How can we apply "touch no unclean thing" in modern Christian living? Key Verse “Therefore, ‘Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.’” 2 Corinthians 6:17 Opening Picture: From Temple Courts to Living Rooms In Scripture, “unclean” first described anything that barred God’s people from worship—defiled sacrifices, forbidden foods, even idolatrous nations (Leviticus 11; Isaiah 52:11). Paul lifts that Old-Testament language into everyday Christian life. The call remains the same: draw near to God by refusing what He calls defiling—wherever we meet it. What Makes Something “Unclean” Today? • Anything God identifies as sin in His Word (1 John 3:4) • Idolatry in modern dress—money, fame, pleasure, self (Colossians 3:5) • Partnerships that pull us toward unbelief or compromise (2 Corinthians 6:14) • Media and entertainment that celebrate immorality (Psalm 101:3) • Practices rooted in the occult or false spirituality (Deuteronomy 18:10-12) Practical Ways to “Touch No Unclean Thing” 1. Guard the Heart • Filter inputs: music, shows, podcasts, social feeds (Proverbs 4:23). • Memorize and meditate on Scripture so purity becomes instinct (Psalm 119:11). 2. Guard the Mind • Take “every thought captive to the obedience of Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5). • Replace tempting fantasies with thanksgiving and worship (Philippians 4:8). 3. Guard the Body • Flee sexual immorality—honor marriage, practice chastity (1 Corinthians 6:18-20; Hebrews 13:4). • Reject substance abuse; present the body as a living sacrifice (Romans 12:1). 4. Guard Relationships • Choose close friends and business partners who revere Christ (Proverbs 13:20). • Set loving but clear boundaries with those pressuring you into compromise (1 Peter 4:3-4). 5. Guard Worship • Keep church doctrine and practice anchored to Scripture, not trends (1 Timothy 4:16). • Discern music, literature, or rituals borrowed from false religions (Ephesians 5:11). Motivations to Stay Clean • God’s Presence: “I will receive you” (2 Corinthians 6:17). • Family Identity: “I will be a Father to you” (v. 18). • Public Witness: Shining lights in a crooked generation (Philippians 2:15). • Future Reward: “Everyone who has this hope purifies himself, just as He is pure” (1 John 3:3). Living It Out This Week • Do a media fast; remove anything that glorifies darkness. • Audit close associations; realign or release those leading you into sin. • Dedicate a room, phone, or workspace anew to Christ’s service. • Replace idle scrolling with reading a Gospel chapter daily. Closing Encouragement Purity is not withdrawal for its own sake—it is separation unto Someone. As we refuse the unclean, the Father draws us near, fills us with His joy, and showcases His holiness through everyday lives that are truly set apart. |
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