that you may become blameless and harmless…
The second standard which will contravene a poor testimony is a believer should become “harmless.” The Philippian church was not a “shinning light” (v.15) in the world. Therefore, non-Christians were not attracted to the Lord.
“that you may become …harmless”
“Harmless” means pure or unadulterated. We speak of alcohol as 100% proof. That is, it is not mixed with some other substance. This word was used in the first century for a wine that had not been diluted. Often an ancient tavern keeper, after his customer would become inebriated, would dilute his drinks with water. His taste buds were not as keen. Such a person was called a huckster.
The opposite of a huckster is a person who is genuine. The believer should not water his life down with the energy of the flesh. This same word was used in Matthew 10:16, “Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.” This does not mean that the believer is to be naive but authentic or bona fide in their Christian walk.
PRINCIPLE: A believer should live an unadulterated life, a genuine life unmixed with signals which go in opposite directions at once.
APPLICATION: It is a great mistake for a person to believe that he must experience evil to know it. God’s value is genuineness, freedom from the mixture of the flesh. This will send a consistent signal to those without Christ.
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