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The Leaven of
Desensitization To Sin

"On the whole, The sacrifice of our Redeemer is the strongest argument with a gracious heart for purity and sincerity. How sincere a regard did He show to our welfare, in dying for us! and how terrible a proof was His death of the detestable nature of sin, and God's displeasure against it! Heinous evil, that could not be expiated but with the blood of the Son of God! And shall a Christian love the murderer of his Lord? God forbid." - Matthew Henry


Throughout the Gospels, we are presented with the Lord Jesus' warnings to all of His disciples to "take heed" and "beware" of the "leaven" of the "Pharisees," "Sadducees," and "Herod" -

Matthew 16:6 - "Then Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees."
Mark 8:15 - "And He charged them, saying, Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, and of the leaven of Herod."
Luke 12:1 - "In the mean time, when there were gathered together an innumerable multitude of people, insomuch that they trode one upon another, He began to say unto His disciples first of all, Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy."

"...Take heed and beware..."
"...Take heed, beware..."
"...first of all, Beware..."

Jesus issued a warning that was never to go unheeded. He instructed His disciples above all things to always be on guard and cautious about something that was in their midst that was extremely deadly and dangerous.

What was it?

It was the doctrine, way, or example of the religious leaders of His day. He referred to it as "leaven."

The Pharisees were superstitious and ceremonious, full of hypocrisy, pride, and envy.
The Sadducees denied the existence of the spirit world yet pretended to search after truth.
And the Herodians were generally Sadducees who were distinguished for their sensuality and corrupt morals.

Because these groups were leaders, the people had a tendency to adhere to their teachings and follow their example.

In Matthew 16:11, Jesus reproved His disciples for their dullness and slowness to receive His word of caution - "How is it that ye do not understand that I spake it not to you concerning bread, that ye should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees?"

"How is it that ye do not understand...?"

The Lord was attempting to awaken His followers to the fact that the teachings and principles of these hypocritical leaders would work like a cancer in their souls. At first, its effects would go undetected. But, like "leaven," unless stopped, it would pervade their entire being, whereby they would take on a wrong spirit and justify evil in their lives, while all the time hiding under the cloak of religion.

It's so important that we take the time to examine the true nature of "leaven" in order to see how false doctrine or hypocritical living can effect our lives, families, or churches.

"Leaven" has many properties -
It's small in appearance and quantity. Hence, it appears to be slight and insignificant in power, not deemed worthy of any attention or alarm.
It works silently, steadily, strongly, irresistibly, speedily, and secretly - oftentimes going undetected until the whole mass is brought under its influence.
It sours, swells, and spreads as it moves throughout the mass.
It has the incredible power to change and assimilate every part into that of its very own nature.

Are you getting the picture here as to why the Lord Jesus warned His disciples to "beware" and "take heed" of the "leaven" of the "Pharisees," "Sadducees," and Herodians?

As the people would sit under the teachings of these religious leaders, their doctrine and example would slowly but surely effect the minds, emotions, wills, and spirits of the multitudes - producing followers after their own kind. At first, the work of corruption would seemingly go undetected. However, after a period of time, the people would soon bear the image and likeness of these pretenders and hypocrites.

In Galatians 5:9, The Apostle Paul explained it this way - "A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump."
Again, in 1 Corinthians 5:6, he issued a rebuke for the Church - "Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?"

"Your glorying is not good..."
These Christians were boasting in their "super-spirituality."
They had superior knowledge yet they were filled with corruption and sin.

What a sad commentary! Nonetheless, things are no different today. There is much boasting in our great programs. More than ever, preachers are wearing the title of "Doctor So-And-So" with a trail of degrees from the various seminaries following their names. Yet, for the most part, the Church is spiritually dead, lifeless, and desperately in need of a Revival or the Quickening Power of the Holy Spirit.

What could be the Cause?

Is it the pervasion of the "leaven" of the "Pharisees," "Sadducees," and Herodians that Jesus warned us about? Perhaps!

But we believe that there is a present-day "leaven" that is filtering from the world through the church doors, attempting to infest the whole.

It is the "Leaven" of Desensitization to Sin.

You may ask - "What exactly is that?"

Webster's Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary defines desensitize as - "to make emotionally insensitive or callous."

As we look about our world - on TV, videos, movies, and billboards; in magazines and books; and listen to the latest songs playing over the radio or being promoted through the music industry - we would all have to agree that there is a "mad push" for the Desensitization of Sin.

Every where that we turn - whether it be the latest sitcom, movie, talk show, or the top tune of the year - Sin is being presented as being a joke or something that is not to be taken seriously.

The world is desperately screaming out to the Church - "Loosen up! You don't have to be so extreme! Welcome us into your pulpits and pews. We can get along together. This is the year 2003. Don't be so legalistic. Change with the times. Be more tolerant and accepting. Go with the flow. Have fun. Laugh with us. Enjoy the ride."

At first, this advice seems harmless. This "insensitivity" or "callousness" toward Sin goes undetected. Instead of being appalled by the vulgarity and nudity over the TV, movie screen, or billboards, the Church recognizes, over a period of time, that Sin doesn't quite bother her much any more. Instead of rising up in righteous indignation or hatred for such Sins as abortion, drunkenness, homosexuality, fornication, and adultery, she finds herself in front of the TV or on the job laughing along with the sinners at their vulgar jokes about Sin.

Slowly but surely, the "Leaven" of Desensitization does its work. It starts off with one small justification or excuse for compromise or worldliness which leads to another and another and another. Silently, steadily, irresistibly, speedily, and secretly, the Desensitization process goes on and on. It sours, swells, and spreads throughout the soul of the Christian, changing every faculty of his being after the image of the world. Before long, the believer wakes up to realize that Sin is no longer Sin in his mind. It has become a complete joke. Every preacher who "blasts" it from the pulpit appears to be legalistic, and God is now pictured as the Great Santa Claus in the sky Who loves everybody, winks at Sin, and would never send anyone to Hell.

The "Leaven" of Desensitization has accomplished its task. It has succeeded in pervading the whole.

The result?

A Church that is filled - from the pulpits to the pews - with abortion, adultery, fornication, homosexuality, divorce, hatred, bitterness, murder, violence, thievery, covetousness, greed, and every other conceivable Sin - simply because Sin is no longer considered a serious subject. It has become a joke - a laughing matter.

O Christian! Where do you find yourself in this message?
Have you allowed the world to imbibe your thinking with the "Leaven" of Desensitization to Sin?
Today, do you hate Sin as much as you did the day when you were saved?
Or have you allowed the world through the media, entertainment fields, and music industry to mold and shape your thinking after their own kind?

Do you view TV shows and movies and listen to music that you would have never allowed in your life or home years ago? Do dirty and vulgar jokes and language still offend you as they did years ago? If not, then you have become desensitized by the "leaven" of this world.

The Holy Spirit is calling for Repentance from His People - the Church.
He is calling them back to a Greater Sensitivity to the Horrors of Sin than ever before.

Read what the Apostle Paul had to say in 1 Corinthians 5:7-8 - "Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth."

Basically, what Paul was saying here was - "Put away all Sin in your lives, homes, and churches. Free yourself from any and all corrupting principles."

Which principles would he be referring to?

We believe that one of them would include the "Leaven" of the Desensitization to Sin.

The Jews had a custom that, before the Passover, they would diligently search their homes for any traces of "leaven" and then sweep them clean of it.

The Lord Jesus, Who is "our passover," was "sacrificed for us." Therefore, we are obligated to search our hearts, lives, homes, and churches for traces of "leaven" or corrupting principles. If detected in the slightest measure, we are to get rid of it.

We are "unleavened." We are a people who do not laugh at, joke about, minimize, or excuse Sin.
We are a "new lump." On the contrary, we hate Sin and stand against it every chance that we can get.

We close with the words of our earlier quote from Matthew Henry - ..."And shall a Christian love the murderer of his Lord? God forbid."

May God Bless His Word.

Connie

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