The title of this article is very purposeful. Alcohol is a hot-button issue for a lot of Christians. There are a lot of opinions out there, and they tend to be held with fierceness.
Unfortunately, usually the conversations are couched in a background of asking this question: ‘what does God command?’ The reason I say that’s unfortunate isn't because commands are bad - it's because what is assumed in the discussion is the Gospel.
I absolutely refuse to do that. You and I both may know the Gospel, but we forget it. We forget it daily. And the moment that any of our obedience comes from something other than the Gospel, it absolutely disgusts God.
So let’s start here: Jesus is God. He became a man, always obeyed God, and was punished by God for our disobedience. He came back to life from the dead and now governs all of creation. He is at work giving people new hearts that want to obey him, forgiving their sins, and causing them to begin to obey his commands. One day he will return to earth to fix everything that’s wrong with it. Everyone who is longing for his return will get to enter into his new creation forever to be with him.
And so, believer, you stand righteous before the Father. You have a new heart. Your obedience is just acting like who God has already made you – and is an act of love.
So when it comes to alcohol, we need to start with this question: how do I, as someone who Jesus has saved, need to act with regards to alcohol so that Jesus will best be honored?
There’s the question we’re addressing. And here’s where we’re going: in this article, we're going to look at Jesus' commands. In, God willing, a follow up article, we'll be looking at the history of the American Church with regard to drinking alcohol.
Command 1: Don’t get drunk.
Easy enough, right? Ephesians 5:18 says, “Don’t get drunk with wine.” The question that people always ask here is, “Well, what does drunk mean?” And that question is usually asked because people either want to get as tipsy as possible without getting ‘drunk’ – or because they want to say that any felt physical effect of drinking is ‘drunkenness.’
Maybe you should go read the context
The problem isn’t drunkenness. The problem is a lack of being controlled by the Spirit – which results in heartfelt glory and thanks being given to God, verbally, in the context of community. So if drink affects what you say and how you feel and think – stop it. Don’t go there. Don’t even get close to it.
Frankly, some of you know that sometimes you drink too much. Maybe you don’t get ‘drunk’ per se – but too much. And you know you do. You need to knock it off. And if you need to stop drinking to do so, stop drinking. God is not cool with you sinning. He doesn’t think it’s funny. It’s damning. Jesus did not die for you to live like an idiot. His death gave you the Spirit, who produces worship to God in you. Live like it.
If that makes you mad, see command 2.
It’s funny, by the way, here, that some Christians say that ‘wine’ back in the day didn’t have much alcohol in it. Really? Then why the constant commands against drunkenness?
Those of you who don’t drink and don’t struggle with drinking too much – fine, good. What, you want a medal? Go do the rest of what the text commands, by the grace of God, for his glory.
Command 2: Don’t worship alcohol.
If you can’t give up drinking because you’re afraid of how people will look at you or because you just like it too much – even if you’re breaking other commandments with it (you know, like not getting drunk) – you’re worshiping alcohol.
Some of you are saying here that you don’t have a shrine to booze before which you bow. God, on the other hand, says every sin at its core is a worship problem -
God isn’t being honored, but something else is in this text. How might alcohol be being honored? By your acting like you trust in it for your happiness – as opposed to trusting God for your satisfaction.
That’s exactly why Paul calls ‘covetousness’ idolatry -
In other words – the moment you want something more than you want God – or for any reason other than wanting God – you’ve made that thing into a god, and you are worshiping it.
And if you can’t run from sinning with alcohol by giving it up, you worship alcohol. If you can’t stop sinning with it, you need to give it up.
Some of you have the opposite problem. You say that Christians should never drink because it will ruin our spiritual lives – or our witness.
As to the latter…. Really? Do you actually know any non Christians? Or maybe you do, and the Gospel you want to share with them is ‘we believe in Jesus and here’s the rules we made up that he wants us all to obey.’
That’s not the Gospel.
As to the former – if you think alcohol will ruin someone’s spiritual life – you are giving it far too much credit. That’s like saying the existence of women causes lust. The problem is your wicked, ugly, wretched, depraved, evil heart – not alcohol. Don’t give it more credit than it deserves. It can be used by wicked people for wicked things. But it isn’t a looming, sovereign, demonic ogre that can possess you.
Command 3: Don’t cause others to stumble.
Or in other words, don’t cause other people to sin. Here are the relevant passages:
Romans 14
1 Corinthians 8-9
Before we get into specifics, I just want to state the goal of some of how this command breaks down... or better, I'll let the Word do it. Click.
The goal is a community where people are loving each other. They’re really interested in each others’ happiness. There’s love and peace and joy between people, produced by God the Holy Spirit.
Okay, so you want specifics? Here are some specifics. If you don’t drink, don’t judge people for drinking. If you do drink, don’t judge people for not drinking. If you don’t think you do either, stop judging people for judging others.
If you drink and you’re around someone that isn’t sure whether they should or not, don’t act in such a way that they are pressured to act against their conscience. If they do, they’re sinning because they think they might be breaking a commandment (even though they’re not), and they’re doing it anyway.
If someone is tempted to get drunk, don’t drink around them.
You are not the judge of other Christians. God is. And God has accepted them into his family based on Jesus’ work and bloody death and resurrection. You have brothers that daily enter into a fight to see the glory of God in the face of Jesus with you. Help them. Don’t hurt them.
And don’t try to get people to act or think like you. Try to get them to see and think of Jesus.
Command 4: Don’t be proud.
Why? Well, because God opposes the proud?
I don’t know about you, but if God’s team captain, I’d rather be on his team than playing against him.
That’s a nicer way of saying that I’d rather be on the side of the all-glorious Creator who controls who goes to Heaven or Hell than against him.
Someone I know once said to me, “I’ve never had a drop of alcohol.” The problem with the previous sentence is that I could’ve easily written, “Someone I know once bragged to me, ‘I’ve never had a drop of alcohol.’”
Well good for you. I haven’t had lima beans in years. Do I get a cookie?
Again, what are we saying here? That your actions are worthy of praise? I’m sorry… you know what… I’m trying to see Jesus, and your glory’s getting in the way – could you move a little?
Some of you are proud that you don’t drink. Stop. Be proud of Jesus. You’re saved by his bloody death – not because you won’t drink a beer.
The opposite’s also true here, though. Some of you are proud that you DO drink. “Thank you, God, that I’m not like those Pharisees who obey rules they made up; but that I don’t make up rules.”
Wow, so let me get this straight – you’re being self-righteous about your lack of self-righteousness? That’s…. amazing. It’s a logical conundrum. A paradox. I’m not even mad; I’m impressed. It’s an amazing thing to be proud of not being proud.
But there’s the deceitfulness of sin for you. Don’t do that. You’re not justified by your lack of rules or your rules, you’re justified by Jesus obeying God’s rules. Love him. Love his people.
Now, here’s another way to be proud. Some of you drink for show. You’re afraid of what people will think if you don’t drink. Or, you want to have Christians see you drink so they think you’re cool, edgy, hip, and not legalistic.
And the kicker is that some of you don’t even LIKE what you’re drinking. You just like being thought of as ‘cool’ or whatever it is.
That is pride, my friend, plain and simple. You do that, and you show that you care about your image – not Jesus’. Knock it off.
Or in other words, repent, and believe in the Gospel. Please.
Command 5: Don’t let others judge you.
I’m getting this from Colossians 2 –
People were judging people in Colossae. They were saying that people didn’t know God because they were enjoying food and alcohol too much – and weren’t obeying rules they made up.
Don’t let people judge you by those standards. Don’t hate people enough to let them go on missing Jesus.
Drinking isn’t Jesus. Not drinking isn’t Jesus. Jesus is Jesus.
So if someone tries to say ‘you shouldn’t’ or ‘you should’ and they can’t point to Scripture, point them to Jesus.
Command 6: Everything needs to be set apart by the Gospel and prayer and thanksgiving.
I’m getting this from 1 Timothy 4:
If you drink – or if you eat food – you need to live the Gospel out. You need to think about your booze or burger in light of the Gospel. You need to pray for God to be honored. You need to thank God for what he’s given you.
Honor God, not what He’s made. Some of you worship alcohol. Some of you worship food. You run to it for pleasure and comfort. Either one.
You need to repent and worship Jesus. Period. No buts. Confess your sin, confess that it’s worthy of hell, and thank God that Jesus died for it.
Command 7: Whatever you do, do it for God’s glory.
I’m getting this from 1 Corinthians 10:31 –
I’m not going to give you the context. Here’s the bare bones issue: you need to stop looking at the particulars of what you can and can’t drink, and ask the question, do you love God? How you doing with that? Could be better, huh?
Every action in every moment needs to be evaluated in terms of intent. Are you doing whatever it is TO glorify God? Not ‘can you’ – ‘ARE you doing it to honor God’?
And to the extent you’re not, run to the cross, please. Run. Don’t try to say you are a good person, or that you’re better than other people, or that your sin is less bad.
So much of what we do, think, feel, and say is worth nothing but the eternal, hellish wrath of Almighty God. And that wrath fell on Jesus in our places. And he lives. And he reigns. So run to him. Ask him for help. Thank him for saving you. And as he creates love in you for him, love him.
So if you don’t drink – make sure you’re doing it BECAUSE you love Jesus.
If you do – make sure you do BECAUSE you love Jesus.
And to the extent that you don’t, run to Jesus.
Showing posts with label The Greatest Commandment. Show all posts
Showing posts with label The Greatest Commandment. Show all posts
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Saturday, October 18, 2008
Christians and Vulgarity - a Summary - Part V
So we’ve looked at Ephesians 4:29, Ephesians 5:4, and Colossians 3:8. I think it’s time for a summary. I’m just going to make three sections here: don’t – and do – and - how to obey God with your tongue.
Don’t
1) Do not speak as truth about God what Scripture does not teach.
2) Do not say things that will result in bad doctrine or bad behavior.
3) Do not say anything that doesn’t come from love of God and his people.
4) Do not say anything that will cause someone to lust sexually.
5) Do not say anything that will cause someone to desire things of this world – things that aren’t Jesus.
6) Don’t say things that you know will offend people unnecessarily. (Obviously, rebuking sin will offend people – we need to do that.)
7) Don’t say things to hurt people.
Do
1) Do seek to know sound doctrine so you can speak it.
2) Do live speaking to people about the cross of Christ.
3) Do consider what the people you’re talking to need from Jesus.
4) Do guard yourself against lust and greed.
5) Do publicly give thanks to God for the gospel.
6) Do love people from the heart – especially brothers and sisters in Christ.
How to Obey God with Your Tongue
1) Be quick to listen, and be slow to speak. Think before you speak! (James 1:19)
2) Control your tongue - but know you can't because your heart is indwelt with evil. (James 3:1-12)
3) Ask yourself what sort of heart/soul/self your speech reveals. (Matthew 15:18)
4) Admit how grave your soul’s sin is against God – to God and to people (1 John 1:9; James 5:16)
5) Tell yourself about the gospel! The passages we’ve examined occur in sections about how God has given us his Holy Spirit; about how we in Christ no longer are guilty because of Christ’s cross; about how Jesus’ death took away our old rebellious nature and guaranteed our heavenly future.
6) Pray for the strength to love Jesus – and to talk like you love Jesus.
7) Repeat steps 1-6 every day, and as often as your sin requires.
Don’t
1) Do not speak as truth about God what Scripture does not teach.
2) Do not say things that will result in bad doctrine or bad behavior.
3) Do not say anything that doesn’t come from love of God and his people.
4) Do not say anything that will cause someone to lust sexually.
5) Do not say anything that will cause someone to desire things of this world – things that aren’t Jesus.
6) Don’t say things that you know will offend people unnecessarily. (Obviously, rebuking sin will offend people – we need to do that.)
7) Don’t say things to hurt people.
Do
1) Do seek to know sound doctrine so you can speak it.
2) Do live speaking to people about the cross of Christ.
3) Do consider what the people you’re talking to need from Jesus.
4) Do guard yourself against lust and greed.
5) Do publicly give thanks to God for the gospel.
6) Do love people from the heart – especially brothers and sisters in Christ.
How to Obey God with Your Tongue
1) Be quick to listen, and be slow to speak. Think before you speak! (James 1:19)
2) Control your tongue - but know you can't because your heart is indwelt with evil. (James 3:1-12)
3) Ask yourself what sort of heart/soul/self your speech reveals. (Matthew 15:18)
4) Admit how grave your soul’s sin is against God – to God and to people (1 John 1:9; James 5:16)
5) Tell yourself about the gospel! The passages we’ve examined occur in sections about how God has given us his Holy Spirit; about how we in Christ no longer are guilty because of Christ’s cross; about how Jesus’ death took away our old rebellious nature and guaranteed our heavenly future.
6) Pray for the strength to love Jesus – and to talk like you love Jesus.
7) Repeat steps 1-6 every day, and as often as your sin requires.
Friday, October 17, 2008
Christians and Vulgarity, Part IV
This will be the last Scripture I talk about on this subject. After that, God willing, I’ll post a summary of what we’ve seen from his book. Some of you are just waiting for this long winded stuff to be over so you can read the summary. I know this, because as I re-read what I’ve written, I just want the quick summary too.
That said, that last verse is Colossians 3:8. In the ESV, God says, “But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth.” Yes, kids, no obscene talk! Question is this: what’s obscene talk?
Well, what’s the Greek mean? It’s a compound word. The second is that classic word ‘logos’ – which refers here not to a particular word you’d use, but to entire speech content – which is made up of individual words. The first part of the compound word means something like ‘ugly’ or ‘unacceptable.’ BDAG, the standard New Testament Greek lexicon, says that it’s speech that is ‘generally considered in poor taste.’ It goes on to talk about the idea that this may include two different things – story-telling involving ‘unseemly deeds’ like adultery; or derogatory remarks.
So BDAG says this verse means either don’t tell stories about shameful, sinful, ugly things – and don’t rip on people.
That sounds good enough, really. How about some context real quick? Colossians 3 is a series of commands where Paul’s just saying – look, Jesus rose from the dead. That means, you Christian, have a different kind of life. Act like Jesus is your King, how about.
And he says that our old person has died. That is to say, that when Jesus died, the part of us that lived in the old, rebellious world, died. So act like that rebellious person is dead.
The rebellious you died. Act like it.
Then, starting in verse 8, Paul tells us what to get rid of. Those things are ‘anger, wrath, malice, slander,’ and obscene talk from your mouth. Do not lie to one another…”
Notice anything in common here? All of those things are against people. They’re not nice. Ever heard a parent say to a kid, ‘talk nice!’ Yeah, that’s what’s going on here.
Let’s go a little further in the text. God says we have a new life because we’re connected to Jesus – and Jesus rose from the dead. So Jesus’ new life gives us a new life. Here’s a few verses of what God says that we need to do:
“Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony”(Colossians 3:12-14).
In other words, love people. Do it from the heart. The opposite of all those bad things, including ‘obscene speech,’ is love.
Well, where’s this leave us? Paul doesn’t give us a guide for determining what naughty words are in English. And he never says that certain words are ‘bad.’ What he says, is love people with your language. That love starts in the heart – and love doesn’t want to hurt people. Love wants to push them towards Jesus.
So is the S-word wrong? No! The question is – am I loving the person in saying it? It does grate, doesn’t it? The F-word definitely makes people flinch, doesn’t it? The question is, am I using that language to point people away from this rebellious world to Jesus. Am I pointing out how horrible the good things in this world are – compared to Jesus – or am I just mad?
If I’m on the road by myself, and people aren’t driving like I want them to, and I yell ‘shit!’ – do I sin? Yes. I’m not trusting the sovereign God who works everything as he wants it to be (Ephesians 1:11, Romans 8:28, Amos 3:6, Psalm 115:3, Psalm 135:6, Job 1:21). No one else is hurt by that exclamation if I’m by myself – except my holy God, whose Son died for me – who I apparently don’t trust enough to love me and to control the traffic for my good in knowing him!
Or maybe I’m just saying that knowing him isn’t good enough.
So I don’t love or trust God in those situations. The exclamation is merely the result – and the word is not sin. But my heart has blasphemed my Lord.
And are you more shocked and appalled by the word I just typed out - or by the fact that my anxious, controlling heart worships and serves itself and not its Creator, who is to be praised forever? Oh God, let our hearts be pained by how we fail you!
And this I say with full confidence – and with a good conscience – that everything on this earth is SHIT compared to knowing, loving, and serving Jesus. Everything.
Does that grate on you? It should. And so should everything in this world that distracts you from his service.
Coming next time – a summary of the commands of our Lord in these three verses regarding our speech, if God permits.
That said, that last verse is Colossians 3:8. In the ESV, God says, “But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth.” Yes, kids, no obscene talk! Question is this: what’s obscene talk?
Well, what’s the Greek mean? It’s a compound word. The second is that classic word ‘logos’ – which refers here not to a particular word you’d use, but to entire speech content – which is made up of individual words. The first part of the compound word means something like ‘ugly’ or ‘unacceptable.’ BDAG, the standard New Testament Greek lexicon, says that it’s speech that is ‘generally considered in poor taste.’ It goes on to talk about the idea that this may include two different things – story-telling involving ‘unseemly deeds’ like adultery; or derogatory remarks.
So BDAG says this verse means either don’t tell stories about shameful, sinful, ugly things – and don’t rip on people.
That sounds good enough, really. How about some context real quick? Colossians 3 is a series of commands where Paul’s just saying – look, Jesus rose from the dead. That means, you Christian, have a different kind of life. Act like Jesus is your King, how about.
And he says that our old person has died. That is to say, that when Jesus died, the part of us that lived in the old, rebellious world, died. So act like that rebellious person is dead.
The rebellious you died. Act like it.
Then, starting in verse 8, Paul tells us what to get rid of. Those things are ‘anger, wrath, malice, slander,’ and obscene talk from your mouth. Do not lie to one another…”
Notice anything in common here? All of those things are against people. They’re not nice. Ever heard a parent say to a kid, ‘talk nice!’ Yeah, that’s what’s going on here.
Let’s go a little further in the text. God says we have a new life because we’re connected to Jesus – and Jesus rose from the dead. So Jesus’ new life gives us a new life. Here’s a few verses of what God says that we need to do:
“Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony”(Colossians 3:12-14).
In other words, love people. Do it from the heart. The opposite of all those bad things, including ‘obscene speech,’ is love.
Well, where’s this leave us? Paul doesn’t give us a guide for determining what naughty words are in English. And he never says that certain words are ‘bad.’ What he says, is love people with your language. That love starts in the heart – and love doesn’t want to hurt people. Love wants to push them towards Jesus.
So is the S-word wrong? No! The question is – am I loving the person in saying it? It does grate, doesn’t it? The F-word definitely makes people flinch, doesn’t it? The question is, am I using that language to point people away from this rebellious world to Jesus. Am I pointing out how horrible the good things in this world are – compared to Jesus – or am I just mad?
If I’m on the road by myself, and people aren’t driving like I want them to, and I yell ‘shit!’ – do I sin? Yes. I’m not trusting the sovereign God who works everything as he wants it to be (Ephesians 1:11, Romans 8:28, Amos 3:6, Psalm 115:3, Psalm 135:6, Job 1:21). No one else is hurt by that exclamation if I’m by myself – except my holy God, whose Son died for me – who I apparently don’t trust enough to love me and to control the traffic for my good in knowing him!
Or maybe I’m just saying that knowing him isn’t good enough.
So I don’t love or trust God in those situations. The exclamation is merely the result – and the word is not sin. But my heart has blasphemed my Lord.
And are you more shocked and appalled by the word I just typed out - or by the fact that my anxious, controlling heart worships and serves itself and not its Creator, who is to be praised forever? Oh God, let our hearts be pained by how we fail you!
And this I say with full confidence – and with a good conscience – that everything on this earth is SHIT compared to knowing, loving, and serving Jesus. Everything.
Does that grate on you? It should. And so should everything in this world that distracts you from his service.
Coming next time – a summary of the commands of our Lord in these three verses regarding our speech, if God permits.
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Christians and Vulgarity, Part III
So far we’ve looked at the general subject of Christians and the use of profanity, and then we looked at Ephesians 4:29. We saw that the whole content of what we say is to point people to Jesus – and that that means we shouldn’t be saying things that are untrue or things that result in sin.
This time, let’s look at Ephesians 5:4. We’ll look at the verse and its context first, then make nine observations, then draw and apply conclusions to ourselves.
The Verse and its Context
The translators of the ESV translate Eph. 5:4 as follows: “Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving.”
The context of the verse is (as always) the key here to understanding God’s meaning. This is part of a section in which Paul tells God’s children to imitate their divine Father – and that means loving everyone in His Church.
God said this: “Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God (Eph. 5:1-2).”
Paul then contrasts this with a few things in verses 3-4 – “But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving.”
Nine Observations
So – first observation: see that contrast in verse 3? The but? That means that whatever activity and speech are being talked about, they’re being contrasted with loving God’s people as God loves his people.
Second observation – the ‘foolish talk’ and ‘crude joking’ are somehow linked to sexual immorality and covetousness. I’m leaving out ‘filthiness’ because it’s not exclusively about speaking, necessarily; but the word means ‘shameful,’ essentially.
Third observation – ‘foolish talk’ is again from that word ‘logos’ – probably referring to entire speech content, and probably referring to doctrine. In other words, don’t say spiritually stupid stuff. Or in other words – have cross-centered speech.
Fourth observation – crude joking – or as some translations put it, ‘vulgar talk,’ is out. Again, this is about whole speech content, not about vocabulary – though certainly vulgar vocabulary is excluded.
But what is vulgar vocabulary? …let’s see if we can answer that question later.
Fifth observation – verse 5 gives the reason for both verses 3 and 4. So verses 3 and 4 ban a list of things, including stupid (doctrinally wrong!), vulgar talk. And then verse 5 comes in and God says that those things are out because, “everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.”
Sixth observation – these manners of speaking are tied to sexual immorality and greed. A quick survey of all the instances of even the word impurity will show us that Paul ties the idea to sexuality. (As in Romans 1:24.)
Seventh observation – verse 4 contrasts these things that are forbidden with giving thanks. The positive command is ‘give thanks!’
Eight observation – impurity is linked in 4:19 again to sexual lust and material lust (greed) – and contrasted with sound doctrine in verse 25.
Ninth observation – this is all linked to things that non-Christians do in secret (5:12). This is probably talking about sex acts that are against God’s will.
Alright, I think that’s enough; I think we can draw some conclusions.
Conclusions, and How We Should Live and Talk
The content of our speech is to be cross-centered, correct doctrinally, and praising God for how he’s rescued us. In doing so, we love fellow Christians, since we point them to our Savior.
And because we’re to point people to Jesus, we need to avoid things that distract us from him. If we were to summarize all this banned stuff – we end up with this sort of general banned talk: we should not talk about things that cause people to desire stuff that is not God.
That would include making light of sexual sin – because it leads to hell (5:5). That would include greedy talk about material things as well. That might include certain words.
But let’s face it – is this verse about our vocabulary and ‘naughty’ words? Absolutely not! And to make it about that is to just make up a rule that we Christians can easily obey. I can easily not use the F-word – if that genuinely makes someone lust.
This verse is about something deeper. It commands that the entirety of my speech to point to Christ; and negatively commands me not to distract people from him. Do I lust after an i-Phone? A beautiful woman who’s not my wife? An HDTV? Financial security?
Do I express those lusts? Do I cause others to stumble into those hell-earning lusts, rather than being expressly thankful for Jesus, our Messiah, who died for our sins, rose from the dead, and is coming again?
Do you? What do you want? Is it stuff, or Jesus? What do you talk about wanting – stuff or Jesus? What do you happily talk about in general – stuff or Jesus?
I hope that drives the sword of the word of God into your soul! It does mine.
God commands us to be imitators of him – and that’s because we who believe in Jesus are his loved children. His Son died in the our places, and he is coming to collect us into his eternal kingdom. Let’s let that control our desires and talk like it does – and we’ll love our brothers and sisters by doing so.
This time, let’s look at Ephesians 5:4. We’ll look at the verse and its context first, then make nine observations, then draw and apply conclusions to ourselves.
The Verse and its Context
The translators of the ESV translate Eph. 5:4 as follows: “Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving.”
The context of the verse is (as always) the key here to understanding God’s meaning. This is part of a section in which Paul tells God’s children to imitate their divine Father – and that means loving everyone in His Church.
God said this: “Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God (Eph. 5:1-2).”
Paul then contrasts this with a few things in verses 3-4 – “But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving.”
Nine Observations
So – first observation: see that contrast in verse 3? The but? That means that whatever activity and speech are being talked about, they’re being contrasted with loving God’s people as God loves his people.
Second observation – the ‘foolish talk’ and ‘crude joking’ are somehow linked to sexual immorality and covetousness. I’m leaving out ‘filthiness’ because it’s not exclusively about speaking, necessarily; but the word means ‘shameful,’ essentially.
Third observation – ‘foolish talk’ is again from that word ‘logos’ – probably referring to entire speech content, and probably referring to doctrine. In other words, don’t say spiritually stupid stuff. Or in other words – have cross-centered speech.
Fourth observation – crude joking – or as some translations put it, ‘vulgar talk,’ is out. Again, this is about whole speech content, not about vocabulary – though certainly vulgar vocabulary is excluded.
But what is vulgar vocabulary? …let’s see if we can answer that question later.
Fifth observation – verse 5 gives the reason for both verses 3 and 4. So verses 3 and 4 ban a list of things, including stupid (doctrinally wrong!), vulgar talk. And then verse 5 comes in and God says that those things are out because, “everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.”
Sixth observation – these manners of speaking are tied to sexual immorality and greed. A quick survey of all the instances of even the word impurity will show us that Paul ties the idea to sexuality. (As in Romans 1:24.)
Seventh observation – verse 4 contrasts these things that are forbidden with giving thanks. The positive command is ‘give thanks!’
Eight observation – impurity is linked in 4:19 again to sexual lust and material lust (greed) – and contrasted with sound doctrine in verse 25.
Ninth observation – this is all linked to things that non-Christians do in secret (5:12). This is probably talking about sex acts that are against God’s will.
Alright, I think that’s enough; I think we can draw some conclusions.
Conclusions, and How We Should Live and Talk
The content of our speech is to be cross-centered, correct doctrinally, and praising God for how he’s rescued us. In doing so, we love fellow Christians, since we point them to our Savior.
And because we’re to point people to Jesus, we need to avoid things that distract us from him. If we were to summarize all this banned stuff – we end up with this sort of general banned talk: we should not talk about things that cause people to desire stuff that is not God.
That would include making light of sexual sin – because it leads to hell (5:5). That would include greedy talk about material things as well. That might include certain words.
But let’s face it – is this verse about our vocabulary and ‘naughty’ words? Absolutely not! And to make it about that is to just make up a rule that we Christians can easily obey. I can easily not use the F-word – if that genuinely makes someone lust.
This verse is about something deeper. It commands that the entirety of my speech to point to Christ; and negatively commands me not to distract people from him. Do I lust after an i-Phone? A beautiful woman who’s not my wife? An HDTV? Financial security?
Do I express those lusts? Do I cause others to stumble into those hell-earning lusts, rather than being expressly thankful for Jesus, our Messiah, who died for our sins, rose from the dead, and is coming again?
Do you? What do you want? Is it stuff, or Jesus? What do you talk about wanting – stuff or Jesus? What do you happily talk about in general – stuff or Jesus?
I hope that drives the sword of the word of God into your soul! It does mine.
God commands us to be imitators of him – and that’s because we who believe in Jesus are his loved children. His Son died in the our places, and he is coming to collect us into his eternal kingdom. Let’s let that control our desires and talk like it does – and we’ll love our brothers and sisters by doing so.
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
The Greatest Commandment (Talk Given at STEP UP)
-Have you been in love? I have. I love my fiancé. That means a lot of things, doesn’t it? I’ve chosen her. I am committed to her. I enjoy her. I do work to make her happy.
-Love is an easy word to say – and to even understand. But it can be a hard word to do.
-Before we begin our discussion, we want to take a few minutes and look at the most important commands in the Bible.
-If you have one, open to Mark 12:28-34. Read, Pray.
-Context: arguments with religious leaders.
-First commandment: believing. Thinking. Remembering. Desiring. Delighting. Being careful to please him. Enjoying him and living for his joy.
-What would that look like practically? Wake up thinking about him – about how awesome he is, every day. We’d immediately be in prayer – telling him how amazing he is, asking that he would act for his own pleasure and glory. We’d be looking at studying the Bible constantly because that’s how God has fully revealed himself – and enjoying it. We’d be talking about him constantly. We’d be thinking about him during the day – trying to figure out how we could do things to please him; planning things to make him happy.
-But we don’t act like that, do we? Why is it that when we’re infatuated with a person we act like that – but we don’t concerning the God who created us and is going to be with us forever? We forget about him. We choose not to spend considerable amounts of time in prayer, in Bible study. We’re embarrassed to talk about him often. We distract ourselves with other pleasures – videogames, entertainment, relationships, success and goals…
-We do not love God.
-This is sobering, isn’t it? We’ll get to hope in a second, but let’s look at that second command – (read v. 31).
-That you love yourself is assumed. God commands us to love everyone else the same way we love ourselves. That means that my goals for other people must be the same as they are for myself. What governs your day? Why do you eat what you eat for breakfast? Go to – or not go to – class? Watch the tv shows you do? Hang out with the friends you hang out with? Why are you a Christian?
-You do things based on what makes you happy.
-What this commands is that our happiness be based on the happiness of others. This is empathy to the highest degree; but more than that – empathy with action.
-You work to secure your happiness. You make choices. You plan. You go through hard things to get happiness.
-This command is that you do the same for everyone else.
-What does this mean? When you see someone in emotional pain, you comfort them. Listen to them. Hug them. When you see someone in physical need, you provide to meet it. When you see someone who doesn’t know how to handle a situation, you come in and help handle it. Have you ever wanted help and didn’t receive it? We are to help those in need. And most of all, as we see those who are in danger of hell, we tell them there’s a way out.
-We break this commandment all the time, too, don’t we? We consider our time more worthwhile than the pain of others. We consider our money more important than the well-being of others. We consider our having fun more important than the consolation of the hurting. We consider our convenience more important than taking the time to help others. We consider our own prejudices more important than the alienation of others.
-We break this commandment – to love our neighbor. And we do not love God.
-Note what God says to the man here. “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” But he is not in it. In Luke 10:28, Jesus is recorded to have said ‘do this and you will live.’ But we don’t do it. Which means we should be getting the opposite of eternal life…
-That’s sobering. Hold on to that. It is right to be sobered right now. To be sad. We should be. We have rebelled against God. We do rebel against God.
-But let’s take a moment to consider Jesus. Jesus couldn’t stop praying. He couldn’t stop talking about his Father – even when his family made fun of him. Even when he was cast out of towns. Even when people accused him of being the devil.
-It was his Father’s will that he die. And he suffered – and cried out ‘not my will but yours be done!’ And he, phil. 2 says, was obedient to death. In Heb. 10:5, 6, Jesus says this. (Read.) Jesus always lived for his Father’s pleasure – and right after he was baptized – representing his own death, God said, “This is my Son in whom I am well pleased.” Jesus always loved the Father. And he suffered to please him – because he knew enjoying God was set before him (Heb. 12:2). Jesus enjoyed God fully, and lived fully for his Father’s joy.
-And more than that – Jesus always loved his neighbor. Consider this. He left his home; left a decent trade and income – became homeless, and spent his ministry going around to tell people that the Kingdom of God was coming – and that they needed to repent. He took time for widows, and those in pain. He took time to love children. He entertained questions. He confronted people with their own sin – being more concerned for God and for their souls than his reputation.
-He touched the dirty. Spent time with people who would tarnish his reputation. Stayed up all hours of the night so that people would know about the importance of his Kingdom.
-And – as far as believers go, that same ultimate step of obedience – of love – towards God – was the ultimate step of love for everyone who believes. He suffered all of God’s hatred for sin in their place when he died. Jesus’ love for you if you’re a believer means that he suffered for you – he loves you so much – wants you to enjoy God so much – that he suffered the fury of hell in your stead. So full was that fury and punishment in those hours, that all of hell was experienced by Jesus in your stead, and he rose again as King – and he’s coming back to bring you into his presence, to enjoy him fully forever.
-Jesus obeyed the greatest commandment in our places. And we stand, as a result, as children of God, waiting to enter his Kingdom.
-Where does that leave us? Well, we’re free from guilt. Jesus has fully shown us God – and completed the Scriptures so we can enjoy him. He’s given us his Spirit so we can see God’s glory in that word. He’s changed our hearts to make us capable of loving him – given us new eyes to see. Given us prayer and each other to drive us closer to him. He’s given us opportunity to talk about how great he is, and to love our neighbors by telling them about this great God.
-We stand free from the guilt that we had by breaking the commandment to love God and our neighbor. And we stand free from the inability not to. Jesus has given us what we need to pursue enjoyment of him, expression of that enjoyment, and freedom from the cares of this world that would prevent that – because a better one – where Jesus is – awaits us.
-Love is an easy word to say – and to even understand. But it can be a hard word to do.
-Before we begin our discussion, we want to take a few minutes and look at the most important commands in the Bible.
-If you have one, open to Mark 12:28-34. Read, Pray.
-Context: arguments with religious leaders.
-First commandment: believing. Thinking. Remembering. Desiring. Delighting. Being careful to please him. Enjoying him and living for his joy.
-What would that look like practically? Wake up thinking about him – about how awesome he is, every day. We’d immediately be in prayer – telling him how amazing he is, asking that he would act for his own pleasure and glory. We’d be looking at studying the Bible constantly because that’s how God has fully revealed himself – and enjoying it. We’d be talking about him constantly. We’d be thinking about him during the day – trying to figure out how we could do things to please him; planning things to make him happy.
-But we don’t act like that, do we? Why is it that when we’re infatuated with a person we act like that – but we don’t concerning the God who created us and is going to be with us forever? We forget about him. We choose not to spend considerable amounts of time in prayer, in Bible study. We’re embarrassed to talk about him often. We distract ourselves with other pleasures – videogames, entertainment, relationships, success and goals…
-We do not love God.
-This is sobering, isn’t it? We’ll get to hope in a second, but let’s look at that second command – (read v. 31).
-That you love yourself is assumed. God commands us to love everyone else the same way we love ourselves. That means that my goals for other people must be the same as they are for myself. What governs your day? Why do you eat what you eat for breakfast? Go to – or not go to – class? Watch the tv shows you do? Hang out with the friends you hang out with? Why are you a Christian?
-You do things based on what makes you happy.
-What this commands is that our happiness be based on the happiness of others. This is empathy to the highest degree; but more than that – empathy with action.
-You work to secure your happiness. You make choices. You plan. You go through hard things to get happiness.
-This command is that you do the same for everyone else.
-What does this mean? When you see someone in emotional pain, you comfort them. Listen to them. Hug them. When you see someone in physical need, you provide to meet it. When you see someone who doesn’t know how to handle a situation, you come in and help handle it. Have you ever wanted help and didn’t receive it? We are to help those in need. And most of all, as we see those who are in danger of hell, we tell them there’s a way out.
-We break this commandment all the time, too, don’t we? We consider our time more worthwhile than the pain of others. We consider our money more important than the well-being of others. We consider our having fun more important than the consolation of the hurting. We consider our convenience more important than taking the time to help others. We consider our own prejudices more important than the alienation of others.
-We break this commandment – to love our neighbor. And we do not love God.
-Note what God says to the man here. “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” But he is not in it. In Luke 10:28, Jesus is recorded to have said ‘do this and you will live.’ But we don’t do it. Which means we should be getting the opposite of eternal life…
-That’s sobering. Hold on to that. It is right to be sobered right now. To be sad. We should be. We have rebelled against God. We do rebel against God.
-But let’s take a moment to consider Jesus. Jesus couldn’t stop praying. He couldn’t stop talking about his Father – even when his family made fun of him. Even when he was cast out of towns. Even when people accused him of being the devil.
-It was his Father’s will that he die. And he suffered – and cried out ‘not my will but yours be done!’ And he, phil. 2 says, was obedient to death. In Heb. 10:5, 6, Jesus says this. (Read.) Jesus always lived for his Father’s pleasure – and right after he was baptized – representing his own death, God said, “This is my Son in whom I am well pleased.” Jesus always loved the Father. And he suffered to please him – because he knew enjoying God was set before him (Heb. 12:2). Jesus enjoyed God fully, and lived fully for his Father’s joy.
-And more than that – Jesus always loved his neighbor. Consider this. He left his home; left a decent trade and income – became homeless, and spent his ministry going around to tell people that the Kingdom of God was coming – and that they needed to repent. He took time for widows, and those in pain. He took time to love children. He entertained questions. He confronted people with their own sin – being more concerned for God and for their souls than his reputation.
-He touched the dirty. Spent time with people who would tarnish his reputation. Stayed up all hours of the night so that people would know about the importance of his Kingdom.
-And – as far as believers go, that same ultimate step of obedience – of love – towards God – was the ultimate step of love for everyone who believes. He suffered all of God’s hatred for sin in their place when he died. Jesus’ love for you if you’re a believer means that he suffered for you – he loves you so much – wants you to enjoy God so much – that he suffered the fury of hell in your stead. So full was that fury and punishment in those hours, that all of hell was experienced by Jesus in your stead, and he rose again as King – and he’s coming back to bring you into his presence, to enjoy him fully forever.
-Jesus obeyed the greatest commandment in our places. And we stand, as a result, as children of God, waiting to enter his Kingdom.
-Where does that leave us? Well, we’re free from guilt. Jesus has fully shown us God – and completed the Scriptures so we can enjoy him. He’s given us his Spirit so we can see God’s glory in that word. He’s changed our hearts to make us capable of loving him – given us new eyes to see. Given us prayer and each other to drive us closer to him. He’s given us opportunity to talk about how great he is, and to love our neighbors by telling them about this great God.
-We stand free from the guilt that we had by breaking the commandment to love God and our neighbor. And we stand free from the inability not to. Jesus has given us what we need to pursue enjoyment of him, expression of that enjoyment, and freedom from the cares of this world that would prevent that – because a better one – where Jesus is – awaits us.
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