Cleanse the Lepers

These twelve Jesus sent out after instructing them: “Do not go in the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter any city of the Samaritans; but rather go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. “And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ “Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. Freely you received, freely give."

The title is this: "Cleanse the Lepers."

Because this is not just a phrase tucked into a list. This is part of the Great Commission as He defined it.

And lepers are not merely those with a skin condition.

Lepers are those living in adversity with God.

And if we are honest, that adversity is found more in the church than anywhere else — and often more caused by the church than by the actual adversary of God, Satan himself.

It is time we stop becoming the very thing we are called to cleanse.

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As I read this scripture and begin to understand all that Jesus called His disciples to do, I find myself caught on one phrase:

“Cleanse the lepers.”

Nowadays, we don’t even hear about lepers or leprosy.

So who were these, so called, lepers?

Why was Jesus so concerned with these people that He commissions His people to cleanse them?

Lepers were people with a contagious skin condition, and so they were isolated.

Outcast.

Marked.

Unclean.

They lived in a constant state of adversity — not only with society, but in separation that was believed to be from God.

(Lepers sound awfully familiar to Paul's message, noting us as "scums of the world," except we don't all have skin conditions. It just feels awfully familiar to those of us who understand the call as Jesus Freaks and that this is not our "home.")

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Diving deeper, I studied the word lepers in the Hebrew context, I found definitions describing one who was divinely stricken — troubles, distress, afflictions, adversity.

Adversity — Let me stop here.

Adversity is something that is or someone being in a constant state of opposition or working against another. By reason, misunderstanding, or doubt — any way — it stands opposed.

It was at that moment, Spirit revealed to me, “The very thing we are to cleanse in others is the very thing we as Christians cause the most — adversity amongst ourselves.”

Now I am not talking about the adversity that Christ stirred amongst the nations.

Or maybe… I am.

Because the adversity Christ brought was light confronting darkness — and that adversity set people free.

The adversity we create?

It binds.

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First, let’s get to the adversity that we stir amongst ourselves — the church, the body of Christ.

This is why peace is so important to walk in. Peace is one’s ability to discern between battles, understanding that God has created us all to be different and given each of us a piece of Him. Knowing that He is sufficient in all, and we are not. Recognizing that He works together ALL things — good and what we feel at times are bad — for OUR GOOD.

This is walking with “your feet shod with the Gospel of Peace.”

Because when we do not walk in peace, we create adversity.

And there are so many adversities and adversaries amongst God’s people, it’s embarrassing!

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Denominations that should have reflected diversity became divisions. Instead of being different expressions under one Head, they became adversarial camps.

The Bible declares there is “one way.” That is His way.

Yet we find ourselves as Pentecostals against Baptists, Baptists against Catholics, Non-Denominational against “religious,” and “religious” against modern expressions.

Adversity.

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Now I’m not saying all of us are aligned with this division. Maybe being raised Pentecostal in the 90s it seemed more adverse then than now. Now we have “Non-Denominational,” which sounds unified.

Yet it can become so modern that it shies away from biblical foundations and creates churches run by the spirit of the world — saying, “If we can change it to anything ‘non,’ then we can take away from all that we ‘non’-like of the Word.”

Different mask. Same root.

Adversity.

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Another adversity we cause is how we respond to someone’s encounter with God.

If someone says their experience with the Lord was intimate, overwhelming, beyond explanation — we critique.

We analyze.

We reduce.

Why?

Maybe jealousy. Maybe unfamiliarity.

But instead of cleansing adversity, we become it — creating a leper amongst us.

Instead of appreciating diversity of encounter, we depreciate it.

encounters.

Adversity.

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Then we create adversity around church attendance.

Some believe going every Sunday is the measure of faithfulness and label others in sin for “forsaking the assembly.” Yet, Jesus made a way

— He did not institutionalize a schedule.

We are so acculturated to “the way” we built that we forget “the Way”

He is.

Is rest really happening when Sunday feels like another performance?

Another scramble?

Another obligation wrapped in guilt?

This adversity was created for us — and we let it govern our peace.

And lean in close.

It’s not required.

The Israelites were only commanded by God to assemble like four times a year, for the Feasts of God. Not 52 times, nor on a Sunday.

Even He understood that assignment wouldn't be feasible for all.

Yet we built something beyond what was required — and then measured devotion by it.

And when devotion is measured by what God did not command, adversity is born.

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The greater adversity is thinking “one should” rather than allowing “one to.”

Thinking the place — church once a week — is greater than being the church every day.

Thinking assembling around our way is greater than aligning with His.

A few assembling themselves together in agreeance of their ways is greater than His way.

A group of people gathering and thinking they can outdo God by their influence. (The scattering and fall of the Tower of Babble... cough... cough anyone.)

Adversity again.

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We were not called to call — people are already called.

We were not called to be Pharisees, enforcing systems to prove righteousness.

Jesus came to abolish such burdens, so we could love Him freely.

No more. No less. Just Him.

Allowing God to be God over the people's lives, rather than thinking we need someone else to be their rock — Jesus.

And if any of you think that it's not of Him, remember He is the Great I am, and He will declare that truth in due season.

Maybe inadvertently you're the adversary, weed, amongst the branches.

In many ways, this becomes "spiritual bottle-feeding."

Just as a baby will never attempt to hold the bottle if you are always the one doing it for them, believers will never learn to seek if we always do the seeking for them.

It’s the convenience theory of spoil — People only do what they have to.

So in what ways are you making them have to find Him?

Are you always being a source of water, rather than leading them to the Fountain and allowing them to drink?

If we are called to lead the church, then we should lead according to His leadership.

Ask. Seek. Knock.

Receive. Find. The door will be opened unto you.

Why are we giving what has not been asked?

Why are we revealing what has not yet been sought?

Why are we opening doors one has yet to knock on?

Maybe this was 2020.

Churches closed. Many fell silent.

We were given time, without pressure of someone else's season or lesson, to find our own in Him.

And if any of you think this is not of Him, remember: He is the Great I Am. He will declare truth in due season.

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And here is where heart is tested.

Jesus said if you bring your gift to the altar and remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there.

Go.

Be reconciled to your brother first.

Then come and offer your gift.

Why?

Because unresolved offense creates adversity.

Adversity creates isolation.

Isolation creates a leper.

If cleansing the lepers is part of the commission, then it must begin with the adversity we cause.

It should weigh heavier on our hearts to see a brother restored from what we created than for us to simply secure our own forgiveness before God.

That is heart.

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The religious leaders in Jesus’ time were more adversarial toward Him than the sinners were.

The Pharisees opposed Him.

The teachers of the law resisted Him.

Even one of His own betrayed Him.

The crowds? They followed.

The sinners? They were healed.

The outsiders? They received.

The adversity did not come from darkness alone.

It came from those who believed they were the guardians of light.

And now here we are again.

Arguing doctrine while neglecting mercy.

Protecting tradition while producing isolation.

Measuring conformity instead of cultivating freedom.

"Throwing stones," as Jesus calls it.

Maybe inadvertently, we have become the adversity we were sent to cleanse.

Because cleansing the lepers was never just about skin.

It was about removing what isolates.

What divides.

What opposes.

What separates people from wholeness.

And if we are called to cleanse adversity —

Then we must stop creating it.

Now here is the hard truth:

The adversity many live in today is not caused primarily by Satan.

It is caused by us — His people.

And another hard truth:

Lepers are not merely strangers unconcerned with God.

Often, they are those belonging to the Kingdom — those whom God allows to walk through affliction so they may know Him as their Healer.

The final hard truth is:

Leprosy is contagious. It is something that if people are not isolated from others, it can spread.

Imagine if they are not cleansed, the impact it makes on the Kingdom.

We were not commissioned to spread adversity.

We were commissioned to remove it.

Satan’s job is to accuse.

Why are we helping him?

It is time we stop becoming the leprosy in the body of Christ.

Cleanse the lepers.