The 1992 book entitled Boundaries by Henry Cloud and John Townsend has become a classic among counselors and therapists. In a nutshell, the book directs us to maintain healthy boundaries in our lives and relationships that let in good things and keep out bad things. Boundaries are important and biblical.
If you think about it, God has always been big on boundaries. He clearly defined sin and said stay away. He clearly established a principal that believers should not marry unbelievers. He even marked off boundaries for nations, the tribes of Israel and the nation of Israel. Boundaries set limits. They mark what belongs to you and what does not belong to you; what is safe and what is unsafe; what is acceptable and what is unacceptable. What is sinful and destructive and what is righteous and life giving. They establish responsibilities and freedom from responsibility.
The key is knowing what boundaries God has established and actually believing that those “No Trespassing” signs are not there to restrict you but to keep you from disaster. In the area of spiritual warfare boundaries are especially critical. As I said in my last blog we have just finished one of our healing and freedom weekends where dozens of believers discovered that they were being afflicted or oppressed by demons at some level. It may surprise you to discover that believers can be oppressed by demons and that so many are. Part of the problem is that the church in America has neglected to teach biblical principles about demons and deliverance for decades. The result is that a large inventory of the “critters” has accumulated in believers and their families undetected and undisturbed.
Many of these demonic spirits have attached themselves to Christians because we have not observed God’s boundaries. If you walk through a field of grass burrs you are going to pick up a few. If you do that in West Texas you will find them attached to your jeans and your shoelaces when you immerge form the field. You will also discover that they will inflict some pain as you try to remove them and that they hold on with some tenacity. Demons are much the same. If you play in Satan’s playgrounds you are likely to bring some unwelcome friends home with you.
Those “playgrounds” take many forms. Ungodly relationships are probably at the top of the list. It is a rare believer who makes it through high school and college and into marriage without being involved in several relationships where God was an after thought if he was thought of at all. Most believers enter marriage having had several sexual partners beforehand. Many have lived through seasons of alcohol and drugs. Pornography is often an issue and many have had abortions. Some have dabbled in eastern religions, immersed themselves in movies and literature that are sexual or occult in nature. All of those “playgrounds” open the door to demonic oppression. After those “prodigal” seasons they thankfully return but often they return with serious “grass burrs” attached.
Something in our fallen nature always believes that we will be the exception to the rule. We are often aware of God’s boundaries and the “No Trespassing” signs but we think that somehow we can violate those boundaries without consequence. But according to Paul, God will not be mocked. Whatever a man sows he will reap. (See Gal. 5). Seasons of unrepented sin, unforgiveness, curses we have spoken over ourselves, sinful and especially sexual relationships, occult dabbling’s, and emotional trauma seem to be open doors through which the enemy enters – even for Christians. A great deal of pain and work would be avoided if we honored God’s boundaries and if we taught our children of the spiritual consequences of walking through fields that God has told us to avoid.
Too often we warn our children of consequences in the natural realm– pregnancy, STD’s, addictions, etc. but don’t warn them of consequences in the spiritual realm. Out children then believe that birth control, antibiotics, condoms, and recreational use of drugs and alcohol will keep them from the consequences so why no play in that playground. They need to understand that sin has real consequences – spiritual torment and bondage – in the spiritual realm that birth control and support groups can’t resolve. Boundaries are good. We should honor them and teach them. Taking and eating in the face of God’s clear commands is not a good idea. Be blessed today and a blessing to others.
