More on Craig Groeschel's book "Soul Detox"

Groeschel is founder and senior pastor of Edmond-based LifeChurch.tv. He and I recently discussed his latest book “Soul Detox” and he was candid about the book’s premise and some of his own life situations.

“Soul Detox: Clean Living in a Contaminated World (Zondervan, $19.99) hit bookstore shelves on May 1.

I’ve included more of our interview in this posting, in question-and-answer format:

Q: In “Soul Detox,” you say that the challenge to live clean goes out to all Christians, even those who obey the rules of the faith. Why do you think it’s hard for Christians to recognize their own spiritual toxins?

A: Well, I think we have a limitless capacity for self deception. Someone said “We don’t know what we don’t know” and just like I’m colorblind and so I have a real hard time with certain colors. Just because I can’t see them, doesn’t mean that there’s not a difference or a truth to it. I think just because we can’t see that there’s something hurting us, doesn’t mean that there’s not something hurting us. And so as Christians, I think we can blend into what’s going on in the world and in culture sometimes without even realizing it and just because everyone else says “Hey, this isn’t a big deal,” I’m trying to raise the question “Is this a big deal?” Sometimes the answer is “Yes, it is” and we need to deal with the things that are harmful.

Q: You make an argument that we accept as normal things that our harmful to our souls. One example of that is when you call worry a sin. I think a lot of people will be interested in that. Can you talk about that?

A: Someone said “Worry is distrusting the promises and power of God” and I think that is a good definition of it. One of the things I’m trying to help readers realize is that what we worry about or what we fear really reveals two things. First of all, it reveals what we value the most. For example if we’re worried about our kids’ safety, we value our kids. If we worry about financial stability, we value financial stability. But on a deeper level, what we fear reveals what we value the most and, too, it reveals where we trust God the least. If I’m always worried about my kids, I’m not trusting God with my kids. If I’m always worried about financial stability, I’m not trusting God to provide for me. And so what I try to do is get beyond the surface of “Hey, everybody worries” to say that worry is a sign of a deeper spiritual problem that we need to take to God and let Him cleanse. 

Q: As a parent, how do you and your wife keep your children away from these toxins, short of locking them away? As a parent myself, I’ve had that thought. You can’t really do that.

A: No. That’s a great question and a little bit complicated one as well. One, we have to realize there’s so many things in the world that are considered acceptable that in God’s eyes probably aren’t acceptable and so I think it’s about giving our children the wisdom to know and make wise decisions in this world. I think there are some basics that we need to watch out for: help them choose the right friends. Help protect them from the wrong types of influence — wrong movies or going to wrong websites and listening to the wrong types of music. At the same time, we can’t protect them from everything. We can arm them with the ability to say “no” to something that is harmful and then if they are exposed, to learn how to cleanse their mind with God’s word and to think on things that are pure and helpful rather than to dwell on things that are harmful.

Q: Where can “Soul Detox” be purchased?

A: “Soul Detox” is pretty much available at book stores and online. 

Carla Hinton

Religion Editor