Healthy Boundaries | Devotional Study

Healthy Boundaries As Grace Believers

Christians are not to be doormats. The Apostle Paul tells us clearly that we are to avoid false teachers but he also emphasized avoiding narcissists and other toxic people in general too. He doesn't use the words narcissist or toxic people, but he clearly describes them in 2 Tim 3.

2 Tim 3: 1-5 says, "This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away."

All of these characteristics describe narcissists and other toxic people. We are to turn away from these people because of their false teachings but also because of their toxicity.

In these verses Paul was referring specifically to believers who have walked away from the grace message. Legalistic teachings and "carnal Christianity" leads to toxic people, churches, homes and environments.

But we are also to have healthy boundaries with unbelievers too not just believers that have strayed from the grace message.

1 Corinthians 10:20-21 "But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils. Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils."

Eph 5: 11-12 "And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret."

Notice that we are not to fellowship with unbelievers, but this doesn't mean total isolation from them (we are to share the gospel with unbelievers and they can see Christ living in and through us too as we live by grace through faith in Jesus and His word rightly divided). We need to have healthy boundaries with them and try to spend more time taking care of our families and other responsibilities, some alone time with the Lord in Bible study and prayer as well as a healthy amount of time with fellow grace believers too in fellowship.

If you have toxic people in your life it's essential for your overall health to set healthy boundaries with them. And it's okay to completely avoid (that is to turn away from) toxic people and narcissists as well. You can share the gospel with them and pray for them and leave it at that.