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JUST A LITTLE CONTAMINATION |
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JUST A LITTLE CONTAMINATION |
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One day a mother was scraping vegetables for a salad as her daughter came to ask permission to go to an adult movie. “But all the kids are going,” she said, “and their folks don’t think it will hurt them.” As she talked, she saw her mother pick up a handful of scraps and throw them into the salad. Rather startled, the daughter shouted, “Mother, you are getting the garbage in the salad.” “I know,” her mother replied, but I thought if you didn’t mind garbage in your heart and in your mind that you wouldn’t care about a little in your stomach.”
Thoughtfully, the girl picked the peelings from the salad and then smiled at her mother. “I guess I’ll just tell them I’m staying at home tonight,” she said as she went through the kitchen door.”
It is so important for us as Christians to keep our hearts pure from evil. Jesus taught: “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God” (Matt. 5:8). Paul wrote, “Abstain from all appearance of evil (I Thess. 5:22). Solomon said, “For as a man thinketh in his heart, so is he” (Prov. 23:7).
There are places that we should not go and things we should not do as Christians. We may sometimes reason that we are strong enough that no ill effects will come to us! Maybe we won’t turn from God, but will we be weakened morally and spiritually? There is enough evil in the world without going out and purposely finding it. Paul wrote to the Roman Christians, “and be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God” (Rom. 12:2). Selected
Bob Craig, Elder