Stubbornness in defense of the unholy …

It’s one thing from our imperfect state to be a little sloppy about ridding our lives of sin, it’s quite another to stubbornly defend not giving up favorite sins.

Sometimes, we’re as stubborn as an ox when it comes to cleaning out of our lives some things we’re clearly commanded in scripture to jettison. Webb Garrison, formerly associate dean of Emory University and president of McKendree College, helps us with what such stubbornness is like:

In several ancient cultures, the ox was commonly used to plow fields and pull carts. Proverbially stubborn, these animals were hard to handle under the best of circumstances. When a sullen bull stiffened the muscles of his powerful neck, it was difficult or impossible to guide him.

Hebrews employed an expression meaning stiff-necked to identify persons as defiant and self-willed as oxen. This descriptive term was used both literally and figuratively in Scripture. As a result, it remains alive and well long after use of ox power died in western society.

Two things we can be “stubborn as an ox” about when it comes to seriously pursuing holy living is cleaning up our language and cleaning up our sources of entertainment. Too often we refuse to repent from these sins and let them be a serious stumbling block to following Christ. Some people are so stubborn about NOT cleaning up their language or their sources of entertainment that they foolishly attempt to offer biblical arguments for their stubbornness, even suggesting that Jesus Christ was, Himself, rather foul-mouthed. Yet scripture is voluminous and persistent about ridding our lives of foul language and foul entertainment. For a TINY example:

“Then Jesus called to the crowd to come and hear. ‘Listen,’ he said, ‘and try to understand. It’s not what goes into your mouth that defiles you; you are defiled by the words that come out of your mouth,'” Matthew 15:10-11.

“Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them,” Ephesians 4:29.

“Let there be no sexual immorality, impurity, or greed among you. Such sins have no place among God’s people. Obscene stories, foolish talk, and coarse jokes — these are not for you. Instead, let there be thankfulness to God,” Ephesians 5:3-4.

“You used to do these things when your life was still part of this world. But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language. Don’t lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds,” Colossians 3:7-9.

“People can tame all kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and fish, but no one can tame the tongue. It is restless and evil, full of deadly poison. Sometimes it praises our Lord and Father, and sometimes it curses those who have been made in the image of God. And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right! Does a spring of water bubble out with both fresh water and bitter water? Does a fig tree produce olives, or a grapevine produce figs? No, and you can’t draw fresh water from a salty spring,” James 3:7-12.

“I will be careful to live a blameless life — when will you come to help me? I will lead a life of integrity in my own home. I will refuse to look at anything vile and vulgar. I hate all who deal crookedly; I will have nothing to do with them. I will reject perverse ideas and stay away from every evil,” Psalm 101:2-4.

“For the grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people. And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God, while we look forward with hope to that wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed,” Titus 2:11-13.

These scriptures are just a few of the many that relate to either our language or what we find pleasure (entertainment) in. As new creations in Christ, that which is foul and sinful should not come out of our mouths, because what comes out of our mouths is sourced in our heart (Mt. 12:34); neither should we find foul and sinful things to be entertaining! Instead, we should heed instruction like this from the apostle Paul:

“Carefully determine what pleases the Lord. Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, expose them … So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise,” Ephesians 5:10-11, 15.

It takes little perusal of scripture to understand that a foul mouth and reveling in lurid entertainment does not please the Lord. Pointing to foul words used by Paul or anyone else in scripture is not a sound biblical theology for failing to clean up your mouth or continuing to be titillated and entertained by the lurid, lustful, and perverted. A holy person doesn’t live that way! And Paul exhorts us to make holiness our pursuit:

“Because we have these promises, dear friends, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that can defile our body or spirit. And let us work toward complete holiness because we fear God,” 2 Corinthians 7:1.

Have you repented of the profane to pursue holiness?

Scotty