Who's Right?

Ephesians 5:3-10


3But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints.
4Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving.
5For you may be sure of this, that 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.
6Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.
7Therefore do not become partners with them;
8for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light
9(for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true),
10and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord.


It's a tough day to write a post. There's nothing I can say about these words that will be "politically correct." God's Word says what it says and I have no authority to try and interpret it so that it jives with what our culture seems to willing to embrace today. Watch TV for 30 minutes and you will be inundated with foolish talk, crude joking, and sexually explicit material. We are surrounded by darkness and we don't even realize it most of the time.

 With that said - all is not hopeless. In Jesus Christ we have the forgiveness of all sin - including all of those spoken of by Paul in this passage. We are able to "walk as children of the light." That may mean we are out of step with those around us. So be it. We can still be kind, gentle, and express love while not expressing acceptance of sinful behavior. (Remember - that goes for us as well. We cannot accept sinful behavior in ourselves either!) Many have tried to massage passages such as this, softening them into nothingness so that sin can be tolerated, even approved of in our world. That doesn't make it right or godly.

 Like I said - a tough one.

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