Today’s Wall Street Journal announced a new disorder — the selective eating disorder. Meaning that people who grew up on chicken fingers and French fries might not be able to eat anything but chicken fingers and French fries.
Not able or not willing?
In the on-going “therapeutization” of human behavior, there are times when it is difficult to believe that anything remains our spiritual and moral responsibility. We are what we are. It’s unavoidable. And if someone ties those behaviors to some overt risk — to ourselves or to others, then it’s a disorder, it’s not a matter of choice.
I believe in therapy. I think it can make a difference. And almost everyone at some point in their lives could benefit from it. And there are real disorders.
But to label everything a disorder robs us of the responsibility to make healthy, moral, life-giving decisions. “Robs us?” Yes, “robs us.”
Robs us of the opportunity to take charge of our lives. Robs us of the opportunity to change, to grow, to improve, to live into all that God intends for us.
Robs us of our independence.
Robs us of a sense of initiative.
Making everything a disorder also turns us into dependents waiting for permission or pills to live the lives that are already possible — if we are willing (not able) to choose.
Shirley S. Wang, “Picky Eating Knows No Age Limit,” The Wall Street Journal (Tuesday, July 6, 2010): D1-2.
Thanks for that, Father. I am so sick and tired of hearing these excuses as well. In the spiritual realm, I wonder what has happened to our desire for sanctification, for growing into the full stature of Christ, and for deification. I think our lack of accountability and initiation is rooted in spiritual laziness and apathy. We are no longer willing to be…