An excerpt from First Light: Women's Daily Devotional & Journal:
The boy in the plastic bubble is the story of a young man who, because of a rare disorder in his immune system, is forced to live his entire life cut off from the world. His plastic bubble, free from germs, protects him. He is protected, but he is also imprisoned.
When religous people talk about purity, they leave their listeners with the impression that the Lord's followers are The Christians In The Plastic Bubble. Wanting to be unstained and uninfluenced by the world, we cut ourselves off, fearing contact with those "on the outside". We send our kids to Christian schools. We socialize exclusively with other Christians. We play the Christian "Trivial Pursuit".
But purity, according to biblical standards, is not based on externals. Jesus claims, contrary to Jewish tradition, that it is not what goes into people that defiles them, but what comes out of them (Matthew 15: 17-19)
Why are we so afraid of contaminating ourselves? Jesus wasn't. He rubbed shoulders with the sinful masses, welcomed lepers, had dinner parties with prostitutes and tax collectors, and ate with "unclean hands".
We don't purify our minds and souls by imprisoning ourselves in a bubble of righteousness and refusing to be descrated by the world around us.
Love make us pure. Love creates in us a habit of Christlikeness and a willingness to risk. Love gives us the vision to see Jesus in those around us, and the compassion to get involved. Love frees us from the fear of spiritual infection and strengthens our soul's immune system.
Jesus is the only fortress you will ever need.
How can you reach out to those on the outside of your Christian "bubble"?
Titus 1: 5 (NIV)To the pure, all things are pure, but to those who are corrupted and do not beleive, nothing is pure.
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I can see how this can happen. Some people take that scripture "...come from among them, and be ye separate, says the Lord"..., and they run with it.
But then how can your light shine? I think there has got to be a balance. Which comes with much prayer and seeking the Lord.
3 comments:
I liked your post a lot.
I also feel that the most important thing that Christ taught us was that God's Love is perfect, and that IF we kept His words, Jesus' words, He and the Father would come and make their home with us.
We have to live those words, be straight up and honest in our dealings with all of God's creation, and live at the center of His Love, in perfection of our spirit.
Seems like a hard path, but really it just means we care more about others and their happiness than we do about our own, because in seeking it, we find our own happiness.
Thanks for your comment on my blog. I really like to decorate for Christmas.
Love and Peace!
Lella
pleasure to meet a fellow stitcher! hi there ! lovely work ..
- Anonymous -
I'm glad you liked my post.
And you're welcome for the comment on yours.
Have a blessed day!
- Nashe -
Pleasure to meet you as well.
And thank you.
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