Monday 26 January 2015

Body Maintenance and Repair


Do you have a personal trainer? The encouragement and motivation that they offer is fantastic, but it’s only part of the overall offer. They understand enough about the body and how it works to identify when something’s not working quite right. They can see when our bodies are overcompensating for a part that’s not working correctly. While on the surface everything might look like it’s running correctly, they can identify where corrective action is necessary.

Paul’s doing the same here in Ephesians 4:25-32. We’ve seen how he’s encouraged and motivated the Church by showing how effective it can be in serving and glorifying God if members can be the part, play the part, and be set apart. But like a great trainer, there are some things he needs to address and some guidance he needs to give where he observes parts of the body that aren’t functioning as they should.

For the relationship between a trainer and the trainee to work, it’s important that they share the same objective. When we’re on the same page as our trainer we can understand and respect the fact that occasionally they need to give us some tough lessons. So let’s remember Paul’s goal here – he wants the Church to be united so that the body of Christ may be built up (v12), and that as Christians we can become mature (v13). That’s our goal too. We want to able to say:

“I belong to Christ’s body, to build up, unite, and benefit that body”

If that’s our aim, we can respond to Paul’s challenge when he tells us that for the sake of unity and growth in the Church:

 ·         Don’t lie - speak truthfully, and don’t be desensitised into thinking that dishonesty in any form is okay (v25)

·         Don’t lose your temper – instead be righteous, and if there’s a disagreement get it settled quickly (v26-27)

·         Don’t steal – rather work, and give, to support each other as part of God’s community (v28)

·         Don’t use rotten talk – speak in a way that benefits and builds up others (v29)

·         Don’t be unkind – be compassionate, caring and forgiving, as Christ is to us (v32)

It’s easy to gloss over these isn’t it? To think that they’re written for someone else? To believe that the odd ‘white lie’ or harsh word doesn’t matter that much in the grander scheme of things? Paul doesn’t think so – he recognises that each of these things can destroy unity, and encourages us to address them head on.

How do we do it? We follow the example set by Jesus (v32), who sets the pattern, and standard of behaviour for his people and gives us the Holy Spirit to seal us for redemption (v30).

Maintaining unity in the Church and helping members to grow and mature together isn’t easy. The Bible gives us a lot of very practical steps to promote it, and highlights issues we need to tackle which could destroy it (watch this space as Paul's got more guidance for us in chapter 5...).

But thanks to God, in trying to achieve it we’re not left alone and rudderless.

Tuesday 20 January 2015

Spot the Difference

Am I getting older, or is spot the difference getting harder? Sometimes the difference is obvious. Often it's subtle. Occasionally it's so minor that we hardly notice it at all.


In Ephesians 4: 17-24, Paul spells out very clearly that the difference between a Christian and a non-Christian should be plain for all to see.

He's writing to a relatively young Church, many of whom were "Gentiles by birth" and without God or hope. 'Gentiles' was an umbrella term for those who were far away from God, but the good news of Jesus that united the Church was that the distance from God could be closed; he who was far away could be brought near, exclusively through Jesus' perfect life, sacrificial death, and resurrection.

So Paul's not trying to be divisive by arguing that there differences between Christians and non-Christians. Instead he's encouraging those who have come near to God for forgiveness, acceptance into God's family and into an inheritance that guarantees their future, to stop behaving as if they remained far away.

So spot the difference for yourself.

When they, and we, were far away from God, Paul says:
  • Our minds are darkened (v17),
  • Our hearts are hardened (v18).
  • Our sensitivity is dulled (v19).
It's a pretty sobering view of humanity isn't it? We can't make complete sense of our environment; we stop looking for God in the world, and stop finding him; we chase after things that just can't satisfy.

But, when God draws us near and we accept his grace, expressed in his gift of Jesus to us, Paul describes us as:
  • Having taught minds (v20-21)
  • Being made new (v22-23)
  • Re-clothed (v24)
So instead of how we used to be, the truth has been revealed and we can see the point of our lives, what was rotten has been removed and replaced with something new, and it makes a difference in how people see us.

It's a marked contrast isn't it? That's why Paul wants the Church in Ephesus, and the Church today, to stop living like we used to. We're not like that anymore.

When we recognise somebody from their uniform, we have expectations about what they will be like and how they will behave. Paul is laying down those expectations for Christians here in Ephesians.

What do people expect when they see you?

Wednesday 14 January 2015

Be the part...Play your Part

Remember Mousetrap? Did you play it properly or just set up the trap and watch it go? Either way, you'll know that if one little piece of that game disappeared under the sofa, got eaten by the dog or was hidden by a cruel and vindictive older brother, the game was ruined and unplayable. To work properly, you needed every piece play it's part.

In Ephesians 4 Paul recognises that too - he urges every member of the Church to recognise their place as a member of the "body of Christ" and to play their part. This isn't about pretending - this is about a concerted effort and commitment to the Church to help it function properly.

Christians are all gifted people. Not in an X-Factor-this-is-all-I've-ever-wanted way, but because by that amazing grace that Paul tells us about in chapter 2 the ascended Jesus, who defeated Satan, sin and death, gives us gifts (4:8). Those gifts are given to equip us not so we can rest on our laurels, or celebrate our own achievements, but "so that the body of Christ may be built up".

The purpose of that building up? You've guessed it - unity and maturity (v13). Unity in the faith, and in our knowledge of the Son of God. Recurring pleas from Paul to the early Church, and recurring pleas from Paul to the Church today. What do we have in common with Christians from nearly 2000 years ago? Just like them, we're entirely dependent on Jesus - he took our debts (sin) and we're credited with his righteousness. Just like them, the gifts that the Church needs to stay united come exclusively from and through him.

Paul wants us to grow up, not to remain childlike (or childish). That takes effort - each part has to do its work (v16), but we've been given gifts and an instruction manual - the Bible - to help us grow. We've also been given each other. We don't have to go it alone. Our gifts are given in the context of the Church, to serve in the context of a Church, so we can grow in the context of a Church. If we're not growing - why? Are we trying to fly solo and squandering our gifts?

Not sure what your gifts are? Find a wise Christian - talk and pray with them. Study the Bible with them - listen, understand and apply God's word. Don't be bogged down with indecision and procrastination. Don't compare yourself with others and wish you could do what they do. Roll up your sleeves, and get serving. Be the part, and play your part.

Saturday 10 January 2015

A Church in tune - Ephesians 4

In an orchestra there's not a lot of room for playing freestyle is there? To let any member 'busk it' or do their own thing will have interesting consequences - if you don't believe me, check the video…

For an orchestra to be successful, and to fulfil the purpose they were brought together for, they need to be united in the way they play. In Ephesians so far we've seen that Paul thought that unity was really important for Churches too, and we see it again here in chapter 4.

So what kind of behaviour does unity inspire in a Church? Paul tells us in verses 1-3:

Firstly, to maintain unity we need humility, recognising that none of us can do anything to earn or deserve the skills, abilities or resources God has given us. We  are part of the church through the invitation and work of God alone, and realising that means we will be determined to live a life that  is similarly humble, loving and sacrificial to  others. There's no place for pride or superiority as far as unity is concerned.

Secondly, we need to be gentle. The word Paul uses here means being morally strong without being overbearing. Helping others, encouraging them, guiding them, helping the less mature believers, lovingly correcting those who are in error. If you want to see someone who did this 'gently', look at Jesus - he was morally strong and swift to correct his followers and others, but he also cared, showing great patience and love. Are we better at the morally strong bit than the caring? If so we need to work harder at grasping the essence of gentleness.

Thirdly, we're to be patient and bear with one another. Patience is about taking a long term view of our brothers and sisters, bearing with them, because we love them and because Christ loves them. It’s recognising that we are all a work in progress. No believer this side of Christ’s return is perfect. We will all say things that can end up hurting each other. We will get things wrong. We all have our blind spots. From time to time we hurt each other and we need to stop holding on to those hurts. Again, Jesus sets the example - are we as good at bearing with one another as Christ is in bearing with us?

God desires for us to be a united people. It’s what he saved us for. It’s his overarching purpose for us. But it takes effort to maintain the unity Christ died to create. If that wasn’t the case then we wouldn’t need Eph 4:1-6. It’s why Paul encourages in v3 to make every effort.

Unity is not an optional extra in church life. It should be at the core of what a church is. It should be part of our DNA. It’s what the world should see as they look at us. It’s the goal of our salvation. 
It is what Jesus died to achieve.

And when we're not unified, we're like the bad orchestra – we’re making the awful noise, we’re not doing what we were brought together to do, and we're dishonouring to God.  


So consider the behaviours of a united Church, the basis for our unity, and think about how great we can sound if we play our part and work together for God.