Scripture: Leviticus 11:1–12, 24–25; Leviticus 21:16–24
I marvel not that the World hates them, since it hated him (to wit, Christ Jesus) whom they have believed in, because he testified thereof, That the Works of it were evil; see John 7.7. And truly, my Friends, this is the Testimony this People bears this day against the corrupt Ways and Practices of the World, both among Professors and Profane, telling of them plainly, That all Unrighteousness is Sin; and for this cause, I know, were Power given into mens hands, they should quickly be rooted out from amongst them; but though they put no trust in an Arm of Flesh, yet they have a strong Tower of Defence, (even the Name of the Lord) which they run into, and are safe. —Elizabeth Bathurst
Questions: Jesus said he did not come to abolish the law. In what ways do you think he would want us to interpret and live out the law? If your faith community had laws written out like the Torah, what do you think they would say about what it means to be a member? What actions does your community consider “clean” or “unclean”? Which of these do you think are good boundaries for your community?
When we read sections of the Bible and happen upon words like holiness, purity, ceremonially clean, and unclean, we may find ourselves thinking, “How does this apply to me?” While being prayerfully sensitive and thoughtfully objective can help us recognize the heart of such passages, the deeper formative work of our spirits requires us to engage texts that do not readily speak to our condition. To become who we are called to be often rises during a process that asks us to give up aspects of who we think we are, and at times, this includes our most familiar and comforting self-conceptions. Being uncomfortable with a text can be beneficial, a catalyst for us to begin asking real, authentic questions, and in so doing, begin to change. Devoting ourselves to the study of these texts can be a challenge, yet they can help free us to embody the ways of God in our world today. Oh, to know the joy of being students enrolled in the school of Christ!
Early in my own spiritual walk, soon after I was convinced of the grace of God through Jesus, I burned my entire collection of cassette tapes that were not Christian music. I thought I was being holy and making great strides on the high road to spiritual purity. Yet long after the fire died out, leaving a lump of melted plastic to be cleaned up, I wondered if anything in me had changed. It was in time, and with the daily company of gracious Friends of Jesus, that I began to notice a deeper change happening inside me. I realized I was not saved from certain music as much as I had been delivered from destructive powers within me; I was saved from my estrangement from God and given spiritual life!
The real work of holiness was a work of inner purification which manifested itself through changed actions and attitudes. God didn’t want my sacrifice of punk rock cassette tapes as much as he wanted to be the center of my life and my friend. This is what I believe the apostle Paul refers to as the Spirit of holiness in Romans 1:4, that is, a new way of being and a pattern of living eternal life now.
–Mark Condo in “Friendly Perspective” from Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy: Following God Together