As our modern world continues to spiral downward deeper and deeper into the vortex of end-time chaos, I find myself bombarded with unclean images and innuendos I’d rather not see and hear. Whenever I turn on the television, read a magazine, turn on the radio, or check out the Internet, up pop sexually suggestive or explicit images and foul language I don’t expect to encounter but cannot avoid. Sadly, the situation is probably only going to get worse as time goes on.
It wouldn’t be practical or wise to toss out my computer, TV, radio, newspapers, and magazines in order to avoid such confrontations. Others may feel differently, but I don’t believe Jesus expects or asks me to do that. One can’t (and shouldn’t) live under a rock, as the saying goes. Yet, the Bible states clearly and without exception what God does expect of us: “...But as he [Jesus/God] who has called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, ‘Be holy, for I am holy’” (1 Peter 1:15). So how do we, as followers of Jesus Christ, keep from becoming tainted or even corrupted by the world and its current mores?
Jesus gave us the answer. He tells us: “There is nothing that enters a man from outside which can defile him; but the things which come out of him, those are the things that defile a man” (Mark 7: 15). Jesus is saying that it’s what we do with, and how we choose to digest and process the things that enter our bodies and minds that can harm us. Yes, we must use discretion and guard ourselves from those things we know Jesus would not condone. We must do as God expects and keep ourselves holy as He is holy. But if something unclean does enter in, we can surely take heart. It’s only what comes out of us afterward that will harm or defile. Plainly speaking, Jesus compares the process to food intake and waste output.
We must deal with questionable “intake” immediately and eliminate it from our minds and spirits before it has a chance to fester, exit us through our actions or speech, and finally corrupt us. If we harbor impure thoughts and do not determine to immediately rid ourselves of them, eventually we may act upon them. Then, those things that will come out of us will defile us—and possibly defile others as well. It’s the same with foul speech. We can hear it, but Jesus has called us to a much higher standard. It’s what comes out of our mouths, mouths that God intended for us to use for praise and uplifting, holy speech, that will either bless or defile those who hear it.
I don’t claim to be perfect. I can’t even claim that my own actions and speech are always holy. As the world grinds down toward that glorious day when Jesus makes his return to Earth, it’s going to get harder and harder for me and other Christians to remain in the world but not of it. But I thank God we have the Holy Spirit to guide us and convict us whenever we stray from the path God ordained for us. And all those times when I forget to place myself in another’s shoes, then say or do things I later regret, I remember Mark 7: 15. And I remember that Jesus’ precious blood was shed for the atonement of our sins, and that the power of His blood will keep us and maintain us until the day of His triumphant return.
Pam
Words, words, words. We are drowning in them. It’s been said that the average person speaks about 10,000 words a day.* It seems we are always talking. We give instructions, detail plans, describe events, and order our coffee. We are a culture that always seems to be yakking. So much so, we need unlimited plans for our cell phones. With so many words being uttered is it any wonder, then, that so many sins come from the words we speak? We can use words to lie, cheat, swear, and manipulate. We exhort others to commit sin. We use words to attack. Words are the usually the first acts of violence we commit. A particularly disturbing scene from the movie Hotel Rwanda takes place when a voice on the radio urges the Hutus to slaughter their neighbors, the Tutsis.
Then there is the much more socially acceptable, seemingly benign yet just as sinful, activity of gossiping. If you want to go an entire day and not hear a negative word spoken about another person you had better check into a remote mountain cave. Office gossip is as ubiquitous as cubicle dividers. And who hasn’t spent time at a family get-together nattering about the faults of the relatives who didn’t show? Backbiting, criticizing, and condemning are common pursuits among believers and nonbelievers alike. So common, it’s easy to forget they are sins. Yet, the Bible is more than clear on the subject. Jesus said we are not to call each other fool (Matt. 5:22). Paul admonishes us repeatedly not to engage in slander (Col. 3:8, Eph. 4:31, Titus 3:2).
Speaking negatively about another person is a sin I fall into time and again. If my feelings get hurt, if I’m inconvenienced or annoyed, I find myself making a snarky comment about someone. The Holy Spirit has let me know that no matter how witty or clever I am with my negative comments, I’m still sinning. This is an area I work on daily. Gossiping is a tough habit to break.
My mother-in-law, who is now with the Lord, had a framed embroidery piece that read, “In this house Jesus is the guest at every meal and a part of every conversation.” What a wonderful reminder. If we remember to bring Jesus into all our conversations, then all unkind words would die unsaid. Words would only be used to praise, encourage, rejoice, and uplift. We would sing hymns, give thanks, and exalt the Lord.
*http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_many_words_does_the_average_person_speak_every_day
