To the Pure

Titus 1:15-16

It is one of those mornings, I awoke at 3:15, did my time in the bathroom and back to bed only to lay there with my mind going in many directions.  After praying and trying to go back to sleep I’m up looking at the Scripture listed above.  Verse 15 is not one you just read past, not at 4:59 in the morning.  “To the pure, all things are pure, but to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; but both minds and their consciences are defiled.”  Do you ever think of yourself as one of the most messed up Christians on planet earth?  I do, often my thoughts are negative, not loving, they are not compassionate, or tender, and sometime my actions are not the actions of a follower of Christ.  Now I understand that this Scripture is about the qualifications for being an Elder, but you and I have also been called to be ambassadors of Christ, to live a holy life, to be set apart for the service to our God.  So are you pure?

I have this big problem with our culture, I still believe words should mean the same thing to each of us, if not, how are we going to go forward and function as a community.  So what is the meaning of the word pure: 1) not mixed or adulterated with any other substance or material. 2) Free of any contamination. 3) Wholesome and untainted by immorality.  I ask are you pure?  I’m also sure you noticed I ask you, and left myself out of the mix. 

I know that I’ve been tainted by immorality, I let things into my home through the T.V. that has tainted me, I’ve allowed the world to contaminate me, and I like so many of you live in self denial.  Are we who know God being rendered of no eternal value because we have been tainted by the love of stuff, or privilege or our standing in the community. 

Now folks, listen to me, this has not one thing to do with your relationship with God, your performance does not change that, but it has to break your fellowship, it has to render your life of little value to the kingdom.  So the question comes back to “But How” how can we decontaminate our minds and our souls, how can we be pure?  We must abide in Christ, we must submit to His authority.  We do not need more information, what we need is obedience, submission to what we already have understanding of.  You can study and even rightly divide the word of God, and still be impure; it requires us to apply the truth we know to our individual lives, and to listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit.  His job is to lead us into all truth.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice