Label Number Six: "Profane."

Label # 6:  Profane. 

The Power Thesaurus defines “profane” as something that is “not holy because” it is “unconsecrated or impure or defiled.”  Other definitions include “not concerned with or devoted to religion,” “grossly irreverent toward what is held to be sacred,” “to put to a wrong or unworthy use; to make a base employment of; to debase; to abuse; to defile,” and “to violate, as anything sacred; to treat with abuse, irreverence, obloquy or contempts; to desecrate; to pollute; as, to profane the name of God; to profane the Scriptures or the ordinance of God” (Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary.)  Do those definitions not seem to describe the present state of our great country?  We have taken what is sacred, such as marriage and the value of unborn babies, and desecrated it. If I am being brutally honest with myself, there was a point in my life—and not that long ago, sadly—that I could relate to this label.  The Bible says to “[r]un from sexual sin!  No other sin so clearly affects the body as this one does.  For sexual immorality is a sin against your own body” (1 Corinthians 6:18 NLT.)  I was in a downward spiral of immorality from which I could not find a means of escape.  

Paul goes on to state that “Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God?  You do not belong to yourself” (1 Corinthians 6:19 NLT.) If I am sinning against my own body, and my body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, then it stands to reason that my sins were defiling something that is sacred.  We find it easy to live in the moment when we are participating in sin.  Those few moments of pleasure are only a temporary high.  Often we forget that Jesus is right there with us as we indulge in sinful desires.  Using our bodies as tools of unrighteousness shows gross irreverence to the One Who created them! 

Imagine that your body is an instrument that God gave you.  How do you properly use that instrument?  It’s like an individual seated at a piano without being taught how to play it; without instructions (a teacher, textbooks, and songbooks) the only noise coming from the keys is going to be just that—noise.  But if an instructor teaches that individual how to read music and how to position their hands above the keys and how to keep rhythm, the results are melodious!  Your body is God’s instrument; you are His hands and feet.  The Father did not leave you here without an instruction manual, however!  His Word is full of teachings and laws that, if properly followed, enable you to use your body for His service. 

Paul explained to Timothy “But we know that the law is good if one uses it lawfully, knowing this: that the law is not made for a righteous person, but for the lawless and insubordinate, for the godly and for sinners, for the unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, for fornicators, for sodomites, for kidnappers, for liars, for perjurers, and if there is any other thing that is contrary to the sound doctrine, according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God which was committed to my trust” (1 Timothy 1: 9-11 NKJV.)  There are some major league sins listed in those verses, but also a few that are common to all of us.  Have you ever lied?  Have you ever been insubordinate? Have you ever broken a law (FYI, speed limits constitute laws!)  Remember that “There is none righteous, no, not one” (Romans 3:10 NKJV.)  Therefore, God’s laws were placed in the Bible for you.  They are there for me.  Like a child banging out horrendous noise on the keys of a piano, when we live our life without following the instruction manual given to us by the Father we produce horrific messes. 

I have to admit, I did a great job making a disaster of the life that God has given me.  But as I listen to the advice of godly counsel, read the Word of God (aka the instruction manual,) and seek God’s wisdom in prayer I am finding that the Father is cleaning up the disastrous mess that I made.   Again, it is like my puppy Rufus having an accident on the carpet.  I made several piles of unholy mess on the floor.  God has come in, removed the mess, and is currently cleansing the area.   As He does so, I feel compelled to share these experiences and lessons with other people.  Why do I do so? “If you instruct the brethren in these things, you will be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished in the words of faith and of the good doctrine which you have carefully followed.  But reject profane and old wives fables, and exercise yourself towards godliness” (1 Timothy 4:6,7 NKJV.) 

I want to be a good minister of Jesus Christ.  From this point of my life until the day I die, I want to be an ambassador for my Savior!  Paul tells Timothy that instructing fellow Christians in the way of God produces ministry.  By studying God’s Word and allowing Him to open it up in my mind, I am able to share it with others and as a result I become nourished by the Bible!  Cooking is a passion of mine; I enjoy combining multiple ingredients into a delicious meal to share with my family and friends.  The resulting dish nourishes my body and the bodies of those whom I share it with.  (Unless it is a true Southern style dish, and then there is little nourishment but much enjoyment!)  As I take principles and truths from God’s Word as He guides me and share them with my friends and family I am spiritually sustained and so are they! 

The New Living Translation puts 1 Timothy 4:7 this way: “Do not waste time arguing over godless ideas and old wives’ tales.  Instead, train yourself to be godly.”  How much time have you wasted discussing the sewage of this world?  Let’s be brutally honest: most of the blockbuster films and chart-topping songs which we spend hours talking about with friends (and strangers!) are nothing more than garbage.  Yet we devote so much time, so much enthusiasm, and so much focus on the things of the world.  Often, we spend a couple hours a week discussing God, and that is when we are in church or in a small group.  God forbid we try to speak like a Christian around ungodly friends and coworkers!  We do not want to be labeled a “bigot” or a “fanatic.”  (As a side note, sometimes those kinds of labels should be worn with pride.  The world doesn’t understand God.  If they understand us, then maybe we are not reflecting enough of God.)  When we keep discussing the profane, godless toxic waste of the world, we place a barrier between us the Father.  How?  Because He is a holy God.

If we are not careful we will be swayed by the profane views of culture.  Paul admonished his close friend and fellow pastor, “Timothy, guard what God has entrusted to you.  Avoid godless, foolish discussions with those who oppose you with their so-called knowledge.  Some people have wandered from the faith by following such foolishness” (1 Timothy 6:20-21 NLT.)  It is a frightening thought that a Christian could be led away from the truth by giving a listening ear to the whispers of the world.  Yet, it happens.  I myself have friends who at one time were sold out to the Lord; now they mock His very existence.  Sadly, my life has not pointed them in the direction of the Lord.  Instead, my life has led many people to the world rather than the Savior. I will bear those scars til the day that I die.  However, if I am not careful I can let Satan take that thought and beat me with it; he can craft the truth (I lived for the world and did not point others to God) into a lie (I am a profane person.)   So how do I counter this attempt to label me as “ungodly?”

“Work at living in peace with everyone, and work at living a holy life, for those who are not holy will not see the Lord.  Look after each other so that none of you fails to receive the grace of God.  Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many.  Make sure that no one is immoral or godless like Esau, who traded his birthright as the firstborn son for a single meal” (Hebrews 12:14-16 NLT.)  The path to holiness takes work.  There is no simpler explanation.  The author of Hebrews implores us to peaceful living.  At times it is difficult to live peacefully with others.  Perhaps you have a difficult coworker who tries your patience.  Maybe you struggle with getting along with an ex-spouse.   It is not always easy to remain peaceful with a current spouse!  Yet living at peace with others draws us closer to holiness. 

We are also instructed to look after each other.  I think that is awesome!  There are about five contacts in my phone who check up on my spiritual walk daily.  They text me encouraging messages, Bible verses, and exhortation.  If I am struggling with sin, I text them and they are there to help me through it.  Who knew that accountability partners originated in the Bible?  Don’t be like Cain, asking God “Am I my brother’s keeper?”  Yes.  Yes, you are.  You have a spiritual obligation to fellow Christians. 

Finally, we are told to be on the lookout for bitterness.  The author compares bitterness to a poisonous root.  That description is spot on!  Bitterness is like a cancer.  It starts small, maybe after someone said something that offended you.  Cancer begins as a single cell, and then it mutates and grows.  A root of bitterness grows and can overtake your entire body.  You are unable to find happiness in life.  You cannot find peace.  Freedom from sin becomes an impossible feat.  If you are a bitter Christian, you cannot walk in holiness.  Maybe now is the time to locate that original cancerous cell of bitterness and deal with it. 

In his second epistle, the apostle Peter describes the day of the Lord, when the earth will be destroyed by fire.  He suggests that “”[s]ince everything around us is going to be destroyed like this, what holy and godly lives you should live, looking forward to the day of God and hurrying it along (2 Peter 3:11,12a NLT.)  The author of Hebrews shares practical advice on living a holy life, and Peter explains why we need to pursue holiness.  Do you want to be found living a profane life when Jesus returns?  If He came back right now, would you be glad to see Him?  Are you prepared for His return? 

God created you to be holy.  Did you realize that?  “Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes” (Ephesians 1:4 NLT.)   He chose us to be His children!  “So you must live as God’s obedient children.” Peter instructs us, “Don’t slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires. You didn’t know any better then.  But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy.  For the Scriptures say, “You must be holy because I am holy” (1 Peter 1:14-16 NLT.)   Just as God chose us, we must choose to live godly lives.  When we were still in sin, we did not know any better.  Babies don’t understand the concept of eating without making a huge mess.  By the time they finish their first birthday cake there is frosting and cake crumbs all over their face, their clothes, in their hair, and on the floor.  Imagine if your coworkers gave you a cake for your thirty-seventh birthday.  If you ended up with cake all over yourself and the floor you might be facing the unemployment line.  When a baby makes a mess it’s cute, but when an adult does it is pathetic.  What’s the difference?  The baby doesn’t know any better, and you do.  It is not cute when a Christian sins.  God doesn’t take a video of it and post in on social media saying “Awww, isn’t this so adorable!  Bless his heart, he just doesn’t know any better!”  No.  It breaks His heart.  And it should break your heart when you sin. 

“Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception.  Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes.  Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy (Ephesians 4:21-24 NLT.)  The only way to peel off the label of “profane” that you’ve been living with is to throw off your old ways.  You must let your former way of life be just that—former.  Your past mistakes have no business being part of your present existence.  Yes, you have scars and consequences because of your sin.  But don’t add fresh scars!  Returning to your past ways because of the consequences you are dealing with is just like picking at acne on your face.  It leads to more acne and permanent scars.  Leave the past in the past.  Consider your present life as a present from God.  In doing so, the “profane” label will be replaced by one which you might have never dreamed possible of seeing on yourself: “holy!”