AV 9
The Appearance
“Abstain
from all APPEARANCE of evil.”
(1The 5:22 KJV, emphasis mine)
The definition of the word ‘appearance’ is “the
state, condition, manner, or style in which a person or object appears; outward look or aspect; the act
or fact of appearing, as to the eye
or mind or before the public”[1]. ‘Appear’ means “to come into sight; become
visible”[2]. In other words, ‘appearance’ is how we would
perceive something that becomes visible to us.
First impressions are critical, regardless of how
we choose to reason it. For example, if
I observe a man taking a buggy whip to a horse, I would be concerned that the
horse was being abused. If, upon further
conversation with the individual, I learn that the horse had been horribly
misbehaving, and was being disciplined, there is still the strong possibility
that I would continue to have reservations as to how that man handles his
horses. None of this is unusual; what we
first observe with our eyes is what will
linger in our subconscious.
Let me present to you an example: I have a close friend, a lady who is
somewhere around 50 years old, who at the time was single, fairly attractive,
and believed that she has a good relationship with the Living Elohim. This lady had been – at that time - in a
relationship with a man in another city (about 3 hours away), and would travel
to this city at least once a month,
spending the weekend with her ‘significant other’. The catch in my spirit came when she informed
me that yes, they were sleeping in the same bed, but no, they were not having
any kind of intimate relations. When I
quoted our opening verse to her, her comment was “my friends know that I wouldn’t do something like
that.” While this may be true, it
is the appearance of the situation that could destroy not only her
reputation, but also her witness and testimony of Elohim. She moved to this city several years ago, and
she and her ‘man friend’ have since married.
Their relationship is rocky, up and down, and I have my doubts
concerning the permanence of it.
Brethren, it doesn’t matter what I think; it does matter how the world, full of
people who have limited knowledge of the Elohim of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob,
perceive and understand what they are seeing.
The verse above tells us – in no uncertain terms – to abstain (“to hold
oneself back voluntarily, especially from something regarded as improper or
unhealthy”[3])
from ALL the things that might be
interpreted as questionable. Those of us
who walk the Torah walk recognize that ‘evil’ is translated as everything that
is in opposition to Torah, that contradicts what we are taught in the Torah.
In plain English, folks, we are called to be a
city set on a hill, the lamp on the lampstand (Mat 5:147-16), shining for all
to see. Everything we do and say is
under scrutiny; yes, we are under a microscope, being constantly examined. We are to be living epistles, read by all men
(2Cor 3:2). If my life is the only
testament of Elohim that any given
individual might read, what effect does it have when I continually act in such
a manner that gives the ‘appearance of evil’?
Is this reflecting a commitment to honor my Creator in all that I do and
say?
We cannot serve two masters; we will love the one,
and despise the other (Mat 6:24). Daily,
it is a battle between the yetzer hara
(the evil, selfish and self-serving inclination) and the yetzer hatov (the good and Godly inclination); ultimately, it comes
down to our choice, as to how we walk
out our halacha, our lifestyle
according to Torah. May we never bring
shame to the One who redeemed us, in all that we say and do …
“Cause no stumbling, either to
the Yehuḏim (the
Jews) or to the Greeks or to the assembly of Elohim,
as I also please all men in all matters, not seeking my own advantage, but that
of the many, that they might be saved.” (1Cor 10:32-33)
“… giving no cause of
stumbling in whatever, so that the service is not blamed.” (2Cor 6:3)
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