Soap has the ability to break connections, destroy unions, and loosen the strength of natural bonds. Its purpose? ...to force the integration of separate entities.Reflection -
Do we desire this in the church? Are we willing to make difficult choices to protect the body from those that would weaken it?
Soap has characteristics of both water and oil. Chemically speaking, soap is long nonpolar chain (an oil-soluble “tail”) with a small polar end (a water soluable “head”). As chemistry.com summarizes, “soap is an excellent cleaner... while oil (which attracts dirt) doesn’t naturally mix with water, soap can suspend oil/dirt in such a way that it can be removed.”
In our analogy here, those who love the Lord, refusing to live “charged lives” are oil. Our naturally sinful world is water/ water-soluble. It’s interesting to consider the easiest substance to breakdown other substances is something with the characteristics of each. It’s also interesting to note that it primarily dissolves the OIL into the water not the other way around. It “sneakingly” separates and suspends the oil in an environment it would not otherwise engage.
Luke 12:1 “Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees which is hypocrisy”
1 Corinthians 5:7-8 “Don’t you know that a little yeast works through the whole batch of dough? Get rid of the old yeast that you may be a new batch without yeast-as you really are.”
It seems that Jesus speaks the harshest with regards to strongly assimilated yet insincere members of the body. It seems they are the most destructive and deceitfully damaging. Catching others unaware, they naturally engaging the christian community and pull them into the proximity of evil (themselves). Which is more dangerous is debatable ... their example or their nature. The result is the same, “a little yeast works through a whole batch.”
Prayer -
Lord, keep our eyes open. Keep us kind yet clear. Help us to be aware when a brother/ sister needs our restorative care and when they are in a “yeast-like-state.” Help us to respond in thought and actions in ways that their “sinful nature may be destroyed and his spirit saved on the day of the Lord.” Give us wisdom as we interpret “you must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat” (1 Cor 5:11). Allow us to protect the purity of the church while not becoming pharisaical ourselves ... become the very nature we are condemning. Keep us humble but bold... bold enough to be misunderstood... humble enough to live in full recognition of our utter brokenness and reliance of Your grace and mercy for both our salvation and sanctification. Where boundaries must be drawn, make us ever mindful they are not for the purpose of punishment but for their “spirit to be saved.” As within our power, give us the strength and wisdom to support and assist our broken “brother.
AS AN INTERESTING SIDE-NOTE...
Matthew 5:13 “...salt losses its saltiness...” (or shall we say, “oil looses its oil-iness”) is a passage immediately following discussions about enemies. It seems we need to be so careful not to change the nature of who we are in our interactions with enemies. In our response to evil, we need to be ever mindful, prayerful and humble before the Lord.
