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Titus 1:15
15 Unto the pure [katharos] all things [pas] are pure [men] [katharos]: but [de] unto them that are defiled [miaino] and [kai] unbelieving [apistos] is nothing [oudeis] pure [katharos]; but [alla] even [kai] their [autos] mind [nous] and [kai] conscience [suneidesis] is defiled [miaino]. KJV-Interlinear
15 To the pure, all things are pure; but to those who are defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure, but both their mind and their conscience are defiled. NASB
Paul has been talking about the spiritual selection process of the local people living on the island of Crete, and the general character of that population.
Beware of those who pursue false pretenses of righteousness. Likewise beware of those who are so self righteous that they will never see themselves as wrong, no matter what. And, then there is the group of folks that just simply hate and lie and cheat and deceive and do not care one way or another, what anyone thinks of them.
Two of the more popular concepts of that era, was circumcision, and pure or impure foods. These things were held in high regard with respect to ones spiritual life. But unfortunately the spiritual principles they taught got lost in the application of these actual things to everyday life. Circumcision and diet became the spiritual life, not the content or thought process of ones soul.
Circumcision represented the concept of salvation, or the cutting away of a dead and useless thing, from an otherwise useful and living thing. And diet likewise represented the spiritual concept of living the day to day good and clean life of fellowship. Bad foods represent the sins or bad decisions, and the good foods represent the clean living of one who is in fellowship.
But these teaching aids, became the principle, rather than the key to understanding spiritual principles that they taught.
Mark 7:15
15 there is nothing outside the man which going into him can defile him; but the things which proceed out of the man are what defile the man. NASB
1 Cor 8:8
8 But food will not commend us to God; we are neither the worse if we do not eat, nor the better if we do eat. NASB
And just as the actual physical circumcision, or the actual diet that you choose for yourself, have absolutely nothing to do with your spiritual life, so also, the many fables and fads and standards of life that you may follow on a daily basis, have absolutely nothing to do with your spiritual life.
Your beliefs from this world do not make your spiritual life. Your spiritual life will however create in you, the standards that you are to live by.
A wrong thing done in a wrong way, is wrong.
A right thing done in a wrong way, is wrong.
A wrong thing done in a right way, is wrong.
You can only do a right thing in a right way, and obtain a right result. And that is Bible doctrine learned, understood, and applied to your daily life.
To the pure, the spiritually mature or savvy person, then there is great tolerance for what the world chooses, but great obedience to the things that God mandates.
Jesus Christ controls history. This world does not determine the destiny of anything or anyone.
There may be many disasters (an event of great loss), that occur in life, but there are no tragedies (events from which there is no recovery).
God gives life and God takes it away. And when God takes life away, life continues on, it is just in another venue. Just because you cannot see it, does not make it bad or tragic.
Jesus Christ controls history. God brings all things, whether good or bad, whether caused or allowed, together for good.
Your inability to see all of the facts, or understand the reasons behind any occurrence, is all the more reason why you have no right to judge, or even blame, or even question, God.
External circumstances do not make a person defiled per se, but what enters into the soul and how it is utilized, does.
You can question and challenge the teaching of the scriptures, but do so in an objective manner for the purpose of coming to an understanding of the scriptures. To challenge in order to support preexisting beliefs, is evil and gains you nothing.
