Announcing the Unclean

Lev 13:45-55         8/15/2017

A person who is unclean must not act as though they are clean. Infected people are required to warn others of their uncleanness.

When washing something unclean, if the stain doesn’t fade, the article must be burned.

Letting go of every dream, every plan, every program of happiness that I create for myself. There’s the stain.

The freedom to be wholly available to God, even if for only 10 minutes today. There’s the hope.

Imperfect but Clean

Lev 13:34-44         8/11/2017

I didn’t know what tetter was until this morning.  Ringworm.

It’s interesting that a minor skin condition is clearly distinct from a serious, contagious infection.

It’s not unlike my own failings. I am imperfect. I’m so imperfect that I don’t need to tell anyone that I’m imperfect – anyone who knows me know that. I often fail to meet the challenges of the moments of my life.

It’s the “not giving full attention”, or the “putting my own needs first” that allow me to remain “clean” – (not infectious), but still blighted.

There is yet work to do.  But this is not death.

“All wrongdoing is sin, but there is sin that is not deadly.” 1 John 5:17

Head and Beard

Lev 13:26-33         8/10/2017

Concerning infections on the head or bead.

The priest has the authority to quarantine in order to protect the community – even when there is uncertainty.

I live in a time and place where people hate the constraints of authority.

But this authority to identify and isolate that which is dangerous and threatening to the well-being of the community is essential.

Errant beliefs, like all beliefs, have consequences.

“so that we may no longer be infants, tossed by waves and swept along by every wind of teaching arising from human trickery, from their cunning in the interests of deceitful scheming”. Eph 4:14

Unclean Burns

Lev 13:16-25         8/9/2017

God teaches Moses and Aaron how to discern between deadly infection and the scars of past infection.

This work wasn’t left to the people to do for themselves.

It’s interesting that when Jesus walked the earth, even His adversaries were willing to call him “Rabbi” – teacher. But no one really thought of Him as a priest.

And yet, His priesthood was unlike the priesthood of Moses and Aaron – whose job was to discern.  His priesthood was filled with the power to heal.

Even as it is today.

Scaly Infection

Lev 13:5-15         8/7/2017

For the children of Israel, it seems the fear of infection was ever-present. The potential for devastating consequences was never far away from anyone’s consciousness. It could happen to anyone – no one is free from the concern.

So much of this we don’t share with the ancients. We have eradicated many major diseases. Our scientific attitude tells us that it is only a matter of time before we will master them all. Even today, a wealthy person in a wealthy land can postpone the effects of most sickness and put death at bay for a long time.

Yet we are mortal. Made mortal. This cannot go on forever. We dwell for a moment like this, and then move on.

Our hope is in the Lord.

Uncleanness of Childbirth

Lev 11:39-12:4         8/4/2017

Uncleanness isn’t always sin. Sometimes it is merely a result of living life.

A woman has a child.

Life, even life well lived, can be a dirty, bloody business.

Francis kissed the leper. A mother gives life to a child.

The call to be clean, pure and holy is not greater than the call to love. But true love is the unswerving path to purity.

“and the blood of his Son Jesus cleanses us from all sin” 1 John 1:7

Unclean Grain

Lev 11:26-38     8/3/2017

“If any part of their carcasses falls on any sort of grain that is to be sown, it remains clean.”

All this wariness about the unclean – and then this thought. If one of these dead things touches grain that is to be sown, it is still clean.

Seed to be sown has been designated for planting. The seed will go down into the earth and die. There it will generate into a new thing with an anticipated yield.

So if something is designated for death, it’s harder to make it unclean.

“Amen, amen, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat;r but if it dies, it produces much fruit.” John 12:24

Unclean

Lev 11:9-25     8/2/2017

How someone becomes unclean and what to do to remove uncleanness.

The problem with being unclean has to do with living in proximity to the God of all creation. God cannot be party to sin. It follows that the Israelites must keep themselves from being contaminated by handling unclean things.

For me to call you unclean is a serious claim – a judgement about your fitness to be a part of the community.

For me to declare myself unclean and work to become clean again is a service to the community that prevents disease and invites God’s blessing.

So the question is: “Is it time to take a bath?”

Jesus said to him, “Whoever has bathed has no need except to have his feet washed, for he is clean all over; so you are clean, but not all.” John 13:10

Good for Food

Lev 10:17-11:8     8/1/2017

God tells Moses and Aaron about food restrictions. Certain meats are forbidden.

Whenever something is denied the natural person wants to ask “why?”.

“Freedom to” means embracing all that can bring what’s best.

A coach says, “do this exercise” and the athlete who doesn’t understand, comes to understand through harmony with the vision of the coach.

The doing reveals the meaning.

The refusal to do keeps the athlete from advancing.

“Run so as to win” 1 Cor 9:24

God and Aaron

Lev 10:8-16     7/31/2017

God speaks to Aaron: “You must be able to discern the sacred from the profane”.

We live this life.

It’s morning. You’ll eat and go to work. You’ll do what you do and then return to your home. You’ll have more than 10,000 distinct experiences today.

It will all be just another day. Few, if any of your experiences, will seem extraordinary.

But each encounter with some “thing” in your world is an encounter with purpose. At least with every man-made thing; someone did that. Someone put the chair in this particular place. Someone built the chair. Someone, or many someones, built the building where the chair is. All for a purpose.

And the extent to which you act in harmony with the design of the other person’s purpose, the more effective and satisfied and happy you will be.

Before anything is man-made, it is God-made.

Remember Aaron; You must be able to discern the sacred from the profane.