009 Lighten up

Do  as I say, not as I do is probably the wisest or most honest advice most of us can give. We should be able to confidently set the example of Christian living but few of us do that as well as we should. There is, of course, a faultless example we really should follow.

“Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. (Ephesians 5:1,2)

Can there be any doubt that God loves you, he always has and always will.  His love has been demonstrated to us.  All of us have lived lives where we ignored his greatness even though it has been clearly displayed around us. We have dismissed his right to rule and have rebelled, seeking independence.  We have deserved eternal death and separation from life and love.

God had no obligation to rescue us from our deadly situation but he did.  He sent his only son to be crucified in our place.  God as Christ loved us and gave himself for us as an offering to God, a sacrifice in our place. It was perfect, pure and sweet as a perfume to his Father God.

In gratitude we follow God’s example of love.  We cannot repeat a sacrifice as perfect as Christ’s. The most we can do is also the least we can do: to make ourselves a living sacrifice to our Lord — but so frequently we relapse.  Paul knew this so he gave practical pointers.

 But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. (Ephesians 5:3–4)

The modern comedian’s technique includes just these things, knowing that causing discomfort is a great way to bring about nervous laughter which encourages people to be pleased that they at least get the joke and puts them at ease as they persuade themselves that what used to shock is ok after all.

It is so easy for human laughter to slide through the categories of joy, fun, telling jokes and flippancy. C.S. Lewis wrote, There needs to be an element of fun, of joy, of hilarity in the malaise of all the pressures we feel every day. The devil calls it “emotional froth!” Even the wonderful God-given spiritual gift of joy can become distorted and lost when we relax our standards towards those of the non-Christian world around us.

Pay attention when the Holy Spirit warns you there is even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed in your conversation or that of those around you. 

Witty, quick responses intended as jokes can so easily be given insufficient thought and turn out to be improper and lead to worse. Who is it we are seeking to impress or entertain in our conversations and what impression have we made?

The test is there in this passage. The conversation is ended — can we then say, thank you Lord for being with us? Or would we have been uncomfortable had we been conscious of his presence? Even better, was thankfulness a theme of the time just spent knowing that it was spent in the company of Jesus?

Once again we see that near enough is not good enough for a citizen of God’s perfect heaven. We often try to tell ourselves that there is leeway in God’s standards but there is not! They are clear, inflexible and even our natural moral nature tells us they are good and just.

For of this you can be sure: no immoral, impure or greedy person – such a person 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 such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. Therefore do not be partners with them. (Ephesians 5:5-7)

There are no two ways about it – only one. But we love to justify and rationalise our behaviour and standards. Grow up, times have changed, get with it, learn to live, look at what you’re missing, be a bit more flexible and fit in. it’s easy to get plenty of such advice but it comes as empty words with no real truth in it, nothing healing and constructive. It’s not their source of advice that sets our standards.

Is the Jesus really the Lord? Because nothing else should fill his role. Anything that we allow instead of his being king of every moment has displaced him and has become at that moment an idol. Clearly Christ cannot accept that insult, that offence. How is the Lord of lords to respond to that? We know that God’s wrath will inevitably come upon the idolater, the disobedient.

So we are all warned.  We all know our weakness, how easily we are distracted, tripped up, misled and even caught up in behaviour we regret. Just in case this might, probably will, happen to you, be discriminating about your company and especially your partnerships.

We take the warnings seriously but it’s much more positive to follow constructive guidance!

For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. But everything exposed by the light becomes visible – and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. This is why it is said: ‘Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.’ (Ephesians 5:8-14)

Why do we think there’s not much difference between Christians and non-Christians when the Bible keeps telling us the difference is very great? It is as different as darkness and light. As different as being asleep and awake. As different as being secretive and being exposed. As different as dead and alive. As different as being shameful and being goodness, righteousness and truth.

Christians don’t hide their light under a bushel but rather people can tell someone is a Christian after a short while in their company, especially if they have paid attention to their environment and been awake enough to know Jesus is in and with them. That’s the time Christ, the light of the world, will shine on them.

There are things happening in the world we would rather not talk about, that we think of as too shameful to mention let alone discuss and the disobedient will do in secret but if it comes to light and is exposed we might be on the spot. Then we really need the guidance and even words of the Holy Spirit to find a contribution that is loving and not judgemental, explaining the teachings of Jesus. Often this will cause offence: the Cross of Jesus is commonly a stumbling block to someone who is not saved by it.

Be very careful, then, how you live – not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Ephesians 5:15-20) 

When I became a Christian it seemed to me the most exciting, glorious discovery and I started going to church meetings. Very soon I was amazed at the disinterest and carelessness Christians showed. Why were they not as thrilled as I was? 

The first time I was asked to talk to a group of Christians it was to my peers in a youth fellowship and I spoke about these verses.

Here we were together discovering more about Jesus and his will for our lives.  It didn’t even seem to take much wisdom when you looked at the world around you: the days are evil! Be careful then how you use your precious time. You don’t get the chance outside our fellowship meeting to encourage each other including  giving thanks to God the Father, singing heartfelt praise to him. 

So much of our time is taken up with foolishness and we are so much encouraged to emptiness and damaging froth. It is such a contrast and so wonderful to be filled with the Holy Spirit instead.

Because of my enthusiasm and frustration I was given and accepted the title of institutional wet blanket. More than 60 years later the days are evil, perhaps increasingly worse every year and I know the number to come is less either those I have to live or before Jesus return! 

Increasingly I still prefer to spend my time giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.