How to Maintain Spiritual Purity (Part 2)

Spiritual impurity should not be responded to with apathy or fanaticism.

There is a stark contrast between the way Jacob responded to spiritual impurity and the way Jacob’s sons responded. Jacob we’re told "kept quiet." He was apathetic about this great sin. It is probably not the he did not care at all, but rather that he did not want to deal with the problems that would come by dealing with Dinah’s defilement. He apparently was willing to overlook this terrible sin and corruption. His lack of action reminds me of how so many Christians respond to spiritual impurity (immorality, false doctrines) in the church today. When many become aware of other Christians, including leaders, engaging in sinful behavior (adultery, greed, lying, etc.) or teaching false doctrines such a New Age teachings , they simply keep their mouths shut. It is the easy thing to do, but it is not the right thing to do. It conveys the message that moral and doctrinal impurities are unimportant.

Jacob’s sons are anything but apathetic. They are rightfully angry. They recognize that they are a distinct people and therefore spiritual purity must be maintained. They are Israel and they are filled with fury because "Shechem had done a disgraceful thing in Israel." At this point their reaction is appropriate, but we will soon see that they cross the line in their response to Shechem sin. First though, Hamor (Shechem’s Father) wants to make a deal with Israel and get them to accept this moral impurity and compromise peacefully.

Hamor offers the people of Israel the same proposition the world offers Christians. He basically says, "Relax your standards of purity, don’t be too upset, and I will make it worthwhile. You can have peace, prosperity, and property, etc. but only if you don’t insist on doing the right thing." Christians we need to keep in mind that we’re called to be a distinct and holy People and Satan is always looking for opportunities to entice us to compromise on God’s holy standards, which leads to spiritual impurity. Satan will promise us the world if we only give in a little. It should be noted that everything that Hamor promises to the Israelites, just like everything this world and Satan promise to us, is a lie. (Genesis 34:23)

The Christian today faces the same danger that the nation of Israel faced long ago. We face the danger of not maintaining our distinctiveness and blending in with the world by basically believing and behaving the same as they do. This is why we need to remember how to maintain spiritual purity.

Sometimes the same type of fanaticism has been seen in Christians. History is replete with those who have crossed the line in seeking moral and doctrinal purity. We have had the Catholic and Protestant Inquisitions, the Salem witch trials, protesting at funerals for homosexuals who died of AIDS, blowing up abortion clinics, and murdering abortionist. These are extreme examples of the type of fanaticism that is an unacceptable response to spiritual impurity. It is good to be zealous, but we must be careful not to go too far.

As Christians we’re called to maintain spiritual purity and respond appropriately to spiritual impurity.

Are you?