by Phil T. Arnold
As one reads through the many regulations and requirements of the old law one appreciates so much the “better” and perfect law of liberty under which we live today. But we must be careful lest we “use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh…” (Gal.5:13). All of the technical rules and seemingly endless regulations that the Jews were given even cluttered the mind of some concerning what the Law was all about. This one thing was unmistakably sure. The commandments and statues that God gave to the children of Israel to observe were for their “good always” (Deut.6:24). This is seen to be true in a number of ways one of which is the regulations that God gave concerning defilement.
Many of the regulations that God gave concerning defilement had to do with sanitary hygiene and protecting the people from contagious diseases. There is no indication that the people understood the significance of these principles as pertaining to their health and certainly neither did they understand the scientific basis of the spread of disease through germs, viruses and bacteria. What they did know was that the God who had delivered them from bondage and adopted them as His own gave them certain requirements concerning cleanliness and contact with the diseased and the dead. In order for the people to be aware of the importance of observing these regulations concerning defilement, those who became defiled were separated from their association with God’s people and from the service to God.
The modern world is greatly advanced in its understanding of such matters although we still grasp for a “cure” to the common cold. Yet, I am not certain that we have come near as far in understanding the principles of defilement and the commands God has given us to observe lest we be defiled. Of course, we are speaking of spiritual defilement. Do we allow ourselves to come in contact with that which defiles and makes one unfit for association with God’s people and unfit for the service of the Master? God’s word is replete with warnings. “And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.” (Eph.5:11). “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed…” (Rom.12:1-2). “Do not be deceived: ‘Evil company corrupts good habits.” (1 Cor.15:33). “Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. And do not touch what is unclean…” 2 Cor.6:17). “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” (Rom.12:21). “Keep oneself unspotted from the world.” (Jam.1:27). Do we recognize the significance of these and other commands directing us that we might not be “defiled”? Do we not understand that it is for our good that God so commands us?
While “all that is in the world” (1 John 2:16) might be brought into consideration, there is one matter I would bring before you at this time. While the children of Israel went to great lengths to keep defilement out of their house, it seems that many of us invite it freely into our homes and give it prominent place in our lives and the lives of our families. What I am thinking about is television. I am not opposed to this wonderful technology nor do I fail to recognize the many positive things that have come along with it. Yet, television may well be the great Trojan horse through which defilement that would not otherwise be tolerated is made acceptable or at least tolerable in our very homes. “Fornication and all uncleanness or covetous-ness…filthiness…foolish talking… course jesting…” become a part of our family hour and make us “unclean” (Eph.5:3-5). Why is it that humor is most often found in that which perverts the beauty of the sexual relationship God intended in marriage? Why is it that topics for talk shows tend to lean toward the amoral and perverted? Why is it that even those wonderful nature shows that I love have to slip in several statements about the “age of the earth” and the “fact”(?) of evolution? And why are those who “do not run with them in the same flood of dissipation…” spoken evil of (1 Pet.4:4) and made out to be ignorant, backward objects of disdain? Not everything coming across the airways is the message of Satan, but a great deal of it is the unfruitful works of darkness with which the Christian is to have no fellowship but rather is to expose (Eph.5:11).
Must one throw every television set out of his home and park it by the curb for collection day? No, such is not necessarily required; but that might be an appropriate response that would prove most effective. Certainly that person who is not discriminat-ing in what he watches and is not regulating what is being watched by their children is freely allowing their minds and lives and those of their children to be defiled. Such defilement makes us unfit for association with God’s people and unfit for His service.
God provided for the children of Israel who became defiled to be made clean again. So too, for us today. For that one who is not a child of God, the watery grave of baptism awaits their belief, repentance and confession that they might have their defilement washed away (Rom.6:3-4; John 8:24; Acts 2:38; Rom.10:9,10; Acts 22:16). For the child of God who has become defiled, repentance and confession is required that they might be cleansed (Acts 8:22; 1 John 1:8-10). What joy there must have been for that Israelite who had been defiled and separated from the people of God and the service of God to be cleansed and returned to that rightful relationship! How much more the joy as we are cleansed of our spiritual defilement, brought into rightful fellowship with God’s people and once more are made a “vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work.” (2 Tim.2:21). Remember, concerning heaven Jesus said, “But there shall by no means enter if anything that defiles…but only those who are written in the Lamb’s Book of life.” (Rev.21:27)
