed to freedom from it. However, this workshop was falsely portrayed as “team building” and not accurately stated to be an attempt at the indoctrination of a religion. As a Christian, I understand the necessity of evangelism and spreading the Gospel message. But I don’t hide who the author of my Gospel message is, the Lord my God and Savior. Who is the author of the self-actualized and self-empowered religion? Just look at the words and you will see.