Two weeks ago I needed to clear some of our wooded area behind my shop to run a waterline to my garden. I have been installing a water catchment system which will work by collecting rainwater from my shop roof into a 270 gallon water container. The waterline out of the tank falls about 8 feet in elevation and 60 feet to my garden where it is piped to each individual raised bed. I only need about 3/4 of an inch of rain to fill the tank. It’s been kind of a fun project.
I cleared those woods on one of those 92 degree days in long socks, sweatpants and a sweatshirt — and not because I enjoy the sensation of experiencing a sauna while wearing all my clothing. You see, that area of my property is full of Poison Ivy and Oak, and if I look at that stuff I get it as surely as looking at Medusa will turn people to stone.
So, there I was, weed-whacking and tree trimming dressed like it was 42 instead of 92, but at least I would avoid the disaster of poisoned skin blisters accompanied by the desire to scratch driving me to the point of insanity… but… alas… nope. Yep… I got it anyway. Poison Oak all over my lower right leg.
The only way that I can figure that I got it was because I was sweating like crazy in my anti-poison yuck outfit and when I sweated through the pants… the sweat sucked that poison onto my skin. I got it pretty bad… probably worse than if I had just been wearing shorts — although, thankfully, it is almost better now.
It is truly amazing to me how easily that Poison Oak mingled with my sweat and infected me. It never occurred to me that such a thing could happen. I thought I was safe, but that stuff still got me. You know, proximity to sin can have the same effect on us. The Apostle Paul wrote: “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is…” Romans 12:2
The patterns of this world are under the influence of Satan. Yet even though we know this full well from scripture, it is still
possible for us to find ourselves conformed to the world instead of renewed by our decision-making. Proximity to sin can cause the world to easily seep into our lives like that poison oak did to me — especially when we mingle in areas that a renewed mind ought to avoid.
We saw this play out this week in a public and rather unfortunate way with Chip and Joanna Gaines and their new reality TV show, Back To The Frontier. The show will feature three “normal families” living an 1800’s lifestyle for 8 weeks — except one of those families consists of 2 gay men and their two adopted sons. By casting a gay couple as a “normal family,” the Gaines have allowed the influence of the world and the proximity to sin taint their decision-making. No Christian ought to ever normalize sin for God surely doesn’t.
Many in the Christian world have challenged them on their mingling in areas that are conformed to this world, but, unfortunately, rather than expressing regret over their choice they have doubled down and defended their actions — choosing instead to quote Jesus out of context (as many do) to support their decision. And now, yet again, a prominent Christian figure has defamed Christ and God’s word.
Slate Magazine wrote: “Chip and Joanna Gaines have suddenly found themselves in a good ol’ Christian backlash because they broke the traditional mold, however slightly, by doing something far-right religious bigots apparently cannot tolerate: acknowledging the existence of LGBTQ+ people.”
There is nothing “slight” about sin. Because of sin the wrath of God is coming. Let me ask you… do statements like Slate Magazine about a Christian, which are based upon a worldly approach to morality, strengthen the body of Christ or harm it? The Enemy is having a field-day with this one. All because it is all too easy to conform… and so, so hard to avoid sin when we mingle in the world. Avoid conforming to the world — it’s nothing but poison.
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