"HOW TO STAY CLEAN WHILE LIVING IN A PIGPEN"
TEXT: II CORINTHIANS 6:14 - 7:1
INTRODUCTION
Have you ever gotten all cleaned and dressed up and then found it hard to stay that way, spaghetti sauce on the white shirt or blouse...grass stains on those new pants. Have you discovered the truth that when we run around in the physical world we often pick up some of it’s dirt.
I think you will agree that this is also true in the spiritual sense. Sometimes it gets pretty hard to stay clean when we are living in a pig pen. And our world, our society really is, a spiritual pig pen. Much of our world is UNASHAMEDLY wallowing in the mud of sin and immorality. We are constantly being exposed to this philosophy in nearly every aspect of our lives, we can hardly get away from it. And it is nearly impossible for us not pick up some of the dirt. And if we are not real careful we’ll pick up a lot more than some. We live in a non Christian world and many times it is hard to be a Christian (TO TALK LIKE, ACT LIKE AND LIVE LIKE A CHILD OF GOD) under such difficult conditions. HAVE YOU EVER FOUND THIS TASK DIFFICULT?
The majority of people we go to school with, the teachers we listen to, the people we work with, the shows we watch -- most of the people we encounter, do not look at the world from a Christian point of view.
This problem of being a Christen in a Non Christian world is not a new problem. The church battled this problem right from the start, and the church at Corinth is by far no exception.
They lived in and were surrounded by, a city saturated in immorality and sin, and much of that philosophy, immoral lifestyle and attitude crept into the church.
In our text today, II Corinthians 6:14 - 7:1, Paul gives us 3 principles that will help us stay clean, while we are living in the midst of a pig pen.... IF YOU HAVE EVER FOUND IT DIFFICULT TO MAINTAIN YOUR CHRISTIANITY WHILE LIVING IN THIS UNCHRISTIAN WORLD -- LET’S LISTEN TO PAUL AND SEE WHAT KIND OF HELP HE OFFERS US, THROUGH THE WORD OF GOD.
[6:14-7:1]
I. AVOID CLOSE CONTACT WITH UNBELIEVERS (6:14-16)
Paul in the opening words of our text writes, "DO NOT BECOME UNEQUALLY YOKED TOGETHER WITH UNBELIEVERS." This concept goes all the way back to Deuteronomy 22:10, "DO NOT PLOW WITH AN OX AND A DONKEY YOKED (OR HARNESSED) TOGETHER." The ox was a clean animal to the Jew and the donkey was not, therefore it would be wrong to yoke them together. And besides that on a practical note, they have different natures and would not even work well together, the ox is usually hard working and cooperative and the donkey is stubborn and feisty.
Certain things are fundamentally incompatible, like oil and water. They were never meant to be joined together. This principle applies to the Christian and the non Christian. The purity and nature of the Christian and the pollution and nature of a pagan were never intended to run together in a double harness. When we become a Christian we receive a new nature, "IF ANYONE IS IN CHRIST HE IS A NEW CREATION, THE OLD HAS GONE THE NEW HAS COME" (2 COR 5:17), PETER SAYS IN I PETER 1:4, "WE (as Christians) PARTICIPATE IN THE DIVINE NATURE."
This principle of God’s people being separated from the world has always been a prevalent teaching in God’s dealings with His people. In the Old Testament, the Israelites before entering the promise land were commanded by God to remain separate from the Canaanites.
AND this principle of "separation", carried over in an even greater to the New Test., where we see throughout it’s pages Christians being referred to as "Saints". This term means, "set apart", "called out". Christians by definition are called out from the world and are set apart to serve God and do His will.
The world is often in Scripture described, as an enemy to be avoided and a foe to overcome. John tells us in his first letter, "NOT TO LOVE THE WORLD OR ANYTHING IN THE WORLD.." AND "THAT THE WORLD AND IT’S DESIRES ARE PASSING AWAY."
And yet, we are also told that , "WE ARE THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD, THAT WE ARE THE SALT OF THE EARTH -- THAT WE AS WE STUDIED LAST WEEK ARE CHRIST AMBASSADOR’S, GIVEN THE JOB OF INFLUENCING THE WORLD FOR CHRIST TO TELL THEM THAT THE FAMINE IS OVER."
On the one hand we know that The world is evil and we are not to be like the world, "WE ARE TO BE IN THE WORLD AND NOT OF THE WORLD." And we have all felt the pressure that the world exerts on us, as it tries to pull us off "the straight and narrow", And our response at that time may be one of preservation, to stay as far away from the world as we can, to keep it from contaminating us... Yet on the other hand, if we completely isolated ourselves from the world, have no contact with it, how will we ever influence the world and win it for/to Christ... AND HERE LIES THE DILEMMA, How can we avoid those 2 extremes. One of being SO close to the world that we become just like the world, the other being so isolated form the world that we never really have any impact on it.? This balance is not easy and can be difficult to achieve?
The church in Corinth also struggled with this problem of balance. When Paul wrote I Corinthians which was actually his second letter to them, he wrote the following in the fifth chapter, "I HAVE WRITTEN YOU IN MY LETTER NOT TO ASSOCIATE WITH SEXUALLY IMMORAL PEOPLE -- NOT AT ALL MEANING THE PEOPLE OF THIS WORLD, WHO ARE IMMORAL, OR THE GREEDY AND SWINDLERS, OR IDOLATERS. IN THIS CASE YOU WOULD HAVE TO LEAVE THE WORLD.
The church in Corinthian had apparently gone to one extreme and had completely isolated themselves from the world.... So Paul tells them not to do that, they can’t avoid all contact, they need to be around the world to influence the world... He tells them that they are to associate with unbelievers.
As we read 2 Corinthians 6:14, it appears that Apparently some people in the church had swung the pendulum to far in the opposite direction, they went to far with Paul’s advice and went to the other extreme and were getting much to close to the world. They were becoming "yoked" with unbelievers.
So Paul in response to that writes the verses that make up our text.
Telling them not to be yoked together with unbelievers, because; "WHAT DO RIGHTEOUSNESS AND WICKEDNESS HAVE IN COMMON"
"WHAT FELLOWSHIP CAN LIGHT HAVE WITH DARKNESS"
"WHAT HARMONY IS THERE BETWEEN CHRIST AND BELIAL"
(1st century term applied to Satan)
"WHAT DOES A BELIEVER HAVE IN COMMON WITH AN UNBELIEVER"
"WHAT AGREEMENT IS THERE BETWEEN THE TEMPLE OF GOD AND IDOLS." What Paul is saying when we really get down to the nitty gritty of it, when we really get to the core of the matter,
There is really no fellowship, no harmony, no agreement and nothing in common between believers and unbelievers.
The question we want to ask ourselves now is, how do we apply Paul’s teaching of "DO NOT BE YOKED WITH UNBELIEVERS", WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO AVOID CLOSE CONTACT WITH THEM?
There is a big difference between casual association and being unequally yoked. To be "yoked", means to be tied together in close intimate relationships. It means to be partners together over extended periods of time so that the methods priorities and strategies of one become the others.
So what are some relationships we are to avoid:
1. A CHRISTIAN SHOULD NOT MARRY A NON-CHRISTIAN
"What fellowship can light have with darkness?" Paul asked. "What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever." Some may argue that we’ve got a lot in common with unbelievers: sports, hobbies and other interests. But the Bible says a Christian is to seek first the Kingdom of God. When you marry a non- Christian, that which is most essential is at odds between you.
It is hard, if not impossible to give the best of your time, talents and treasure to the Lord, if your spouse is an unbeliever. To your spouse your church activities will be viewed as something that is getting in the way of your marriage. And in your marriage, The relationship that God has ordained to be the most intimate one on earth, you will be unable to share your love, joy, devotion and excitement for God with them. (GRANTED SOME MARRIAGES BETWEEN NON CHRISTIANS WORK OUT PRETTY WELL BUT THAT IS THE EXCEPTION AND NOT THE RULE).
And in line with this it is usually unwise for a Christian to date a Non Christian. Granted there are SOME cases of the Christian wining over the non Christian, but I am certain the trials of broken hearts and defeated faith far out weigh those few victories.
Parents We need to instill this teaching in our children at an early age. A friend of ours several years back was telling her little girl who was in 2nd grade, about how someone they knew had finally met a really nice guy. And the girl said, "He ’s nice but is he a Christian."
Call me old fashioned, but I call it Biblical (raising our children in the Lord), But as long as my children live in my house they will not date a non Christian unless they are a really good person and go to church every Sunday with us and are serious about knowing the Lord.
2. not be unequally yoke applies also to business partnerships Some have done this saying "well, business is business." But if the individual is a "committed", Christian it’s not too long before your partners personal habits, values, business ethics (say or do anything to get a sale, got to get that buck, but just don’t get caught) this begins to cause conflict and rub them wrong. And 1 of three things are going to happen -- he will get them to violate their faith, he will cause them to undergo incredible stress, or they will be forced to end the partnership, usually much worse for the wear. Like I said about the marriage sometimes these kind of arrangements work -- exception not the rule....
3. NOT BEING UNEQUALLY YOKED APPLIES TO FRIENDSHIPS AS WELL
Sure we need to be around unbelievers to influence them -- and yes we can have good friend who are unbelievers -- I have several. But our closest friends/relationships should be with ones who hold to and share with us, the same convictions, faith and values. People we can share with, people who we can mutually encourage, love and build up with in the Lord.
4. I also believe that it is within the spirit of this command to avoid close contact with the things of the world; for example certain movies, videos, magazines, music and places a Christian should not go, here or see.
Did catch what the last part of verse 16 says,
"FOR WE ARE THE TEMPLE OF THE LIVING GOD. AS GOD HAS SAID: `I WILL LIVE WITH THEM AND WALK AMONG THEM..."
When we go to those places and see those things we are dragging God with us -- do we really want him to go there or to see that?
IF WE WANT TO STAY CLEAN WE NEED TO AVOID CLOSE CONTACT WITH THE WORLD AND UNBELIEVERS; AND WE ALSO NEED TO:
II. REMIND OURSELVES OF THE CONSEQUENCES
I bet some of you out there are thinking "boy this guy is crazy, I can handle being around unbelievers and the world, they are not going to get to me, I’m good , I’m tough -- what’s this, avoid close contact stuff... This preacher dude must have his tie on to tight. He needs to get real... He is taking this Christianity stuff a bit too far."
The Word of God says in I Corinthians 15:33 (turn to it if you think my tie is to tight) "DO NOT BE MISLEAD BAD COMPANY CORRUPTS GOD CHARACTER." And who do think it is that is trying to deceive us, mislead us -- yeah you’re right, "THE GUY PROWLING AROUND LIKE A ROARING LION, LOOKING FOR SOMEONE TO DEVOUR, WHO IS ALWAYS SECRETLY DISGUISED AS AN ANGEL OF LIGHT."
HAS ANYONE HERE EVER HEARD OF SOLOMON?
You know David’s son, the wisest man who ever lived; He is the guy who wrote the wisdom literature in the Bible, Proverbs and Ecclesiastes. Listen to some of the things he wrote:
"DO NOT SET FOOT ON THE PATH OF THE WICKED OR WALK IN THE WAY OF EVIL MEN. AVOID IT, DO NOT TRAVEL ON IT, TURN FORM IT AND GO ON YOUR OWN WAY." PROV 4:14,15
"HE WHO WALKS WITH THE WISE GROWS WISE, BUT A COMPANION OF FOOLS (ONE WHO IN HIS HEART DOES NOT RECOGNIZE GOD) SUFFERS HARM." PROV. 13:20
Good advice, too bad he didn’t follow it. Solomon was the riches and wisest man of all time. Listen to what happened to him BECAUSE he did not follow his own advice:
[I KINGS 11:1-11]
If Solomon, WHO WAS the wisest man who ever lived could not handle those relationships, do you really think that we can, that you can, "It won’t effect me, Oh really?"
If we look at the present condition of the and I am using the term ever so loosely, "Church", if we look at the church today, if we track it’s recent history, who would we say is influencing who? Is the Church influencing the world or the world the Church? So many Christians and so many churches have been walking with the world so long that you really can’t tell the difference between the two... They (that is many Christians and churches) are beginning to think like, talk like, act like , reason like, and live like the world.
"TIMES ARE CHANGING, IT’S THE 90’S , THE CHURCH HAS TO GET WITH THE TIMES; ABORTION IT’S A WOMAN’S CHOICE, HOMOSEXUALLY IT’S JUST AN ALTERNATIVE LIFESTYLE, SEX BEFORE MARRIAGE - HEY IT’S OKAY IF THEY LOVE EACH OTHER (WHO ARE WE TO JUDGE), DRINKING -- HEY IT A CHRISTIAN WANTS TO TIE ON FRIDAY, SMOKE A COUPLE JOINTS, POP A FEW PILLS, SNIFF A LITTLE COKE -- `GO FOR IT’; IF YOU NEED TO WATCH PORNOGRAPHY TO ENHANCE YOUR MARRIAGE GO AHEAD;"
THE WORLDLY CHURCH AND THE WORLDLY CHRISTIAN MAY SAY HEY IT’S THE 90’S AND THIS STUFF IS OKAY -- BUT THE WORD OF GOD STILL CALLS IT SIN, AND IT IS NOT OKAY.
I may not agree with everything the Pope says, but he made a comment that I fully agree with. When on his trip to America he was asked about if it would be wise for the church to compromise on some of these hot issues, he replied "THE CHURCH IS NOT IN THE BUSINESS OF COMPROMISE."
HE IS RIGHT THE CHURCH IS NOT IN THE BUSINESS OF CONFORMING TO THE WORLD BUT RATHER TRANSFORMING THE WORLD THROUGH HE GOSPEL.
"DO NOT BE MISLEAD, BAD COMPANY CORRUPTS GOOD CHARACTER"
Are there consequences, is there a price to be paid; when we make close ties with unbelievers and worldly things; when we are a companion of fools, when we walk in the way of the world?
Ask Jim Baker, ask Jimmy Swaggert, ASK Demas whom Paul said because he loved the world he departed the faith. Ask Solomon who had the kingdom torn away from him. Ask God who says in his word; "WE WILL SUFFER HARM" "OUR CHARACTER WILL BE CORRUPTED."
Listen to verse 17,18 of our text again.
If we come out from them If we are separate
If we touch no unclean thing (participate in ungodly activities)
Then: God will receive us He will be a Father to us:
WHAT IF WE ARE NOT SEPARATE, DO NOT COME OUT FROM THEM, AND DO PARTICIPATE IN UNGODLY ACTIVITIES....
WILL HE STILL RECEIVE US -- BE A FATHER TO US????
DO NOT BE DECEIVED; BAD COMPANY CORRUPTS GODLY CHARACTER;
HANGING AROUND WITH, AND DOING THE THINGS OF THE WORLD, WILL CORRUPT US... WE WILL SUFFER HARM/GET DIRTY.
WE CAN’T WALK WITH GOD AND RUN WITH THE DEVIL AT THE SAME TIME
IF WE MISS WITH FIRE WE MAY GET BURNED.
WHEN WE PLAY IN THE MUD WITH WHITE GLOVES, THE MUD NEVER GETS GLOVEY.
IF WE WANT TO STAY CLEAN WE NEED TO AVOID CLOSE CONTACT WITH UNBELIEVERS, WE NEED TO REMIND OURSELVES THAT THE CONSEQUENCES -- PHYSICAL ONES AND THE SPIRITUAL ONES (BECOMING A FRIEND OF THE WORLD AND AN ENEMY OF GOD; ARE NOT WORTH IT!!! THE RETURN IS NOT WORTH THE INVESTMENT.
III. AND WE ALSO NEED TO TAKE POSITIVE STEPS KEEP OURSELVES PURE.
"LET US PURIFY OURSELVES FROM EVERYTHING THAT CONTAMINATES BODY AND SPIRIT, PERFECTING HOLINESS OUT OF REVERENCE FOR GOD."
Separation is more than a negative act of departure, it is also a positive act of dedication. We just can’t take the steps of separation, we must also take positive steps to REMAIN pure. Here are some steps that we need to take:
1. First we need to clean ourselves up, we need to repent of any sin that we have in our life and seek God’s forgiveness. We need to bring our personal holiness to perfection, to completion, out of our reverence for God.
2. We also need to spend time with our brothers and sisters in Christ. Hang out with fellow Christians -- bible studies, youth groups, get involved in each other’s lives. "LET US NOT GIVE UP MEETING TOGETHER AS SOME ARE IN THE HABIT OF DOING, BUT LET US ENCOURAGE EACH OTHER -- AND ALL THE MORE AS YOU SEE THE DAY APPROACHING." (HEB 10:25)
AND SINCE WE ARE REQUIRED TO MAKE CONTACT WITH THE WORLD, SO THAT WE CAN SHARE THE GOOD NEWS OF JESUS WITH THEM (THE ONE WHO CAN MAKE THEM PURE) WE NEED TO MASTER, THE ART OF MAKING CONTACT WITHOUT CONTAMINATION:
When I was in the Navy I worked in the reactor plant. And one of the things you had to be prepared for was a spill of radioactive liquid. And if there was a spill there were certain procedures you had to follow to prevent yourself from becoming contaminated AS YOU CLEANED UP THE SPILL...
3. You needed to wear protective clothing (canary suit) rubber clothes, boots, yellow coveralls with a hood. This clothing would keep you from becoming contaminated.
Christians we need to wear protective clothing -- we need to put on Christ -- breast plate of righteousness, shield of faith, helmet of salvation and the sword of the spirit the word of God. Is Christ real to US, do we know Him, do we know his word -- If we don’t, we really are not ready to go into the world, we are not ready to clean up the spills of broken lives and dreams, unless we are insulated from the contamination but the protective clothing of Jesus Christ.
4. Before we went into a area of contamination, we would receive instructions from the control point watch -- he controlled access to the area and he also would tells us where the hot spots were so we could avoid those areas....
We need to listen to God’s instruction he knows where the hot spots are, areas and situation we need to avoid, because the risk of contamination is far too great.
5. Once we had done our job in the contaminated area we would come out to the control point area. We would carefully remove our clothing in the prescribed order, then he would hand us a frisker and we would check to insure we did not pick up any contamination while in the area.....
We as Christians need to make frequent checks of our spiritual lives, we need to pick up the Word of God and read it and insure that in our contact with the world we have not picked up any of it’s impurity... It can happen to anybody, "be careful when you think you stand lest you fall flat on your face."
WE CAN STAY CLEAN, EVEN THOUGH WE LIVE IN A PIG PEN, WHEN WE:
AVOID CLOSE TIES WITH UNBELIEVERS...REMIND OURSELVES OF THE CONSEQUENCES...TAKE POSITIVE STEPS TO KEEP OURSELVES PURE....
CONCLUSION
WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN A TOUGH JOB --BUT IT CAN BE DONE -- WE CAN STAY CLEAN -- AND WE NEED TO REMEMBER THAT WE ARE NOT ALONE -- GOD WILL HELP US -- AND SO WILL OUR BROTHERS....
BACK IN VERSE 15 PAUL USED THE WORD HARMONY, THERE IS NO HARMONY BETWEEN CHRISTIANS AND NON CHRISTIANS, BUT THERE SHOULD BE HARMONY BETWEEN CHRISTIANS....
THE WORD HARMONY IS WHERE WE GET OUR WORD FOR SYMPHONY, AND IT SPEAKS TO THE BEAUTIFUL MUSIC THAT COMES WHEN THE PLAYERS ARE READING THE SAME SCORE AND FOLLOWING THE SAME LEADER. WHAT CHAOS THERE WOULD BE IF EACH PLAYER PLAYED HIS OWN TUNE HOW WHEN HE WANTED.... WE NEED TO ENSURE WE HAVE CLOSE TIES WITH BELIEVERS
WE NEED TO REMIND OURSELVES OF THE POWER AND THE HARMONY OF CHRISTIANS PLAYING TOGETHER, FOLLOWING THE SAME LEADER... WHEN WE DO THIS WE ARE MORE THAN ABLE TO TAKE THE MUSIC OF CHRIST TO THE WORLD..... AND LEAD THEM TO JESUS. IF YOUR NOT A CHRISTIAN, WHOSE SCORE ARE YOU PLAYING, THERE IS REALLY ONLY 2 CONDUCTORS -- WILL CHOOSE TO FOLLOW JESUS TODAY AND PLAY THE MUSIC OF ETERNAL LIFE.
