Thoughts on Being Clean

I thought this was a good one-
March 5, 2010
Isaiah 1:16-20

Our lives are bombarded with images and admonitions for cleanliness. Choose the laundry detergent that "gets the dirt out," use the new "scrubbing bubbles." Floor cleaners, air fresheners, hand sanitizers. But these pleas are not new. Remember, "clean your room," "wash your mouth out with soap, "you can be poor but you can be clean," "cleanliness is next to godliness." Some Christian religious traditions are replete with images of "washed in the blood," "cleansed from sin" We all know of the great flood, baptism. There are images of fire cleansing impurities, of water washing away evil. New beginnings. The mechanism may vary, but the image remains.

There is a danger in taking these sayings to mean we must cleanse ourselves, to become worthy. We believe that evil, injustice, bad thoughts, expressions, dirt, germs - all that might hurt us, can be removed with the "cleansing" agent of choice. Isaiah directs the people to cleanse themselves, remove evil, and become white as snow. Learn good, seek justice, correct oppression, defend orphans, and plead for those who have no one else. But we have already received the one great gift. So are our poor efforts at cleanliness necessary to ensure our acceptance by God, or are they gifted to us by grace through faith, to become instead a reflection of our faith? In truth, there is but one agent that can cleanse us adequately - His work has already been done. Our task is to accept with gratitude, to believe, and then to go forth rejoicing. In preparation for Easter, let us remember.

Baptized in water, sealed by the Spirit
Cleansed by the blood of Christ, our King
Heirs of salvation, trusting the promise,
Faithfully now God's praises we sing.





Roberta Dohse