May the mumbling commence!
Out with the old and in with the new! That is what Christian maturity is all about. Read more of what Paul wrote to the Ephesians from chapter five (NRSV):
But fornication and impurity of any kind, or greed, must not even be mentioned among you, as is proper among saints. Entirely out of place is obscene, silly, and vulgar talk; but instead, let there be thanksgiving. Be sure of this, that no fornicator or impure person, or one who is greedy (that is, an idolater), has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes on those who are disobedient. Therefore do not be associated with them. For once you were darkness, but now in the Lord you are light. Live as children of light – for the fruit of the light is found in all that is good and right and true. Try to find out what is pleasing to the Lord. (Verses 3-10)
People – men or women – are not sex objects. Don’t treat them like such. It is an impure attitude and thought and action.
People are not obstacles to our accumulation of wealth. Jettison greed from our lives – right down to the attitudes of our hearts. It is an impure attitude and thought and action. It is called greed, which Paul defines as idolatry – putting wealth before God. So, do not worship the rich and the famous anymore. Wall Street and Hollywood are not temples of worship.
And watch your words. Obscene, silly and vulgar talk has no place with a mature Christian. That is hard for me. I can sometimes be silly… and silliness sometimes denigrates to obscene and vulgar innuendoes.
Words reveal what is in our hearts. So, what are we to use as our primary language? It is the language of thanksgiving. Replace obscene and silly and vulgar talk with words of thankfulness for God and for those through whom God works.
Let us distance ourselves from the sex-crazed world we live in. Let us distance ourselves from the money fixation of the world we live in. The bottom line is not the profit line. Our bottom line relies on the prophetic teaching and life of Christ Jesus. It is the light of that bottom line that we live in.
Let us distance ourselves from fornication and greed and obscene and meaningless chatter. Distance is good, but it is not nearly enough…
Spout the language of thankfulness continually. Live in the light and discover the fruit of the light… all that is good and right and true. What is the bottom line? Try to find what is pleasing to the Lord.
Enough mumbling for now…
Peace Out
No comments:
Post a Comment