CLEANLINESS IS NEXT TO GODLINESS - What does it means?
Most Christians have likely heard this saying, but where did it begin? While the specific expression is not seen in the Bible, the general idea is expressed.
“Being clean is a sign of spiritual purity or goodness … cleanliness is next to godliness.” This sentiment was uttered by John Wesley in a sermon over two centuries ago, yet it is still being espoused today as a virtue worth possessing. But is cleanliness really next to godliness, or is the proverb outdated and even, quite possibly, misleading.
"Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your deeds from before my eyes; cease to do evil, learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow's cause." ~ Isaiah 1:16-17
"Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow." Psalm 51:7
THE ORIGINS OF THE PHRASE
It is unclear, exactly, why the connection between cleanliness and godliness ever originated. In 1605, nearly 200 years before John Wesley held his infamous sermon, Sir Francis Bacon wrote, “Cleanness of body was ever deemed to proceed from a due reverence to God.” This concept maybe came from the Israelites, who were particularly concerned with the concepts of “clean” and “unclean.”
According to Mosaic Law, God’s people are to avoid “unclean” things. However, the scripture does not cite dust, dirt and an unkempt appearance as things that are dirty. Rather, it refers to dead bodies and carcasses, certain types of meat, bodily discharges and leprosy. If a person were to come into contact with an item or substance considered “dirty,” that individual could make himself or herself clean again through elaborate washing rituals. For the Jewish, these rituals were essential to re-entering the community and sanctuary of the Lord, and they are considered necessary before one can approach God.
CLEANLINESS QUOTES IN THE BIBLE
Exodus 40:30–31 (NLT)Next Moses placed the wash, basin between the Tabernacle and the altar. He filled it with water so the priests could wash themselves. Moses and Aaron and Aaron’s sons used water from it to wash their hands and feet.
John 13:10 (ESV)Jesus said to him, “The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but is completely clean. And you are clean, but not every one of you.”
Leviticus 14:8–9 (NIV)“The person to be cleansed must wash their clothes, shave off all their hair and bathe with water; then they will be ceremonially clean. After this they may come into the camp, but they must stay outside their tent for seven days. On the seventh day they must shave off all their hair; they must shave their head, their beard, their eyebrows and the rest of their hair. They must wash their clothes and bathe themselves with water, and they will be clean.
Leviticus 17:15–16 (NLT)“And if any native-born Israelites or foreigners eat the meat of an animal that died naturally or was torn up by wild animals, they must wash their clothes and bathe themselves in water. They will remain ceremonially unclean until evening, but then they will be clean. But if they do not wash their clothes and bathe themselves, they will be punished for their sin.”
Psalm 51:7 (NLT)Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
Psalm 51:10 (NLT)Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me.
Isaiah 1:16 (NLT)Wash yourselves and be clean! Get your sins out of my sight. Give up your evil ways.
Ezekiel 36:25–26 (NIV)I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.
Matthew 15:2 (NLT)“Why do your disciples disobey our age-old tradition? For they ignore our tradition of ceremonial hand washing before they eat.”
Acts 22:16 (NIV)And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name.’
2 Corinthians 7:1 (NLT)Because we have these promises, dear friends, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that can defile our body or spirit. And let us work toward complete holiness because we fear God.
Hebrews 10:22 (NIV)Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.
1 Peter 3:21 (NLT)And that water is a picture of baptism, which now saves you, not by removing dirt from your body, but as a response to God from a clean conscience. It is effective because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
1 John 1:7 (NIV)But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.
1 John 1:9 (NLT)But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.
Revelation 19:14 (NIV)The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean.
FIVE REASONS WHY CLEANLINESS IS NEXT TO GODLINESS
There is no more profound truth to this idiom than the fact that cleaning or improving our environment promotes a positive mindset and sense of responsibility.
When we clean something, we bring out its inner beauty, this is a good deed, and it benefits everything.
Following, we will dig deeper into this though with a few reasons why Cleanliness is like Godliness.
Promotes Positive Mindset
Cleaning helps encourage optimism. Keeping your house (place) clean and organized promotes a sense of achievement and relaxation. It brings you peace as you took a proper action to improve the environment. Taking positive action for yourself or someone else relieves stress.
Doing good deed feels wonderful, and therefore cleanliness and godliness are very similar in how they affect our mind.
Improves Your Spiritual Health
Cleanliness is taking care of yourself and everything that supports you. Cleaning something (similar actions) promote your spiritual advancement. It shows you care about your spiritual health and wants to get rid of negativity.
You stress yourself when you deal with clutter. Seeing a cluttered or poorly organized space releases cortisol, the stress-causing hormone. It leaves negative impacts on your well-being. Cleaning promotes your spiritual health and helps you fight against anxiety or stress.
It promotes your will to contribute more. You take responsibility for improving yourself and the environment. Whether you clean yourself or hire cleaning services, it shows you are trying to improve your surroundings.
Physical Health
Hygiene has a vital role in our health. While it promotes spiritual health, it also improves our physical health. Staying clean helps your mind stay positive. Cleanliness is a sign we take care of ourselves, and it improves our health as we:
Kill Germs
Fights Food Contamination
Boosts Mental Health
Fights off the chances of getting sick or attracting any vermin
Promotes mental clarity as you get rid of foul odors
Promotes a positive perception
Gives a Sense of Beauty
Cleanliness fosters a sense of beauty. Nothing is more beautiful than a clean hose with a tidy garden. Everything wesay is alsotrue for the human body. We can only help our inner beauty shine through when we take care of our hygiene
Our sense of beauty helps us identify the negative and positive aspects of the life. It helps us draw the line between good and bad. Personal care (hygiene) is an essential agent of health. This agent improves the condition of your skin and hair. It gives you a more positive outlook.
Motivation
"Cleanliness is next to Godliness" is a metaphorical idiom. It means a clean body and home is a mind free of unfiltered thoughts. It brings joy to our life as we are taking a position action to get rid of something wrong. This deed helps make the world a better place for ourselves and others.
Working to cleanliness brings a sense of satisfaction. It motivates us to take more decisive actions to improve our lives. Moreover, developing these habits improve our strength of mind, determination, and discipline. It also helps improve our morality.
KEY POINTS!
Cleanliness Is Next to Godliness and the Bible
Personal hygiene and spiritual purity are intricately linked in the Bible.
Cleanliness, both ritual and actual, was fundamental to establishing and preserving holiness in the Israelite community.
Circumcision, handwashing, foot washing, bathing, and baptism are some of the many purification practices found in the bible.
Careful attention to personal hygiene is essential, particularly as a safeguard against diseases
Comments