Doesn’t the Bible say…?
SUMMER DEVOTIONAL SERIES
“Cleanliness is next to godliness.”
All summer long, Pastor Erin and I are going to do a series of devotionals together. (Yeah!) Each one will deal with an idea or saying that people often think is in the Bible but isn't. Lots of fun and lots of truth!
Let's get started with an old one: "Cleanliness is next to godliness."
In truth, I've never heard anyone quote this as scripture but in times past, it was spoken as the Law. It was first recorded in the 17th century when Francis Bacon wrote, "Cleanness of body was ever esteemed to proceed from a due reverence to God, to society, and to ourselves." Later on, in a sermon, John Wesley said, "Let it be observed, that slovenliness is no part of religion; that neither this, nor any text of Scripture, condemns neatness of apparel. Certainly this is a duty, not a sin. 'Cleanliness is, indeed, next to godliness.'"
What likely happened is that it struck such a chord with the moms and neat-freaks of the world, and since it was spoken by the great John Wesley, it must be biblical. :)
While this phrase isn't found anywhere in the pages of scripture, the idea of washing, cleansing and being diligent in hygiene is very prominent in the Law that was given to Moses for the Israelites. In Exodus 15:26, God promises that if they pay attention to His command and obey Him that they would be spared from the diseases that He brought on the Egyptians. There are some really interesting books written about how the Law kept the people from getting sick as they wandered through the desert and entered the Promised Land long before modern science knew why these rules would be beneficial. (Example: None of These Diseases) And you hear how following these ritual washings had continued to be an important part of the Jewish faith in Jesus' time - the the point of it being more about the washing of the hands then the washing of the heart. (see Mark 7)
It's really cool that cleanliness is given to the Israelites as a part of the Law long before microscopes were invented and germs were discovered. And it was certainly important to live in obedience to the Law under the old covenant. However, Jesus was not concerned about outward washing as much as He was about inward washing. So, obedience to cleanliness is not a way toward godliness. Cleanliness is not next to godliness, but, if this pandemic has taught us anything, I hope it's that washing our hands has always been and will always be good common sense.
That was fun. Looking forward to doing this again next week!
Pastor Tracy
PS - We're back to single services for the summer! Check out the registration link below.
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THE NEVER-ENDING STORY
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