Ephesians 5: 1 – 14

Jan. 18, 2022

Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;

2And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.

3But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;

4Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.

5For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

6Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.

7Be not ye therefore partakers with them.

8For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:

9(For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)

10Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.

11And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.

12For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.

13But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light.

14Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.

The words of this selection are easy enough to understand. But they can’t account for – and could not know – what life in the 21 Century is like.

Television, radio, movies, books, ‘art’, advertising – filth is everywhere. So what do we do? We can’t walk around with blinders on and our fingers in our ears, so what do we do? We don’t give it ‘place’ in our lives. It only takes an episode or two to figure out what a story is about. The Game of Thrones series comes to mind – it was very popular and I guess the folks who were fans didn’t mind – or enjoyed – the ‘soft porn’ scenes. Not Thrones only, of course – Vikings was the same. Others as well but I mention these because of their popularity.

I have to, due to respect for you, admit to being a The Walking Dead fan. But here’s why – whatever caused the zombie apocalypse was manmade and not demonic, the few sex scenes are few indeed and not at all graphic (I think they are included for those who can’t figure out who is actually sleeping with whom), and although the characters speak as though they are atheists or at least skeptics, their behavior is frequently quite Christian. One of those Christian traits is the mostly unspoken agreement among the group that they are willing to die so that the others can live – very St. John 15: 13.

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