In a violent culture it is difficult to find good things to watch on television. We introduced our kids to some of the golden “oldies” so they too could enjoy Gilligan, Fonzie and the rest of the people who made our lives interesting when we were kids. One of the shows “The Beverly Hillbillies” we especially like, because they are down to earth folks who are kind hearted. Netflix does not cut out the commercials and one day we noticed one of the boys singing, “Winston tastes good, like a good cigarette should.” So much for bringing back the good old days – they weren’t necessarily good in all aspects!
The discussions on social media now are no longer about cigarette use as the debate over marijuana has taken over. What was once a felony, smoking weed, is now legalized in some states. Parents in those states are scrambling to teach their kids how to “say no” when adults around them are saying yes. It’s a new drug war and just about the time you think the teens are safe they have a new interest in ingesting laundry detergent pods. Ew!
My friends who work in healthcare tell me an even bigger war is raging -keeping kids hands clean and sanitized. New superbugs have entered hospitals and schools that are super resistant to all antibiotics and causing death from what used to be just a simple cut or even the flu. Hygiene is important and scientists can now tell us exactly how the germs work against our immune system.
So, what are “normal” protections, what is morally wrong when the state says it is legal and what is rigidity and legalism? One man took on the whole debate and got himself killed for it – Jesus. He isn’t oblivious to our new dilemmas– He created all those bugs, germs and dirt. He would have been familiar with the concept “do not become slaves of anything.” He could see years down the line what drugs and addictions would do.
I wonder why He went for the spiritual and did not address all the other things?
10 And he called the people to him and said to them, “Hear and understand: 11 it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but
what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person.”
12 Then the disciples came and said to him, “Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?” 13 He answered, “Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be rooted up.14 Let them alone; they are blind guides. And if the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit.” 15 But Peter said to him, “Explain the parable to us.” 16 And he said, “Are you also still without understanding? 17 Do you not see that whatever goes into the mouth passes into the stomach and is expelled? 18 But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. 19 For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. 20 These are what defile a person. But to eat with unwashed hands does not defile (make spiritually unclean) anyone.”
He told the disciples to side- step petty arguments that are intended to trip you up in punishment and judgement – good advice as the Pharisees were not looking to reconcile but to prove themselves righteous and holy. They were gnats in the ointment and Jesus discerned that.
I recently heard a kind brother in the Lord worry that smoking would defile him as a Christian. He was told that smoking was a barrier between him and God. I grew up around people who smoked so I’ve never had that legalistic filter (pun intended). One of my first pastors smoked during our youth meetings so I just thought it was something adults did. He also cussed some. It demonstrated to me that God was much higher and this guy was not God but would tell us what he knew about him. We had to fin for ourselves to define holy. Looking back it may have been a good thing because there was no super leader / savior complex and we were all just scraggly creatures looking for a kingdom – together. Hmm?
The argument could be made that nicotine imbeds itself in your brain (neurotransmitters) so it does not flush out but remains there craving, screaming for more. Once the person quits though, it does come out so that would be weak to push that as an argument here. My hips will testify that the chocolate doth remain, but that’s another story.
What lingered in my mind was this – why would someone take a little smoking wrapper and use that as a way to block a brother (or sisters) access to Christ? Jesus clearly said it does not defile someone because it is temporary. A greater ill is using one’s mouth to slander or harm or gossip about someone. That makes one UGLY and those around them ill. Inside. Drinking communion grape juice all day won’t flush that out. However, repentance and communion to signpost it might be part of that process. The payment Jesus made on the cross is capable of making us clean on the inside.
In this text, we must insert our own names_____ here because the second we insert someone else’s we are back to being in the defiled bucket. Ouch. No wonder Jesus addressed this as a systemic evil. There’s only one who is righteous and it isn’t the Marlboro man. Only One has paid the price for all to enter in:
“This was according to the ETERNAL purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in HIM, in HIM.” Eph. 3 Also see Heb. 4:16.
What one abstains from (makeup, movies, cigarettes) does not make one holy/clean. What one achieves (education, good works, church rituals, 24/7 worship) does not make one holy/clean. If that were the standard then the highest bidder or best ecclesiastical gymnast would get the trophy. Only the blood of Jesus can make one clean. Only (sola) that cross payment on Calvary can “open doors” to God’s heart. Grape juice doesn’t flush out sin but it can remind us that spiritually Christ’s blood can make us whiter than snow and pay the penalty for all of our sins – great and small.
Three of my favorite Christian women were smokers and ultimately it killed them, leaving a big hole in my heart. I will never be a fan of smoking because it took away those I cherished. I get angry every time I even think of the lure on the commercials – they were bait and switch and robbed us of family. However, the greatest love in my life is not distant or repulsed by smoking and He gets to determine the definition of defiled – not me, although honestly sometimes I would really like to. No ritual, tradition, food or anything else defiles someone so much that the way to Jesus is blocked, or even lessened in some way. It just isn’t mercy to rate others sins, it isn’t holy and if I were Jesus , I’d be offended at those who made others feel like they were “defiled” so much that they could not draw near. He beckons them, draws them, and longs for them because He sees something on the inside that we never could and
the Father sees something also – the blood of His Son.
All humans have “issues” and things they need help fixing. Mercy says Jesus will help. Lordship says Jesus is the one who determines how and when. The door is not revolving – it is blood bought and fixed in eternity. For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son that WHOSOEVER believes in Him (Winston user, Vaper, Toker or abstainer) should NOT perish but have everlasting life. He made a way, cleared back the religious and self-righteous and shouts COME! To ALL who are willing. That’s an open invitation based on God’s large heart, not our earthly restrictions.
Today, I’ll sanitize and wash my hands – I don’t want the flu or to spread staph to my family. Today, I will breathe in clean air. Today I will eat my greens. Not because it makes me holy but it’s a good choice. Today I will ask God to cleanse my mouth, my heart and help me kick back any roadblocks I have put in others way that might falsely make anyone think they are blocked from the blood or presence of Christ because of something they’ve ingested or done on the outside. It (the blood) always serves as a reminder to me that I’m not holy because others smoke, toke or vape and I don’t.
He is my only righteousness.
He’s the cleaner, the detergent, the sanctifier and the ONLY One who declares us holy or defiled by His standard — the cross.
BOLD, access with confidence…. Put out the welcome mat and step aside, an invited one is making his way on in! Just as we are? Yes, not because we smell of nicotine or altar incense but because He’s worthy and holy and clean, we can enter in whether scraggly or sanitized.
2018 Renae Roche
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*Warning disclaimer: The surgeon general has warned that smoking is harmful to one’s health. The Bible has also warned that hindering others from entering in can also be harmful to one’s eternal health.