The Common Man and the Bible
By Robin Calamaio
At any given moment, God views each of us as either common or
uncommon.
When the scribes and Pharisees challenged Jesus about His
disciples eating with unclean hands, this was part of His
response. "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" (Mk 7:15). Later, the disciples
questioned Jesus about this. He added, "That which proceeds out
of the man, that is what defiles the man. For from within, out
of the heart of man, proceed the evil thoughts and fornications,
thefts, murders, adulteries, deeds of coveting and wickedness,
as well as deceit, envy, slander, pride (arrogance) and
foolishness. All these evil things proceed from within and
defile the man" (Mk 7:20 -23). The primary word of interest here
is the word translated, "defile." The verb is koinoo, and the
noun is koinos. Before giving you the definition, let me give
you a clue.
For a long time, many believed the Greek of the New Testament
was a new language from God - heavenly, undefiled, and holy. But
archeological digs began unearthing shopping lists and land
deeds written in the same Greek in the same time period! Bible
scholars soon realized the Greek of the New Testament was
actually the common language of the day. It is now called Koine
Greek Common Greek - from koinoo (v) and koinos (n).
Many words in this Greek are morally neutral. Context determines
if they are to be understood as positive or negative. For
example, Jesus told His disciples, "I have earnestly desired (epithumeo)
to eat this Passover with you before I suffer" (Lk 22:15 ). But
elsewhere, "everyone who looks on a woman to lust (epithumeo)
for her has committed adultery with her already in his heart"
(Mt 5:28 ). One context is positive, the other negative. Such is
the case with, koinoo (v), koinos (n). In a more positive light
it means, "universal, generic, widespread common." Thus, Koine
Greek. But in a negative context it means, "inferior, profane
defiled" as in the Mark 7: 15, 20-23.
From cover to cover, the Bible teaches that our natural,
universal state our common state - is one of moral defilement.
"What man is there among you, when his son asks him for bread,
will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, he will not
give him a snake will he? If you then, being evil, know how to
give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your
heavenly Father give what is good to those who ask Him?" (Mt
7:9-11). To be defiled is the common state of man.
The world has its own definition of what makes one common or
uncommon. Fame makes one uncommon. Power makes one uncommon.
Wealth makes one uncommon. But a heart that exudes "evil
thoughts and fornications (porneia sexual immorality of any
sort), thefts, murders, adulteries, deeds of coveting and
wickedness, as well as deceit, envy, slander, pride (arrogance)
and foolishness" resides in a Commoner. To some scoffing
Pharisees, Jesus said, "You are those who make yourselves
righteous in the sight of men, but God knows your hearts; for
that which is highly esteemed among men (literally, high before
men) is detestable in the sight of God" (Lk 16:15 ). This is a
great encouragement because one's station in life does not
effect God's assessment in this matter. So, based upon behavior,
at any given moment, God views each of us as either common or
uncommon.
I wish I could say I have arrived at the position of uncommon.
But I do not think this is a spot anyone permanently occupies in
this age. Sin that abounding, common element constantly pounds
inside and outside each of us. When I sin whether by action or
reaction God looks at me and sees a common man. Anyone could do
what I just did. Sometimes sin deceives me, and sometimes it
blinds me. But many times, I just decide to participate with it.
Too often, I make myself a Commoner.
This life is one of continual process, change and challenge.
Ultimately, God alone determines our commonness, or
uncommonness, event by event. Oftentimes, we do not know how we
fared (or are faring) in a given situation. But, He has given us
some tools (like the first passage in this Article) so as to
substantively assess ourselves in most circumstances.
Yes, at any given moment, God views each of us as either common
or uncommon. "There is nothing outside the man which, going into
him, can make him common; But, the things which proceed out of
the man are what common the man That which proceeds out of the
man, that is what makes him common. For from within, out of the
heart of man, proceed the evil thoughts and fornications,
thefts, murders, adulteries, deeds of coveting and wickedness,
as well as deceit, envy, slander, pride (arrogance) and
foolishness. All these evil things proceed from within and
common the man" (Mk 7:15 , 20-23). I do not want to stay a
Commoner. I want God to be able to assess me as more and more
uncommon. I want to live in such a way that He might even say to
the heavenly host, "Have you considered my son, Robin? Have you
seen how uncommon he is?" This matter rests in our hands.
This Article's an excerpt from Robin's definitive work on
the Abortion Argument
http://www.freelygive-n.com/Abortion_Argument.html
Robin has an M-Div (Emmanuel School of Rel '92.)
