Our culture has engaged in redefinition of some basic terms. It is a way for a few to gain control over the many. We see it in the battle for marriage. We see it when speaking of privacy. We see it in education with Common Core. We see it in the battle over gun rights, sexual boundaries, and drug use. Whoever wins the battle in defining the words of the debate, they win the debate. The definitions don’t have to be true, they don’t have to correspond to reality, they just need to be accepted.
Jesus is in a battle to define sin. The religious leaders of His day had some very strange ideas about sin. They focused on the outward. Jesus focused on the inward. The religious leaders taught that if you acted correctly you were on God’s ‘nice’ list. Jesus taught that when your heart is right with God it will lead to right actions.
Our text has a list of actions that start in the deepest part of our being. They are not surface things like ceremonial hand washing, food options or wardrobe choices. These are deep issues that ruin lives and societies. They don’t change over time and in different cultures. Some things are just wrong no matter where or when.
I dislike the pants that hang low and show the underwear. But someone can have that wardrobe style and still be obedient to Jesus. Other than being funny looking, all the important parts are covered up.
And these same issues are evident in our culture. Sexual immorality is rampant. But our society redefined the boundaries of with whom and when sexual activity could take place, so that there are almost no boundaries. Children are still generally off limits, although there are those who want to eliminate that boundary. Marriage isn’t necessary, according to our culture. Monogamy isn’t necessary, too restricting. Commitment, too old fashioned. Safety, we have drugs for most of that.
Theft is redefined. We now call it redistribution of wealth or corporate welfare. So instead of an individual taking what doesn’t belong to them, we give the government the right to do it on our behalf, unless of course it is our wealth that is getting taken. Murder becomes mercy killing. Adultery becomes swinging. Greed becomes ambition. Malice becomes misunderstanding. Deceit becomes clever advertising. Lewdness becomes freedom of expression. Envy becomes capitalism. Slander becomes truth-telling. Arrogance becomes power. Folly becomes eccentricity.
Jesus said all these things are evil because they come from the heart, our innermost being. They are all about the self being in charge, the self defining what is right and wrong. But God has already spoken on these subjects, and His word is the final word. No matter how you try to redefine these actions, they are still evil. And they all start deep in our hearts.
We are all capable of these things. So we must guard our hearts against their germination and growth.
The Arnold Journey 