Remove the old leaven
Exodus (28) Remove the old leaven (Exodus 12:15-20)
"Put up the roots of sin"
From the day after the Passover, the Israelites ate unleavened bread for a week. Leaven symbolizes ‘worldly things’. So they ate unleavened bread as a sign of being specially consecrated during that time. During that feast, leaven was to be kept out of the house. At that time, those who ate Confucian food symbolizing worldly things were cut off from the congregation of Israel, Jews and Gentiles (verse 19).
During the Passover, Jews spend a lot of time searching every corner of the house to find and remove leaven. The yeast is mixed with water to make the dough rise. They considered the power to make a lot of flour in a small amount the root of sin, so they searched for and removed leaven with the thought that the saved people of God should cut off the root of sin and lead a separate life. The power of sin is as great as the power of leaven. No matter how trivial a sin is, when it enters into us, it causes us to fall. Therefore, we must uproot the roots of sin just as we thoroughly seek and remove leaven of leaven.
The most important thing for believers is to find and remove the hidden root of sin within them. Sin is like a tough dandelion root. In Korea, dandelions are useful in many ways, and the tenacious vitality of dandelions is similar to our national character, so we are tolerant of dandelions. However, in the West, when a single dandelion is found in the home garden, it panics and runs to uproot it. When the dandelion starts to bloom, the lawn turns into a dandelion field, so be careful of dandelions as much as possible. So we must be vigilant against sin.
The Apostle Paul also told us to throw away the old leaven in 1 Corinthians 5. At that time, the church in Corinth was divided into several factions. Church members also sued each other for property rights issues. Some even lived with my stepmother after my father's death. Paul strongly said that such a person should be expelled immediately so that his body may perish and his spirit may be saved (1 Corinthians 5:5). Why did you say such a powerful thing? Because we know the contagiousness of sin.
< Remove the old leaven >
Some people are attracted to good and others are attracted to evil. The good and the bad depend on which power one's heart is more attracted to. Also, if you are near a good person, you will become good and bright as well, but if you are near a bad person, you will become evil and dark. That is why the Apostle Paul tells us to excommunicate those who have a bad influence. “Don’t you know that a little leaven makes the whole lump swell? To get a new lump, clean the old leaven (verses 6-7).
The life of a saint is a process of removing such old leaven. It's not easy. The Korean church now emphasizes grace too much, but there are many things that are lacking in terms of actions. So said one scholar. “I want Korean Christians to be as good as Japanese Christians.” The voices of praise and prayer are rising, but they cannot smell the fragrance of Christian life.
The prophet Amos of the 8th century B.C. said: “I hate the holiday events you have. disgusting Even if you gather at a holy meeting, I am not happy at all. If you offer burnt offerings or grain offerings, you will not accept them. I will not neglect the fattened animals offered as peace offerings. Stop your loud singing in front of me! I won't even listen to your harp. You only let justice flow like water, and justice like a river that never runs dry” (Amos 5:21-24).
The Lord hates formal religion very much. Now try to match your words with your deeds, and let go of bluffs and lies. There are a lot of rumours about academic forgery these days. Academia, art, and religious circles all fall into the swamp of false consciousness. Sometimes when I see a pastor wearing a doctor's gown and standing at the pulpit, I think of this. “He has a lot of complexes!”
The Korean church is going through a difficult time right now. At this time, especially, you should put more effort into removing the old leaven. When the world throws stones at you, you have to be humbled, reform yourself with that piercing pain, and prepare yourself for the cross once more. It is bread made without leaven by the saints who know how to bear the cross. Be blessed spirits who make the world a livable world that is pleasing to God by fulfilling the role of such unleavened bread.