2 Cor 6:14-7:1
“Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.” The initial questions that come to my mind after reading this are these: 1. Who are the “them” that we are to separate from? 2. What is the “unclean thing” that we are not to touch? Who are the “them” that we are to separate from? When everything is boiled down in the world there remains only two classes of people: believers and unbelievers, and this distinction is to be carried forward into the Church also. In other words, as Paul states, “all are not Israel that are of Israel” and not all are Christians who profess Christ, or prominently display a picture of a fish on their car bumper. Being unequally yoked goes further than marrying an unbeliever, or becoming a business partner with an infidel, which is common enough. Unbelievers are “unclean” and should be avoided except where absolutely necessary. The plain message of Scripture, both O.T. and N.T. is to have nothing to do with them. Any association with the world is to be “unequally yoked.” So, how does this carry over into the Church today? It doesn’t carry over at all. Virtually any and all relationships are acceptable. I was getting my hair cut the other day from my “Christian” barber and our conversation landed on children and schooling and I volunteered that all of my seven grandchildren were being home-schooled. My barber added that that was a good thing, but that they should be, at about eleven or twelve, put into public school so that they could learn to socialize properly. I responded that that would be the worst possible age to do such a thing. Did he really believe that the world had something of value to teach my grandchildren? Yes, he did, and this coming from a “Christian.” The world to him was not an “unclean thing,” but rather necessary for our full development. This man, in my estimation is an “unbeliever.” He does not believe the Scripture rule of separation, and is skeptical of the value of this verse in this present age; he is faithless and deluded and probably lost. My only association with this person would be to fulfill my mission to deliver the Gospel, and that is all. He exhibited no signs of being a Christian except that he said he was a Christian and went to a building he called his church. This man is the run of the mill Christian, and no doubt has a form of godliness, but denies the power that makes a person Godly: faith and trust that God is who He said He is, and will do what He said He would do, no skepticism allowed. Today the rule of not being “unequally yoked” should mean, to most serious Christians, that they be not joined in communion with most of those who simply say they are Christians and pack out the pews of the places they call “Church.” The serious Christian has only one recourse when the local church has become the local whorehouse or den of thieves, and that is to separate from them and “touch not the unclean thing.” But, let’s not stop now while we’re having so much fun, let’s go deeper still. Let’s touch that nerve that will win you enemies faster than talking bad about their mother, their golden calf, the T.V. I told the Post Master of the post office in the little town where I live that I didn’t watch television anymore. She responded that she had heard of rare cases of individuals who didn’t watch T.V., but that she had never, in her whole life, met one. When I told her that I didn’t listen to the radio either, not even Rush Limbaugh, or subscribe to news papers, she began wondering if I wasn’t part of some strange cult. I reassured her that I was simply a Christian trying to keep my focus. At that time I never realized what a hold Hollywood had on people. The yoke that Christians have with Hollywood and its celebrity priest can be honestly called a shackle of carbide steel, welded shut, with the key thrown away. The influence that Hollywood carries on Christian lives is the worst kind of bondage, introducing all sorts of filthiness and uncleanness under the guise that it is just entertainment, and that if you don’t want to watch it all you have to do is turn it off. Next to religion, T.V. is the drug of choice for nearly all “Christians.” Is television an unclean thing? Without a doubt it is evil to the core, lock, stock, and barrel. I feel that if Christians could destroy all their T.V.’s it would go very far in reversing the curse that has engulfed our nation. I also feel that the likelihood of that happening would be equal to our ability to successfully land a man on the surface of the sun. “Can a man carry fire in his bosom and not get burnt?” The fire of Hell burns in Hollywood and in our Christian homes. What is the “unclean thing” that we are not to touch? The Old Testament laws were given as types and shadows for us today of the vast degree to which one must go to stay pure, and the vast degree to which the world will corrupt a pure soul, and the consequences that must inevitably follow. The Israeli people are our example of how it works, of both the blessings of being pure, and the curse of compromise. But, somehow we on this side of the Cross have concluded that all has changed. We, the American Christian Church, have been, aptly and generously, instructed that by quoting, like some sort of mantra, “you are in the world but not of it” you can handily sidestep every situation in which you find yourself tempted to purity. It is like having a “get out of jail free card” for worldly Christians. This verse is quite possibly the most well known and quoted Bible passage in the Laodicean Church of America. This verse is used far and wide to justify everything worldly, and it is used by both leaders and laymen to the same degree. This verse has become the antidote to “touch not the unclean thing.” How is it that the Church has effectively overridden the express mandate to NOT be unequally yoked, and to touch not the unclean thing? Jesus reminded the Pharisees that their faulty understanding of Scripture did not void out the true meaning. The law instructed them to take care of their parents. Jesus said, Mark 7:10-13 Moses said, 'Honor your father and your mother';* and, 'He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.'* But you say, 'If a man says to his father or mother, "Whatever profit you might have received from me is Corban" — ' (that is, a gift to God), then you no longer let him do anything for his father or his mother, making the word of God of no effect through your tradition which you have handed down. And many such things you do." Likewise, the Laodicean Church of America says, “whatever you can justify by covering it with the phrase “in the world but not of it” will effectively eliminate any guilt association that might be caused by having to live in the world. The Laws of Moses appear to be difficult and meaningless to us who live under the shadow of the Cross and not under the shadow of the Law. Nonetheless, there is much meaning in the law for us today. The Law showed the seriousness of doing the things the way the world did things. The Jews were a separated people and their life, and the way they lived it, were distinguishable from everything around them, not so much by their inclusion of things, but by their exclusion and separateness. God’s ways were not to be looked at as something that was added to what they already had or knew, but that God’s ways were the right ways, and the only right ways. Therefore, the normal life of the Jew was to exclude anything that was contrary to the way of God, and that was the rule, and that is our rule. Yoking ourselves to the world was illustrated in the O.T. by the prohibition of ploughing with an ox and an ass, or to have sown differing kind of seeds together, or sewing wool and cotton together. What an absurdity to think that we can blatantly mix darkness and light, good and evil, righteousness and unrighteousness, God and the Devil. What communion do we have with the world in any of its vast corruptions, even when it has a veil “Christian” spread across its bumper. We are the Temple of the Living God and the danger is immense that by thinking lightly, that we are in the world, we can touch the unclean thing without consequences. Today our unbelief is flagrant and the consequences paralyzing. The unclean thing is no less than the dunghill of this present world and its inhabitants. We are commanded to “come out from among them” and to keep a very safe distance, “to be separate,” as one would avoid a society of lepers, or the plague, for fear of being infected or defiled in the presence of the God we say we cherish. How close can one get to a smoking fire and not come away smelling. We must not defile ourselves, and we must not mingle, bind, or unite, with those who do. Do we thus repay the Lord, O foolish and unwise? A Defiled People Hag 2:12-14
"If one carries holy meat in the fold of his garment, and with the edge he touches bread or stew, wine or oil, or any food, will it become holy?"'" Then the priests answered and said, "No." And Haggai said, "If one who is unclean because of a dead body touches any of these, will it be unclean?" So the priests answered and said, "It shall be unclean." Then Haggai answered and said, "'So is this people, and so is this nation before Me,' says the Lord , 'and so is every work of their hands; and what they offer there is unclean.
These verses speak loudly to a nation caught in its sin, and it speaks loudly to America. Where did the mentality come from that says, that if we put a Christian in the midst of the world we can make it holy; that by a Christian presence we can spread holiness? Where did the mentality come from that says that a Christian can maintain their purity when simultaneously mingling with impurity? Who said that we could keep an open relationship with the world and come away unscathed? It is a lie, it cannot be done. Haggai here declares the same; it cannot be done. The pure person cannot by being with impurity and mixing with them impart his purity to them. But, to the contrary, if a holy person touches an unclean thing the holy person becomes unclean. To say it plainly: corruption and sin are more easily transferred to the righteous than righteousness transferred to the unrighteous. So the rule seems to be plain enough. Don’t think that an evil person living in the midst of goodness will commend that goodness to the evil person. The Spirit has declared that it is not so, but this is exactly what we see, routinely, in the institutional Church. We advertise, we promote, we poll neighborhoods, we beg and we plead that the world would please come and be a part of us, and they have, and we have become corrupt and unclean, deluded, because we now see as the world sees, and we see that the world’s ways and means have great promise for the Church. We have become an unclean thing and we don’t know how to repent, so the Lord will come to us in our darkest hour, and we will see our nakedness and be ashamed. —————————————————————————————- As we watch the world tumble and turn, and the organized church slip into apostasy, words start taking on new value, meaning, and understanding, both for the worldly Christian and for those enlightened souls who recognize the fulfillment of end time prophecy. We have witnessed, in our generation, the grand sermons of talented preachers, with their endless chatter, flowing like a fermented mash, to inebriated crowds, bellying up to the bar for a round of worldly religion, and seen them stumble home, and still manage to confess, in the face of their sin, their creedal and national allegiance, then fall for the umpteenth time while convinced, by their pastor, that they can live in the world and not be of it. They are not only in the world, they are awash in it; it covers them; they have become to the “world,” just, the “religious world,” no different than those outside, just more cocksure that’s all. This is the “Church” in America. We have become the poster child of the Laodicean Church and we don’t even know it. We have fallen, and can’t get up, nor do we want to! Amos’ prophecy of a famine that would not be of food or water, but of the Word of God, describes the complacency and self-assurance the Laodicean Church has found feeding on corn husk and wallowing in mire. The Church of Laodicea can not even conceive what is meant by “touch not the unclean thing.” Surely, to the Church in America this only means: don’t get caught stealing, or only get religious tattoos. Don’t say the g-d word; don’t lust after women openly while church members are with you; it’s O.K. to get married for the second and third time, because God knows you need sex, and having ill feelings toward the homeless is acceptable, (because they’re probably all drug addicts, and losers anyway); don’t watch XXX rated movies, but the filth during halftime is O.K., and the list goes on, and on, and on. The Laodicean Church really has no qualms about doing any of the things listed above, that all the rest of the Church members are also doing, including the leaders, which is the same as the world is doing, only the world doesn’t have their “get out of jail free” card to play. Being part of the status quo is comforting to them, and if one of their own happens to color outside the lines of satisfactory behavior, and go beyond the veil of their “cure all” verses, it’s alright, there is an endless supply of forgiveness potion on hand. What in Heaven could the Lord have meant by “touch not the unclean thing” if everything we see in the organized Church, seemingly, meets His approval? I can assure you that the real meaning has much more to do with how we love Jesus (i.e. obedience) than it has with practicing acceptable Laodicean religion, whose highest goal is self satisfaction, pleasing men, and appearing righteous and holy, while “looking good”: cars, clothes, hair, teeth, education, electronic gadgets, position, endorsements, acquaintances, neighborhood, nationality, race, etc, etc, etc. ———————————————————————————— There is a special feature of this age that has become a religion in its own right, and that is, religious skepticism. There are very many who are openly skeptic, and call themselves “Christian” and celebrate their inconsistency. It amazes me that the very thing in which we are called to exercise “faith” they will wholeheartedly reject because it doesn’t make sense to them or fit their lifestyle. Then there are the ignorant skeptics, who can not put a definition to their dilemma, or even know they have a dilemma, but are no less unbelievers than their brothers the “open skeptics.” This thing which should be the cause of anxiety–which denies a Christianity of “revelation” and obedience–becomes to them a form of godliness which disallows the power of true Godliness. Their skepticism and unbelief come all nicely clothed in the cloth of being “in the world but not of it,” how convenient. 2 Tim 3:5 …having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! Isn’t today’s institutional Church the epitome of these words spoken by Paul to Timothy? And, what is his conclusion?, “and from such turn away!” But we don’t turn away, we embrace, and are encouraged to embrace the more, and to tolerate, regardless of the filthiness. In every aspect of Church life touching the unclean, is promoted, and even advertised as being “good.” we have adopted all their ways: business practices, music, dress, education, even their means of reaching God. We live in a country whose “believers” believe it has no reason to repent. Doesn’t the command to “repent” assume guilt? We are a guilty nation and so thoroughly infected that “guilt” has no meaning and consequently there is no need to repent. Time is short and there is much work to be done, and few there be that do it. “. . .Come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you. . . .” Steve Blackwell
61 replies on “Touch Not the Unclean Thing”
Hello, it is June 5, 2020. I want to thank you Indy for sharing this article. Three nights ago, I was asleep, but was semi awakened to a slide show literally coming through my brain. It was petri glasses in the shape of a beehive. Inside the glassed in petre glass were bacteria and virus samples. This slide show was going very quickly, at perhaps a slide per second. Each one I remember being distinctly different. In the midst of the slides I asked the Lord, “what is this?” The response came very clearly “Touch not the unclean thing”. As I considered these things the next day, I found your site. Thank you.
Yes, your article is still being read, Steve, and it greatly blessed and encouraged me to keep persevering along that ‘narrow way’. Agree with all of it and thank the Lord for it, TV and all. I have found a faithful little church (only 9 there) but have to travel for an hour to get there so I cannot manage every week at my age. But it is wonderful to go whenever I can manage it and take others.
May the Lord truly bless you for preaching the Truth, brother. By the way, I do not live in the USA.
Elizabeth,
Thank you for your encouraging words. I do love to get a response from my articles and to know that I am making a difference. I also belong to a very small fellowship of believers who meet several times a week.
I am convinced that our time here is short so hearing that you are persevering in the truth is important.
May our Father bless you and help you wherever you are in the world.
In His service,
Steve
PS. Just want to qualify what I meant about “The Way” of my repentance. Jesus is “The Way” I mean. Jesus is MY Higher Power.
There you are!
I’ve been praying to better understand this verse, studying, researching, talking about it. Now here is good answered prayer. Thank you for the clear and extensive explanation. It’s such an important verse. It’s HUGE to consider you might not be “received,” so it really matters to fully and properly understand exactly what it means to “touch not the unclean thing.” I see many layers.
Babylon has many faces. I learned about Food Addicts in Recovery Anonymous 2 months ago and have come out of Babylon-like foods and food habits at last, (after YEARS of my Appetite Fight) with a wonderful support program to help me sustain the new lifestyle and overcome to the end. So many success stories there! It is “The Way” of my repentance.
I am very grateful to have found your website and want to know much more about your understanding of the Scriptures. “The hour cometh when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father… The hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in Spirit and in Truth; for the Father seeketh such to worship Him.” John 4:21,23
But how can we “assemble together all the more as you see the day approaching” (Heb 10:25) if there is not an organized body to physically assemble with somewhere? I’ve been going from one Saturday church to another and still don’t feel grounded. But I won’t stop seeking because God’s promise is that if I seek, I will find, like I found this answer to 2 Cor 6:17. Thank you. Thank you very much.
Susanna,
History has shown that if you choose to live a godly life you will not be accepted but rather persecuted as Paul told Timothy, “If you live righteously you WILL be persecuted.” The primitive Church of the first 300 years substantiated that fact as did the Anabaptist of the Radical Reformation. Our lives, in every respect, must be a witness to the Christ life, after all, He is “The Way.”
You may be interested in reading the part 2 of that article at https://indywatchman.com/uncategorized/touch-not-the-unclean-thing-part-two/
Finding those who share your zeal will be difficult but don’t stop trying. Over the years I have drifted toward the Anabaptist teachings which resonate with my understanding of Scripture. Scroll Publishing has many good books that can help and also this link will take you to their site. David Becot has many free YouTube videos that will help also. Read the history of the Anabaptist who faced the same issues we do today, it will give you a new perspective on following Jesus. A lot of my fellowship is on-line but I have been able to locate a few brothers who live close by that I get with on occasions. As your knowledge and hunger of true Christianity grows your life: words, dress, attitude, and appetite, will begin to change, and others will take notice as Christ makes His appearance.
Drop me a note once in a while to let me know how you are progressing.
Steve
I guess Hebrews 10 says it all.
Praise God for the power of conscience and conviction. As a believer I think that working out our salvation with fear and trembling means that we regard everything we think and do from God’s perspective. Additionally I reflect upon the sins of my youth. I have to remind myself that God has forgiven me for my transgressions but remembering them reminds me of the things I did and never gave serious thought to until I was reborn. Memories, I think are Gods way of reminding us of what we are capable of. The power of the blood gives us the ability to rebuke satan when he tempts us. When my conversation or interaction with an unbeliever moves beyond the point where an opportunity to present Jesus has passed God tells me. It is at that point that I have to move on. I can linger but if I do I am no longer protected by God’s hand of protection. Sometimes I’m amazed by the way he offers his protection but then I remind myself he promised he would. I believe that it is only with this sensitivity to the angels he has dispatched to protect us that he can continue to refine us with fire and shape us into what he wants us to be. Iron sharpens iron, thank you Steve for being obedient and providing the forum for that to take place.
Jeff,
I am happy to see that you visited my site. Yes, I agree that “memories” are very important if used correctly. Although memories play an important part in our walk of faith and our worship too many Christians these days are haunted by the past and never gain their freedom which is the central point of becoming a Christian. I remember being a part of a group where we sat in a circle and one at a time each participant was allowed to talk about their past and the things for which they had received forgiveness. As I watched the display of emotions and listened to the gory details of crimes and unfaithfulness I was appalled at these revelations. When the inquisition finally reached me I refused to participate. I stated that I had buried those corpses and that if the Lord had forgotten them why would I want to dig them up and parade these dead things in front of my friends.
I agree wholeheartedly with your statement, “When my conversation or interaction with an unbeliever moves beyond the point where an opportunity to present Jesus has passed God tells me. It is at that point that I have to move on.” I might add that when God has initiated an assignment where our faith is tested and we fail, then we experience guilt and go back and want another go at it, God may not be with us in that second attempt. It may be better to just seek His forgiveness, accept His discipline, and move on.
And yes I know you meant a different context, but Paul was plain when he said “NOTHING” is unclean by itself.
Now, we can re translate Nothing I guess, but we also need to start re translating other verses
Matthew 5:13
Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.
Matthew 10: 26
Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known.
Matthew 11:26
Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in thy sight. All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and [he] to whomsoever the Son will reveal [him].
I’ll just leave this here. the Bible spells it out pretty clearly. Basically, whatever each of you has written. Is correct. Everything you have said is unclean, is unclean.. to you, and therefore sin.
Romans 14:14-23
I am convinced, being fully persuaded in the Lord Jesus, that nothing is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for that person it is unclean. If your brother or sister is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love.
Do not by your eating destroy someone for whom Christ died. Therefore do not let what you know is good be spoken of as evil. For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and receives human approval.
Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification. Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All food is clean, but it is wrong for a man to let his eating be a stumbling block. It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything to cause your brother to stumble. Keep your belief about such matters between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who does not condemn himself by what he approves.
But whoever has doubts is condemned if they eat, because their eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin.
This of course only covers uncleanness, not any of the other works of the flesh we are to avoid.
John,
Rom. 14:14-23 was written by Paul as was my reference to not touching the unclean thing. Paul wrote both of those passages, so please be specific, either there are or there are not unclean things.
The unclean thing is (Smoking, Alcohol, Drugs including coffee, Meat of any kind) Because with each or any of those we defile our temple (body).
Iyke,
I understand that you are a young Christian so getting advice from your elders is a good thing, no need to re-invent the wheel, although even many of the elders are very shallow in their knowledge of God’s will for their lives. So why all the shallowness? The primitive Church also had its shallow and young believers, but the difference is that they did grow, and rapidly. So, why are most believers today stuck in highchairs being fed mush? It is not entirely their fault.
You will recall in your reading of the O.T. that the first world was destroyed by a flood. That first world did not start out as corrupt, it became corrupt because of the leavening effect of sin. Today, we are on the cusp of the second world destruction, and again it is because of the leavening effect of sin. Blindness and deafness were/are the common ailments that precede judgment. Noah spoke plainly, as did the Apostles yet here we are struggling with the plainness of words again. As I said, it is not entirely our fault.
Let’s start with a simple word: Necessity.
As creatures of this world and the culture of our homeland we have been conditioned to believe that certain things are necessary. This is a true statement. The things that we deem necessary are all the illusions that the Prince of this world has fashioned to occupy our time and resources, entertainment is only one such illusion. Jesus loved Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. When Martha complained to Jesus that Mary was avoiding her duties Jesus spoke plainly. Mary sat at the feet of Jesus and listened to his words. Martha, meanwhile, was distracted with preparing and serving the meal for the group. Frustrated, Martha scolded Jesus, asking him whether he cared that her sister had left her to fix the meal alone. She told Jesus to order Mary to help her with the preparations. “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”
Today all the things we think are necessary hinder us from knowing Christ. Our culture has developed very sophisticated presuppositions which are universally accepted. These presuppositions form a filter which everything that comes into our head must pass through. Consequently, when we read the Bible we make the Bible conform to these presupposed beliefs and customs. We dare not let the Bible speak for itself lest our minds are set into a tizzy. All of our fellow believers have this same general presuppositional filter so when we start to color outside the lines of the accepted structure we are reprimanded by our peers. Mary experienced this first hand. Martha being a convinced believer in the “system” couldn’t understand Jesus’ comments, and became confused.
Martha had to determine for herself the validity and truth of Jesus’ words, as we all do. I am a Hoosier born and raised in Indiana, and in Indiana we play, eat, and sleep basketball. I do watch a basketball game occasionally, but that love has long been replaced with another love. Today I don’t even own a T.V. So, is soccer bad? No, it just isn’t necessary, it is a diversion, an illusion, it is leaven.
Today it is the leaven in the lives of Christians that identify them, and not a deep desire to sit at the feet of Christ. The Holy Spirit encourages us to move ever closer and closer to Christ and to feel His breath on our face, we cannot do that when we have divested our life amongst many desires. One day soon Jesus will call out our name; the question is, will we hear Him, or will we be busy.
It is good that you study the Bible and that you seek revelation because that is where you will find your answers, because that is where Christ is. Pray for understanding and wisdom because it is severely lacking and don’t be satisfied with the commentary coming from the pulpit. Write your own commentary from first-hand experiences gathered while working in His vineyard.
This is the best answer I can give you; concentrate on what is truly necessary.
Yea…less ambiguous and more plain…jesus has already said narrow is the gate and rough is the way that leads to life…may the good lord, the lifter up of our heads help us and strenghten us we make these rtugh decisions on our walk towards God -like perfection..I want to thank you brother Steve for your time and patience. God bless you.
Iyke,
Out of all the articles I have written, this article has gotten the most attention. The question of “uncleanness” touches a nerve with Christians, as it should. It is impossible for men who walk on the dusty roads of this world not to get their feet dirty. Peter understood this and this is why when Jesus was teaching them the lesson of feet-washing Peter insisted that Jesus wash his whole body. Jesus responded that at the end of the day it was only necessary to wash their feet, that their whole body hadn’t become dirty, just their feet. So it is with our lives. We are in the world, but not of the world, therefore we too need daily cleansing and refreshing through the cleansing effect of mercy and forgiveness.
The Old Testament example of rebuilding the wall around the destroyed Jerusalem and rebuilding the temple, which were the first two things that should have been done, was to illustrate to us the necessity of separation from the world and of God’s presence to forgive. At night, after the commerce and mingling with the world were done, the foreigners were escorted out of the city and the doors locked. God understood that at a certain level His people had to deal with non-Hebrews, but required them to shut the world out when darkness approached. We too have to close out all the attractions of Vanity Fair (whatever those attractions might be) and cleanse ourselves. We are the Temple of God and our testimony to the world is our wall. That wall for most Christians has many gaping holes and is crumbling and the world is never closed out and our lives are in shambles. The world looks at our testimony and laughs, and like the enemies of Jerusalem declare that “Even if a fox were to jump on the wall it would fall down.” Our purity has become a joke to the world who witness no distinct difference between them and us.
Having said that I must warn you not to become legalistic like the Pharisees which were all show, their heart was in the world. Our hate of the things of the world has to be balanced with a love for those caught in the trap of the world, and an even deeper love to please our Lord who wants us whole and clean. Our eyes and ears are gateways to our soul and must be protected, otherwise, we will be deceived through lust and temptation to only go to church, and not be the Church.
Steve Blackwell
Ok steve I understand all you’ve said.but I’m still a bit in the dark.i’m’ a growing christian and still digging the word for answers to common controversial topics in christendom.i’m very aware of the lasciviousness and debauchery that abounds in the media and world today and has crept into the church and even with believers and how believers have accepted these things as if they are ok. This is Satan’s plan to make certain practices and objects distract pple from worshipping God and causing them to commit idolatry while presenting to them as pop culture. I mean many believers dont see anything wrong watching shows that endorse homosexuality and premarital sex becos its a sitcom or a romantic comedy.they are not aware that whatever they watch they permit and whatever they permit they have endorsed. They even idolize celebrities. Making them no differnt from pple that commit these heinous sins. I used to love watching many of these tv series but i deleted every one of them cos i fear the end is near observing what’s going on in the world today. So what will my excuse be? I endorsed homo sexuality with my eyes cos I enjoy watching sitcoms that made me laugh? What a careless cause to be cast into hell. The point of my epistle is I’m usually carefully about what I watch or hear and because I don’t know all things only God does, I ‘m always, always akeen to warnings from other believers that a particular ‘way’ , practice, celebration or whatever is not of God. Usually I’d make my own research using the bible as a yard stick or standard measure and if found to be true I don’t waste time doing away with such practices or ways as much as I can but if I don’t find anything contrary in the bible until I do get a revelation i keep on doing what I do as long as it’s not a wrong thing. that being said , it’s takes very little to dishonour God and make anything an idol especially without even realising it. What ever you give attention to more than God is an idol . Now i needed a direct answer as regards my previous post.like yes watching professional sports is a sin or its bad..If i don’t make it an idol i.e if it doesn’t take away God’s time or activities from me , they do not curse, it’s just sports entertainment, what about it exactly makes it contaminating to a christian? By the way i havent even sat down to watch any soccer game since my last post even though i had plenty leisure time to do so……so i really appreciate the time you took to reply me the first time but the text appeared more ambiguous to me than explanatory. …so I’d like to know in plain terms why you generally condemned professional sports Including soccer as evil.if I feel convicted then soccer will have to go if not I’ll keep praying for God’s revelation concerning the issue. Thank you sir.
Thanks steve for such a life changing message. you mentioned professional sports as a wrong reason to watch tv. I’m a soccer fan and the season is presently ongoing but it’s been close to 2 months since I sat to watch a game what I do is download the highlight of the goals on YouTube which don’t usually last for more than 10 mins but only if my team won. i do this cos,the time of the matches clashes with the time i go to church sanitation activities or my study time and I dont ever put a game before them especially the former. Although soccer games don’t have filthy half time shows I still want to know if it’s yet unclean to watch my favourite team’s soccer game on tv.thank you. .
Mr. indywatchman, why are u on the internet?because it is full of good and evil just like the television.if u are saying because there are evil programs on the TV so it’s renders it unclean,why are u using the internet?because it also has pornography,and all the evil that can be seen on TV. please even if u don’t watch TV, and have not even sin before I will still go o hell if u don’t make Christ your personal Savior John 6:57. These are teachings purely what Paul calls putting confidence in the flesh(that is also unclean) philpians 3:3.Grace is the teacher to teach us to deny ungodliness(Titus 2:11-12).There is only one difference between us and unbelievers the CROSS…. not all these self willed disciplines which you know doesn’t work. Ecclesiastes 7:20.For there is not a just man upon earth,that doeth good and sinneth not,so even if u don’t watch TV u still SIN according to the same Bible you are quoting…Jesus ate and touched unbelievers, in fact he was called friend of sinners…
Grace,
Thank you for your letter of concern and I will agree that there is much evil in the internet, as there is evil in every aspect of the world, even just walking down the street on billboard, or on the radio, or having a conversation with people or observing their dress code; sin is everywhere. As you say the internet is full of good and evil, but there is a difference.
The computer is a tool where I produce my articles and share works of art and converse with many people in all parts of the world, and deliver a message of hope, mercy, and salvation. With the computer I have a choice of how it can be used; myself, and many others choose to use it to promote Christ and His message. The internet is also an investigative and study tool. I know many people who use the internet for good reasons, but I do not know any people who use the television for anything other than entertaining the flesh. The producers of television programing understand what people want (Christian and non-Christian) and they produce material to satisfy their desires. The user of the TV has no control over what the producer produces, they simply turn the thing on and sit back and watch, pausing only to feed themselves, then continue to absorb like a sponge the programming coming out of Hollywood.
You are again correct that Christ is the only way to salvation and that “not” owning a television plays no part. Let me ask you a question, “what does it mean to deny ungodliness?” You say there is no difference between the Godly and the un-Godly except the cross. How can the Godly person deny ungodliness and not be different than the unsaved person? When we are told to “die to our desires” are we not different than the world who feed their desires? Isn’t the effect of denying the evil things of TV or the internet to produce a pure heart and mind cleansed of the things of the world? Being, “in the world but not of the world” is more than just presenting a cross at the appropriate time, it is actually taking on the nature of Christ, a nature that is obvious to all those who watch.
Many Christian drink alcohol, I do not, not because it is necessarily wrong for a Christian to do so, but because it is a poor witness to the world in a time when such an act is seen by the world and other Christians as hypocritical. The same goes for television. To indulge in the same practices as the world destroys our witness in a time when television is seen only as a means of entertainment. The internet is not seen in this way, although it can be used for wrong practices. The internet and the computer have become indispensable for study, work, business, sermon preparation, art, music, missions, science, and many other things. Television has one primary use, to entertain and stupefy the user. He sits down in front of the TV, throws his mind and heart into neutral and for hours just sits and soaks up anything and everything that appears on the screen and through the speakers.
So, as you can see there is a vast difference between the television and the computer/internet. The one is nearly complete evil and the other certainly can be used for evil, but can be used for much good.
I do not own a television, but I do own a computer and have several internet sites that I maintain. I am here communicating with you; that is a good thing. I could not do that on a television, nor would I want to, because the two are used for two different things.
None of us can be saved out of this horrible world; we need Jesus and His wonderful gift. Let us think how we may show to the world, through our Godly lives, the effects of His death, and our own death and denying the things that bring mockery to His name. To “put on Christ” is not only to be dressed in white, but it also to remain unstained by the world.
Steve Blackwell
I’ve been thinking about giving up TV but don’t you think Christian channels are okay to watch? People get saved that wouldn’t go to a church but yet hear preaching on TV and accept Jesus.
I’ve just started going to a Messianic church. Do you think this is a good thing? I haven’t figured out yet if that’s putting myself back under the law as they acknowledge the Old Testament as much as the New Testament in their everyday lives. What do you think? I’m not sure how I’m suppose to see your response (if you do respond) so I’m wondering if you would be kind enough to send it through my email please.
The main reason I’m asking you to respond is because what you’ve said makes sense and especially because you brought up the Amos scripture. I’ve wondered about that often. How can that verse be true when preaching is everywhere!
Another reason I’m asking you about the Messianic church is because yr going to take a long time to learn what they teach. They study verse by verse and they happen to be teaching Genesis right now. I’ve just started going there so in a way, I guess that’s a good thing.
Please answer what I’ve asked. My email address is… emeasterly1954@yahoo.com
Thanks
Stoney,
Your critique may be correct but you give not one Biblical reference to back-up your argument, so I must conclude that you are sharing your opinion based on what you call “critical thinking.”Please provide Chapter and verse so that we can all grow through your expressions of love and truth.
Steve Blackwell
*Yawn*
Just another childish, blind, works based unsocialized fake who thinks he knows everything. HAHA. You are too invested in the world because that is obviously all your concerned about. It sounds from what little of the rants I could stand, you are obsessed with the world.
We wonder why the world is so evil and no one wants to become a believer. These nuts who live in fear and hide from the world because they really deep down only care about themselves. Our job is not to go Around ‘stamping out sin’; God will do that in his time. Our job is to proclaim the truth and hope to find the believers who are not yet believers. Through LOVE.
Seeing someone cut down everyone makes it obvious this writer is not a follower AT ALL, and doubtful a true believer. The church and so called Christianity today is a disaster and a failure because of these evil people with self promoting motives doing satans work, not their own. They do not know the truth because they refuse to believe the real truth about why the bible was written and why Jesus came; to SAVE.
Hopefully, any honest critical thinker can easily reject this site of Caustic vitriol, some delusional old condescending miserable weirdo dreamed up. The SPIRIT of the bible is clearly against such cynical self righteous drivel and those who wish to be true followers will continue to walk by faith and speak the truth in Love. We aren’t here to make this world perfect we are here to live for the NEXT.
We have no control and know nothing but Jesus died to save us BY GRACE for a life that has not even begun yet.
Theres people online who speak good things and bad things, the way is to know christ and his doctrine, to separate what is being said in the broadcast.
You seem to say instead or at least major on getting rid of the person speaking altogether out of your mind.
Because theyre “unclean”.
A person can be unclean without it being caused by sin.
A menstruating woman, or a woman having given birth is regarded unclean for a week or so, but has not sinned in those deeds.jesus might have become unclean for a while after touching the lepers to heal them, then simply wash it off.
Thus he can be said to be without sin in him, but perhaps unclean the day he touched the leper.
Whoever is claims to be without sin is a liar, so one must rid oneself of everyone by some peoples thinking i guess, because anyone could sin and speak a lie and deceive.even the best friend.
Note to self: Because the sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil”eccl.8.11
There nothing better than to rejoice and do good in their lives
Henrik,
When others leave comments on IndyWatchman I always assume they are sincere in their efforts to grow in the Lord. I have responded to your comments in an earnest attempt to answer your questions, but I am now convinced that you are not sincere, and only want to argue; I will not be caught in that trap.
Please find some other place to rant.
Steve
“Hollywood is a very filthy place and is the epitome of the Devil’s kingdom on earth, and since the T.V. is the organ used most effectively to broadcast the doctrines of the Devil it is for the most part “un-clean.” True, it can be used for other worthwhile things, but do Christians use it that way? I don’t know of any Christians who don’t watch T.V. for all the wrong reasons: professional sports, provocative movies, political debates and nonsense, and twisted national news. Oh, and we mustn’t forget the internet and cell phones.” -You say.
are you joking?
Hollywood is a part of the city of los angeles where they dont do major production anymore, so i suppose you mean the movies made in the greater area.
If yu think all of that is bad, then yur doubting gods goodness and control over everything that exists.
youre watching all the bad crap thats yur choice not to watch, and getting angry at it, when yu could have chosen a better movie or be content with amish carpentry or the like.
god says the devil will be around until the last days, and he will try to deceive even the elect.
if someone majors on what the devil’s doing, he will be soaking his mind with it, and not be thinking about praiseworthy things of good report.
youre talking bout a piece of land in l.a. cause yu dont dare to name the names of the stars, and the celebrities and commentariers.i suppose yu know deep within its not the piece of lands fault.
where sin abounds much more grace abounds”, so i guess no place on earth where theres not good deeds or faith or good things.
Did you ever have to take a child aside and teach them how to lie ?
No, they’re experts.
They know right from wrong, it’s a choice.
We can take a spear, bow, or gun and put food on the table or we can murder.
Unclean :
And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;
Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,
Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:
Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.
For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
__________________Jesus is still in charge________________
“Bear ye one anothers burdens, and so fulfill the law of christ”
Exactly what is an unclean person and a worldly person to you?
Somebody who’s watching television?
2 Cor 6:14-7:1
“Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.”
Henrik,
You asked the question,
The world is an unclean place and anyone and anything who is in the world are therefore, unclean, including believers. Television is not in and of itself clean or unclean; it is no different than a hammer or an automobile, but both have the potential to do good and evil.
Jesus washed the Apostles feet and explained to Peter that his whole body didn’t need to be washed, only his feet. The illustration was given to show that as believers walk through the world (an unclean place) they too will pick up dirt and will be in need of cleansing.
We all have within us two “wills” that are positioned back-to-back and in opposition to each other. It was not always this way. Back in the Garden the “will” of God was above man’s “will” and man’s will was in subjection to the will of God; this was the way it is supposed to be. But, we are no longer in the Garden. Therefore, because we are no longer in the Garden and are in opposition to God by nature, our will has an attraction toward the world and the things in the world, which are unclean. Because of this affinity to the world Paul wrote the passage above to the Corinthians. Paul is here telling Christians to separate themselves from the world and to purify themselves from the world, which is what Jesus was saying when He washed their feet; it is a continual practice of purification. It doesn’t mean that we can keep going back to the same filth over and over again. Paul said that the person who does this is yoking himself un-equally to the world and people.
Hollywood is a very filthy place and is the epitome of the Devil’s kingdom on earth, and since the T.V. is the organ used most effectively to broadcast the doctrines of the Devil it is for the most part “un-clean.” True, it can be used for other worthwhile things, but do Christians use it that way? I don’t know of any Christians who don’t watch T.V. for all the wrong reasons: professional sports, provocative movies, political debates and nonsense, and twisted national news. Oh, and we mustn’t forget the internet and cell phones. “What communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial?”
You asked, “What is a worldly person?” The simple answer is anyone who doesn’t separate theirself from the things of the world that continually pollute and dirty his mind and soul. “What part hath he that believeth with an un-believer?” If a person calls himself a Christian and does not separate himself from the filthiness of worldliness and those who continually live in this filthiness (believers or un-believers) then he cannot rightly call himself a Christian.
Being received by God is not an absolute, but is rather contingent on certain terms. “Come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and (THEN) I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. So, we can correctly say that if we do not separate ourselves we will not be received by God. If we do separate ourselves then, “I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.”
“Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.”
For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
So did Jesus defile Himself when he sat with the tax collectors and others like them and ate? When He commands us to Love others and not just those like us? How are we to be a light in the darkness or seek those that are lost if we are trying so hard to hold ourselves in you self-rightous esteem??
Many who read that a Christian is to live a life of separation immediately imagine situations where being separated from the world does not apply or that restricts the mission they are called to perform. If this is the case then they have missed the point of my article. Of course, we are born into the world and every day we walk in the world and talk in the world, and carry on business in the world, it cannot be avoided. The problem is that most Christians negate the command of Christ to live a separated life by finding their pleasure and comfort inseparable from their life in the world, and separation becomes, not only impossible, but undesirable. Because these Christians have an affinity toward the world they imagine that the command to live a separated life must mean something else besides a strict adherence to be separated. Of course, a physician cannot treat the sick without coming in contact with them, but this is not what I am talking about. Biblical separation from the world is still a mandate that needs to be obeyed and not skirted for the sake of comfort or pleasure. Jesus’ example, of washing the feet of His disciples, illustrates that there is some contamination that occurs while we make our way in the world, but that it is only necessary that the feet be washed and not the whole body, as Peter was suggesting.
The examples that we have concerning leaven should be adequate to illustrate my point; “A little leaven leavens to whole lump.” Is this not plain enough? And, the life of the Hebrews, to maintain their separateness, is plain enough also. Why were they to remain a separated people? It was so that they could maintain a clean life, uninfluenced by the world. Am I saying anything more than this? No! It is exactly what I am saying.
In all honesty the majority of Christians love the world and will not separate themselves, and re-interpret the Bible to allow all of their ungodly activities. Jesus illustrated in His life that the legalistic views of the Pharisees, concerning the outward adherence to tradition, was only for show, and that the real issue was that these people were allowing corruption to distort their testimony through evil associations, undisciplined control of their thoughts, improperly viewing of things obscene to the Lord, listening to foul talk, gluttony, etc. All of these things enter into a man and make him unclean, and we are cautioned to beware, that evil forces use these avenues to defile the children of God. If we are to be a vessel fit for the Kingdom of God it is mandatory that we condition ourselves by living disciplined lives apart from the world. Our mission is to serve our brothers and sisters by delivering a message of healing, and to avoid becoming contaminated with their illnesses. Christ, the Apostles, and the early primitive Church understood this calling and lived such a life. This life was the great attraction that drew those who shared a similar hunger to be healed and be de-contaminated; it was a life of mutual love between believers, and a love of unbelievers, and even a love for their enemies.
My argument is that the institutional Church (the loaf) has been completely leavened. The only difference between the two is that one calls their self “Christian.” There is no better way to be a true light to the world than to show them a better way, a way exampled by Christ Himself and His early followers. That life, as in all of history since the Church was founded, has been lived by a few, although their history has been suppressed or destroyed, has nonetheless survived, and still requires and maintains a separation to God. The real exhibition of the power of God, to live Kingdom lives, in the presence of an evil world is the evidence of true conversion, and not simply going to a building called a church. This exhibition is the true light which goes far beyond just words spoken, it is the truth displayed in the lives of people who have separated themselves to God, and away from the world.
Steve Blackwell
“it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a man, but what comes out of it”
If we have the ability to discern whats good or bad, we can probably listen to a man that curses but tells good stories about peoplein the neighbourhood, or stories from his life as a seaman, even if he sometimes talks about the prostitutes he had sex with in different ports. Because wechristians know its wrong, so then we can discard that info and focus on the good things he says, like whats going on in the neighbourhood. Hes very humourous too, and he keeps loveless, egoistical people on their toes by adressing them boldly when they walk by the nneighbourhood bench hes sitting on.
He makes interesting things happen, and make some people smile and others afraid.
To me, hes far more interesting to talk to than for example some of the law-abiding policeofficers ive met. “if we walk in the spirit, we are not under the law”. The law has been done away with, and if were worried about making a mistake, chances are we wont do anything, but instead be paralyzed, and bound.”quench not the spirit”. I cleaned floors this summer, and sometimes i bent down to remove a stain or chewing gum with my fingers. I guess im touching the unclean thing.maybe i should just leave my favourite place in a mess then? Or use a tool. Leviticus 22 says that a man becomes unclean by touching a bug or semen, but that he is unclean till the evening.i suppose that means the next day hes clean. And if he washes his hands he can even eat the holy offerings the same day, as i recall.
Henrik,
Thank you for taking the time to comment. You bring up a good point, which is a very common view among Christians. This view among Christians is the reason I wrote the article in the first place, a view that allows us to call ourselves Christian while permitting us to enjoy the world. “But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ.” 2 Cor. 11:3.
You said,
Our ability to discern evil was not given to us so that we can play with evil or be entertained by it; it is so that we can avoid it. “Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil.” Prov. 3:7. “To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech.” Prov. 8:13.
The man you describe sounds like a person to be avoided. If you want to give him a tract or preach the Gospel to him, do so; but if he rejects your offer have nothing to do with him. His foul speech and dirty heart are products of the world and a prideful spirit. He sounds like a person who takes enjoyment from being offensive. Yes, the world has many “interesting” stories, as you say, of their profane lifestyle, and they love getting a reaction from the innocent, and corrupting the simple.
If your discernment is awake and active then it should direct you to avoid this man. The Law of Moses has been overridden by Christ, and Christ has instituted a new Law, “The perfect law of liberty” and the “Royal Law” as James identifies it. When Christ took away the Law of Moses He did not create a state of Christian anarchy; no, He entrusted us to an even higher authority, an authority of complete trust, obedience, and guidance of the Holy Spirit.
Your view is the common view of the institutional Church today, but it is not a Scriptural view, and not the view exampled by Christ, His Apostles, or the primitive Church of the first three hundred years.
Thanks for writing, and God bless you.
Steve Blackwell
“the earth is the lords and everything in it”.
“”taste and see that the lord is good”.
The earth was made for the christ in us, so i enjoy it as much as i can without imititating the peoples evil ways.
Romans 14:14:”i know and am persuaded by the lord that nothing in itself is unclean, but if anyone esteems it to be unclean, then it is unclean, to him it is unclean.”
Henrik,
It is not unusual that we come to Bible verses that appear to be in conflict, the verse you quote is a good example of that. The Verses I quote in the article, 1 Cor. 6:14-7:1
You quote Rom. 14:14
Since we know that it is impossible for God to contradict Himself then there must be some other answer to these, seemingly, contradictory statements. The answer to this problem is found in the context of what is being spoken about in each of these passages.
In the passage I quote, in the article, Paul is saying to the believers that they should dis-associate themselves from unbelievers, so that they will not become polluted.
In the passage you quote Paul is speaking about our relationship with other believers and especially the weak brother whose conscience is sensitive toward eating meat sacrificed to idols or esteeming a particular day of more value than any other. Paul is not here speaking of our relationship to the world and the things in the world, and makes this plain in the very first verse where he says,
Then he says,
The Paul concludes in verse 14:20-23,
So, you can see, that there is no contradiction. We must be aware of the context of what is being spoken about so that we can “rightly divide the word of truth.”
We are just not to work with them or agree with them in sinful ideas as in 2 cor 6:14.
1 cor 5:10 states that we CAN keep company even with the sexually immoral of this world.
And we can also watch TV if we are led by the spirit of god to the right shows, i say.
Henrik,
Thanks for the comment.
The present day Church would, no doubt, agree with your summation of the article, but it doesn’t end there.
You said,
Do you really believe that Paul is giving a green flag to associate with sexually immoral people of the world when he disallows it among the brethren? You have totally missed the message of Paul. The “little yeast” Paul mentions in verse 6 is symbolic of uncleanness whether it comes from with-in the Church or from with-out. Paul is not saying that only the sexually immoral inside the Church demand our separation. He is saying that the sexually immoral should not even have been allowed in the Church in the first place; get them out, and have nothing to do with immoral people regardless of where they come from. He is simply saying that the world is full of those sort of people and that we are in the world, but the Church is not of the world, so don’t allow it to come in; separate yourself from all immorality. As far as TV goes, if you can associate with sexually immoral people of the world, then watching a little TV is such a small thing in your eyes. If you would come into agreement with Paul’s words in this chapter concerning sexual immorality then you would see clearly that TV is the fruit of the same plant. I do not believe that God’s Spirit would ever lead anyone to watch TV when TV is such a gigantic stumbling block; we do not serve that kind of Spirit.
You said,
2 Cor. 6:14 needs no commentary; it speaks for itself; we need only hear what is said, without justifying our commissioning of sinful acts.
Steve Blackwell
I didnt say that christians can keep company with sexually immoral people inside of the church as you seem to think i meant, but outside.
Paul clearly states that his prohibition to keep company with the sexually immoral is towards the sexually immoral christians and not towards the sexually immoral of the world.(1 cor 5:10).
Not watching tv can be right for some christians(newly converted for ex.), but not for all.
Henrik,
In other words if the unclean sexual immorality is outside of the Church, then it is not really unclean and can be touched? Can’t you see the faulty reasoning in this?
James 1:27
Haggai 2:11-19
I will not try and convince you of your error. Those who have some stake in the world are not easily converted. How close can you get to a trash fire without smelling like smoke? That trash fire is the world; and in Corinth it had spread to the Church.
Steve
We will encounter these people of the world when were outside of church and its important to “give an answer” to all that ask of us (as the bible says), although we probably shouldnt have the deepest communion with them.
If they tempt us, we can flee(“flee fornication”), or confront them and rebuke them if we can.
Yes, of course, we do have a mission to deliver a message, but that is all. We should not fraternize with them. They are ill and in need of medicine, but don’t risk contamination.
Your prior response indicated that Christians can mingle with the world; they cannot!
Steve
I couldn’t finish reading this..
Look, as a “true” Chriatian.. There must be LOVE, or “your works are but a clashing symbol”.
Where is the Love in all you say? All I could see was your judgement of others. You are a brother or sister in Christ if you meet another whom accepts the blood of Christ. You are NOT to judge, you cannot read another’s heart ?
An unclean thing is any thing of evil origin
Of pagan origin
Lorrie,
Thanks for writing. I will admit that my articles do sound un-loving, but they are not. IndyWatchman is devoted to exposing the falsehood of much that has been handed down to us, i.e. teachings that the masses of Christian people accept without realizing that it is totally wrong. I would love to discuss the particular things that upset you about the article if you would tell me what they are. I have not written these things simply because I felt they were wrong, but have rather based them on concrete principals laid out by our Lord and His Apostles, and acknowledged by the primitive Church. If you would give me a chance I would explain what and why I say the things I do.
A very important fact of the Bible goes unrecognized or ignored, and that fact is that the human race is a deceived race of people and will choose a lie over the truth nearly always. This fact is what make this web site necessary and these articles appear un-loving, because truth is powerful, both to save us and to get us hated by others, the truth can even get us hung on a cross; but it is worth the price.
In His service,
Steve Blackwell
Through prayer and direction by the Holy Spirit, I have been searching for answers to the problems that my wife and I sense in our current church. Your “Touch not the unclean thing” post aligns very well with the understanding that I have been given – especially why the church has a form of godliness, but denies its power. The pastor of my church is a sports fanatic and has even made a claim to the congregation that sports (i.e. Football, hockey, baseball, etc) will exist in heaven. That statement alone raised the red flag, initiating my search of the scriptures.
I intend on having a discussion with the pastor of my church, and based on the outcome, my wife and I will make a decision on whether we turn away from such people! If that discussion does not go well, do you know of any churches that are actually being led out of the world?
Don,
Your insight is rare and greatly appreciated; you are truly among the “few.” I understand your predicament completely; my wife and I were in the same position, that resulted in An Open Letter to the whole congregation. The letter came after several sit-downs with the pastor with no results. My advise to those who want to leave their “church” is to be obedient to the Lord where they are at, and if Paul’s advise to Timothy is correct you will be asked to leave soon enough. Over the past ten years it is a recurring theme with those I have spoken with.
You asked if I know of any churches that are being led out of the world? I do not know of a single institutionalized Christian organization that God is leading out; but I know of many individuals who have been led out of the institution. We have a seriously flawed concept of what the Church is. Church history for the first three hundred years knows nothing of the Church that exist today, and the reason is that what we call the “Church” today is not the Church. If you can find one or two others who believe as you do you have a beginning of a real Church. My wife and I still meet by our selves daily in our home and on Wednesday with a small group of others who our like-minded and desire truth above accommodation.
Amos speaks of a great famine in the last days, not a famine of food and water, but of the word of God. What we have accepted as the truth has been vastly contorted over the last 2000 years. Please read some of my other articles; they will challenge you to think correctly about some of the things marketed as truth to ignorant sheep, especially the Sermon on the Mount.
God has brought you to a place of true dependence and commands His followers to go back and do their first works over again. This means to cast off all the errors and go back to primitive Christianity, the foundation, and start all over again. There is no easy answer, there is only one answer, have faith, and trust God, really.
Steve Blackwell
I began a time of repenting and self deliverance. Truly the light is good! Since starting the Holy Spirit shows me stuff in my past that needed to be ejected and healed. Even going as far as entering various places of captivity in hell and getting the wounded soul part that was held from past.
What we all need is a lifestyle of repentance and moving to deeper communion with the Lord in worship and loving on God. All that other junk just falls off. No time for worldly stuff praising, speaking in tongues and getting whisked away into the heavenly realms of glory.
Tnx, i benefited a lot, my church dont use radio and TV bt people call us achaic, yet while some of us are faultering some remains unshakable. Tnx for d article i hope we can learn.
Fidel,
Thanks for the response. I haven’t received any replies to this article for some time; I’m glad to see that it is still being read. After the election recently many are wondering what could have gone wrong. I believe that a good part of the answer to that question is contained in this article.
If you do not watch T.V. you are in a very isolated class of people, and are to be commended for your obedience to our Lord. As we see that “Day” approaching I pray that you will be even more separated unto Jesus.
Blessings,
Steve Blackwell
IndyWatchman
Good article, What comes to mind is that the clean unclean laws are still in place. One cannot touch someone who is unclean by reason of the unclean laws, ie a eater of pork. Now I believe that this law is there because it stops us socialising with non believers. And some think they are believers but arnt. There unclean actions show they arnt.
However, in maters of life and death it is within TORAH to REACH OUT AND HELP A PERSON, TOUCH HIM. This also facilitates the function of outreaching, evangilsation, and reconciliation toward a brother or unclean person. The example was giving of the Messiah Yahusha when he touched the unclean. He was exercising the law of mercy. The law of touch is a fence to keep us a way from unclean people – who are proberly unclean in the ruach too.
Dax,
Thanks for stopping by, and thanks for the comment.
Properly speaking we could admit that we can touch an unclean thing without a reciprocating effect by showing how we live in an unclean world. But, even at that we are required to return many times to the fount for cleansing, and that it is not necessary to wash the while body, but only the feet, as Jesus related to Peter. Could you provide me with your Bible reference to back-up your view. I think there may be some validity in what you say, but could you expand on it for me?
Thanks,
Steve Blackwell
Prodigal Knot says in his first post: “I don’t think that means we are to be condemning unbelievers right and left, but making the right choices about things and standing up for what is good and honest when we have the chance.”
This sounds to me like a watered down version of the knee jerk “judge not lest you be judged” response of carnal churchianity. He may not have intended it to sound that way and I don’t mean to be confrontative, but I never noticed Steve Blackburn “condemning” anyone in his excellent post above on “touch not the unclean thing”. His words were gentlle, yet accurate and Scriptural. We, as believers are required to be “salt” and “light” not sugar and sweet. The Holy Spirit convicts, Satan “condemns.”
John 7:24 says Christians should “judge with righteous judgment” which means not self-righteously but with the Word of God as the plumb line. I am more persuaded than ever that God has abandoned most of professing Christianity and the true believers consist of a scattered little remnant outside of what is referred to as “church” which Prodigal Knot says the “leaders” are not doing their job. The Bible says a group of elders should SERVE, not a nicolaitan LEADER. That is one of the biggest problems in organized churchianity today. The Bible only mentions “pastor” one time it is in the context of “teacher.”
It matters not that religious people gather in the name of Christ, sing “Amazing Grace” and preach many sound biblical doctrines. If God’s power and life are not there, God is not there! Those places exist to bind up bundles of tares for the fire (Matthew 13:40). It is no place for a true born-again believer — especially now in the end of the age.
It is the hour when God’s little remnant must seek Him with all their hearts to be led to where they can be delivered and the “watchmen on the wall” like Steve are to warn as many as will hear. Matthew 7:13 states plainly that only a FEW will be saved. This should send chills up spines! This verse alone was responsible for putting the “fear of God” in me when I was part of churchianity and saw the painful discrepancy of the Words of Jesus and the actions of the religious people around me.
It is night. The world is asleep, or “drunk”, given over to strong delusion for refusing the love of the truth (2 Thess 2:10). Find a patriotic “christian’ with a “God Bless America” bumper sticker and tell them that America was NOT founded on Christianity but on Luciferian freemasonry and see what kind of “christian” [DEMONIC] reaction you get! Passive, indifferent, TV-brainwashed stooges who proclaim to be ‘Christians’ who “believe” in Jesus (mental assent only) with the faith of demons (James 2:20) in this hour are in BIG TROUBLE and don’t even know it. They never read their bibles and their “American” idol is their TV set yet they still insist they are ‘christians’. They fail to realize that the Hebrew meaning of the word “believe” in John 3:16 translates to: FOLLOW, CLING TO and OBEY, not a mere mental assent to the fact that Jesus Christ hung on a cross so they can continue in sin and apathy. Consider the warning in Matt. 24:48-51 against carelessness and the time of Christ’s coming. Indifferent ‘Christians’ may prove not to be Christians at all. Half of the sleeping virgins had no oil. They were unaware of their lack until it was too late and the door to the kingdom was shut in their faces and Jesus told them “I never knew you.”. We will see an accelerated process in the days ahead of separation involving apparent believers (the mental assent, 5 minute ‘decision card’ only types) being overcome by sleep (strong delusion) and wine (spiritual drunkeness or deception).
As Paul said in I Thess. 5:5-11, “Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. But let us who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him. Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.”
If you are a faithful believer, Jesus is now asking you to WARN OTHERS just as Steve is doing here on this website. And you will be persecuted for your obedience “And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake, but he who endures to the end shall be saved.” Matt 10:22
“Come out of her my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.” Rev. 18:4. “Her” refers not only to the world but to the harlot organized 501(c)3 “church” that rides the government beast system of this world, or in other words, Laodicean apostate christianity.
“To execute on them the Written Word, this honor have all His saints.” Psalm 149:9
His maidservant,
Lynn D.
I really don’t know what to say….you are a true believer..love the part of your comment about America being found on lucefarian freemasonry. .when I try to discuss this with my friends I am usually met with reactions that insinuate that i’m .either stupid or jobless..Thank yoy for the exhortation..when I even told my own sister it’s not godly to participate in Christmas rituals and traditions that’s they are all satanic agenda for people to sheepishly commit idolatry I usually have the worst reactions of all.but I hope God open their eyes…
This is my response to an e-mail I received by someone who had read this post.
It is beyond me how someone could read this post and, in the face of my uncompromising words, not only compliment me for shedding needed light, but find solace in their sins. I tried to use words that would close any door of escape to those who would think that they had discovered another antidote for their sin other than faith in Jesus, which is the same as obedience to Jesus’ words, i.e. “if you love me keep my commandments.” But, the Christian world will have their sins, and they cannot be bound to the demands of Christ, and they justify all their doings, not by repentance, but by showing where Jesus loves them along with their cart load of crap (sorry if this expletive offends anyone). Should we pray that the Lord will continually forgive us for being weak? NO! We are weak, no doubt! there is not one who has the power to deliver himself from the clutches of death and Hell. We shouldn’t be constantly saying, “thank you Lord, for once again forgiving me from this same old sin, that I love so much, and preserving me for yourself.” How worldly is that prayer? He doesn’t want to constantly forgive our weakness, He wants to be our strength, to conquer sin, and destroy it, to parade Satan through the streets naked and in chains, not to witness the saints being led captive to their sins; may it never be so. These Christians want a spiritual fix, not deliverance. They want a pillow and a blanket, and a cup of hot tea, not a trumpet blast and a command to advance and take back lost ground. Grace, mercy, and forgiveness are reserved for those who overcome yet stumble, who are victorious yet bleed, for all others there awaits only wrath and judgment. So, how important is it to be found “in Him”? It is the only important thing on planet earth, everything else is a delusion and pandering to the flesh.
It is not “well put” it is in your face truth. Can you handle it, or is there yet another worldly antidote that will rescue you from Godliness. Of course we are all sinners, but God doesn’t feel sorry for us; He has not given us that option, but He has given us Truth and a Door, and a Path, and a Life, and a Narrow Way in which to walk. He is not a father like an earthly father; our Father is a consuming fire, and that fire kills before it heals; it purifies and transforms.
So, just in case I didn’t make myself clear, God doesn’t just sit around waiting for you to sin so that He can forgive you, He demands change and obedience, and if you do not conform there is a very hot lake that awaits you. God forbid that I would provide you another opportunity to sin and to ask forgiveness.
Steve Blackwell
“Let him who is saved say so, and live so.”
Amen, brother!
People who are too shy to witness must know that they have to AT LEAST live irreproachable lives! And those that do witness must make sure that their lives do not cancel out their witness!!
I hate finding fault with my brothers and sisters, but it is our job to rescue them from error and help keep them on the right path. It’s very sad that many have no interest in comparing their lives to scripture. They are happy if their pastor is happy. How very sad.
Grace and peace to you in Christ Jesus.
Steve Foltz
Steve,
You make very good points and I agree with just about all of them. I do think you give most of today’s religious “Christians” a bit too much credit for putting religion (half-baked though it is) before TV. I dare say many do not volunteer or attend certain church activities because they might miss their shows.
Like you I have never been able to reconcile the idea that a minister would have a TV show he is addicted to, or a favorite rock star or other celebrity. Yet we see many of our so called shepherds obsessed with TV, politics, sports, working out, hunting, and fishing and then somehow expect those in their congregations to be spiritually minded!!
The number of so-called believers that sound and act just like their unsaved co-workers and neighbors is amazing! When “American Idol” is in a new season you hear it discussed everywhere by supposed believers. Can’t they get the obvious clue from the name?
I understand completely how you fell like you should somehow retreat completely from the world, but Jesus said we WERE in it! We’re just not to be emeshed in it to the extent that we look, think, sound and act like the world. We are supposed to be different enough that people can tell there is something unusual about us. I don’t think that means we are to be condemning unbelievers right and left, but making the right choices about things and standing up for what is good and honest when we have the chance.
Unfortunately, I also see unrepentant sinners behaving as nicely and as considerately and even more patiently than I do sometimes. So it’s not about being Mr. Cheerful or Mrs. Happy Face only. People will remark that you are a nice person, but it doesn’t point them to Christ. It’s about taking the hard path when a choice needs to be made; perhaps a choice that will cause your boss or co-workers some pain or inconvenience. That is when we find out how far “nice” goes!
Just don’t give up doing the good works God has called you to do! As Paul says “And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.”
As for “believers” who feel they have nothing to repent of, it’s because their leaders, the ones who tickle their ears with soothing thoughts like “we are all dirty beggars” and “we can’t help but sin” and never expose their sins for what they are, offensive as spitting in God’s own face, because their leaders have no desire to be unpopular shepherds who rule with the rod of iron they are supposed to use…..the Word of God.