Codependency and Fellowship

Living then, as every one of you does, in pure grace, it’s important that you not misinterpret yourselves as people who are bringing this goodness to God. The only accurate way to understand ourselves is by what God is and by what he does for us, not by what we are and what we do for him. 
Romans 12:3b The Message 

A big term thrown around in psycho culture today is the word  'codependency'. It actually describes a relationship between people where both derive need satisfaction and live off of each other. There is a big difference between fellowship and codependency. Fellowship is an healthy relationship that operates within the Biblical set-up of the family of God. We all are different and we all have different contributions to the body of Christ and in that sense we relate to each other. In codependency excessive need is the primary focus and corresponding excessive sacrifice on the part of another. God is supplanted in the relationship and idolatry sneaks in.   'Idolatry' may seem like a strong word but it applies because codependency draws us away from the sufficiency that comes from God and substitutes something else in His place thus undermining believing.

Idolatry can manifest itself in many ways. It can come in the form of government, celebrity and entertainments, ego and personal issues, philosophy, religion, causes, skin color, ethnicity and all sorts man-made pedestals  elevating one human or group above another. Humans need relationships, but humans don't need relationships that feed on something that separates them from God.

Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;  2 Corinthians 10:5

Religious co-dependency is very sneaky. Religion should never separate us from access to God or to each other. (I Corinthians chapter one). Our relationship to God is enhanced as we look to the example of Jesus Christ, claim him as Lord and believe God raised him from the dead. When we live like we believe this we have supernatural confidence and are not co-dependent on the things or substitutes in this world.