Clean vs. Unclean

Leviticus 11

 

OK, this is where the distance between Biblical history and our time becomes very real.  Leviticus 11-15 discuss this Old Testament theme of unclean versus clean. 

 

Much ink has been spilled by theologians, archeologists and anthropologists trying to figure out the rationale behind why some animals were clean versus unclean.  Candidate theories draw from health reasons, to creating a basis of norms in Israel, though no theory is without their holes.  Sometimes with things such as this it is better to look for the purpose versus the reason.  The purpose is pretty clear.  The purpose of these is to establish the people of God as different and “holy” from the nations around them.  Their distinction as a people were that they were God’s special people (Ex 19:4), and they were to live in such a way as to retain that uniqueness.  It is probably true that many of these laws did contribute to their health in Ancient Near Eastern culture and they did communicate to Israel God’s concern for all things in life. 

 

Jesus apparently violated this law in the town of Nain when a widows only son was being carried to his grave.  Jesus stepped forward and touched the coffin, violating the laws of uncleanness.  Yet, Jesus didn’t take the uncleanness of the dead, for the dead took the cleanness (and life) of Jesus.  Jesus in his righteousness was clean from the inside out and was able to reverse the effects of uncleanness.  We do not need to obey the "clean" laws today, for Jesus has taken the curse of uncleanness and has made us his special people, declaring us holy, and clean (1 Peter 2:9).  The laws of clean and unclean teaches us that this is a morally corrupt world and there are unclean parts of this world that can corrupt us if we let them.  There are things that we should avoid for they will draw us into their corruption. 

 

How do you know the things that are clean or unclean in your life?  Let’s think of ourselves like Jesus.  When I interact with this controversial thing (alcohol, friends, pop culture, certain movies and music), which direction does the influence move?  Does the “thing” make me more like itself, or do I make it more like myself, and (hopefully) like Christ?

 

How have you seen this play itself out?