Making Right Decisions - Consider the Text

Making Right Decisions - Consider the Text
Ephesians 4:26-27

 

Continuing on in Ephesians...

Consider the Text

This is one of those passages where the translations vary greatly.

"In your anger do not sin": Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.” (NIV)

“Even if you are angry, do not sin: never let the sun set on your anger or else you will give the devil a foothold.” (NJB)

“Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: Neither give place to the devil.” (KJV)

“Be angry, and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not give the devil an opportunity.” (NASB)

There are two significant issues that we need to deal with in the text itself:

• Is this a Command or a Condition?

You will easily notice that there are two completely different approaches on how this verse is translated. The KJV and NASB translations treat the first phrase of the passage as a command: “Be ye angry” (KJV) or “Be angry” (NASB). The NIV and NJB translations, on the other hand, treat it as more of a condition: “In your anger” (NIV) or “Even if you are angry” (NJB).

Without going into a lot of detail, let me just say that technically both approaches are possible based on the Greek grammar used by Paul. However, given the context and the way similar grammar is employed throughout the New Testament, it seems that we ought to choose the plain meaning and regard this as a command. Perhaps one reason that some translations are reluctant to do so is that we’ve been taught that anger is wrong, so it just doesn’t seem right that we would be commanded to be angry. But I think that when we look at this passage more carefully, we will see that Paul intended to give his readers a command here.

• The more closely we Examine this, We see Two Different Words for Anger

Most translations use the words “anger” or “angry” twice in verse 26. Only the KJV gives us a clue that these are actually two different Greek root words since it uses the words “angry” and “wrath”.

The word translated “angry” in the command “Be angry” is the same word that is often used to describe God’s anger. It is sometimes described as righteous indignation. It is anger that is an abiding, settled attitude against that which is sinful.

It is also the same word used to describe Jesus’ anger with the Pharisees when he healed a man on the Sabbath:

He looked around at them in anger and, deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts... Mark 3:5 (NIV)

The word translated “wrath” in the second command Paul gives – “let not the sun go down upon your wrath” – deals more with the provocation or the underlying cause of the anger. It is also used to describe anger that is mingled with irritation, exasperation and embitterment. It comes from the same root word Paul will use in Ephesians 6:4 when he commands fathers not to “exasperate” their children.

So now that we’ve determined the background for the passage, let’s see if we can properly identify the principles that God wants us to learn from this passage. More tomorrow...you are loved!

Who's the church!

Who's the church!
We are the church!

Good Morning,
I was going through my emails and began to read this email from another pastor who is on the forefront of the battle going on nationally for our Christian rights. I normally don't send these out for you to read, but the Holy Spirit prompted me to remind you that we are in a spiritual battle in our country. If we don't stand up for what's right then who will.

From Jim Garlow
Greetings Pastor and Christian Leader,
The battle is over, said the New York Times last week.  “They” won.  “We” lost.  And perhaps it is so.  The New York Times had some very interesting observations about the price that is about to be extracted from evangelicals.

Allow me to be quick to say that the Kingdom of God is doing fine, and will always do fine.  It is eternal.  It cannot be stopped.

But America is in deep trouble.  Or, if I read correctly a piece called "Terms of Our Surrender" in the New York Times of March 1, 2014, Bible-believing Christians in America are “in trouble.”

More germane to our discussion here, is this question: are authentic Christians in America about to experience orchestrated and intentional persecution?

Spiritually discerning people have been saying “yes” to this question for some time.

But the New York Times saying it?  Persecution – or the equivalent – is coming.  Soon.  To Christians.  Why?  Because of their refusal to accept so called homosexual “marriage.”
This is not some melodramatic, flamboyant street preacher shouting it from a busy intersection while passer-bys pay no attention.  No.  This is coming from Ross Douthat, a thoughtful op-ed writer (who seems to identify himself with believers).  In the New York Times, of all places.
The writer is candid and forthright that some level of persecution is coming.  Soon.  In fact, now.

In a similar article by another writer, Eric Metaxas is quoted as cautioning “Mr. Hipster Evangelical” not to “romanticize persecution.”  It is not fun.  It hurts.  Lots.

And as an amateur church historian (my Ph.D. is in historical theology), may I caution us to avoid the standard line that “persecution only causes the church to flourish.”  That is true SOME of the time.  In other cases, the church is totally killed off.  Many world areas attest to this truth.  So a warning it is order: avoid being “glib” about the coming persecution.  It is not fun.  It is bad.  And it is not a guarantee of church growth or health.

Now – with that set up, here is the link to the New York Times article.

(Disclaimer regarding one paragraph: The author does blame the church for it.  I disagree with that statement 95% - because I have witnessed very loving outreaches to those with same sex attraction.  But I put that aside to focus on another matter.)

I have a question.  Can this be turned?  Can persecution be avoided?

Yes, if we have a national spiritual renewal.  History affirms that.

But what is “national spiritual renewal?”  it is, in part, when people start to act, think and believe in truly authentically biblical ways.  And that includes all places – including the voting booth.  (I am fully aware that a spiritual renewal touches all of life, but I would like, with your permission, to tighten the focus on the voting booth for now.)
And that is precisely what I want to ask you to do.  Please join with thousands of other pastors, Sunday, October 5th – teaching people how to think biblically on election day – in the voting booth – in November 2014.
 
(The rest of the article focuses on pastors getting materials from his organization)
Blessings in Christ! You are loved...

Making Right Decisions - Anger

Making Right Decisions - Anger
Ephesians 4:26-27

This week I saw on the net a “Conventional Wisdom IQ Test”. The idea is to see how many of the sayings of conventional wisdom that one can complete.
1. If it’s not broken.... don’t fix it.
2. It never rains, but.... it pours.
3. Better late.... than never.
4. It’s not over until.... the fat lady sings
5. The bigger they are.... the harder they fall
6. Can’t live with them.... can’t live without them
7. Life is like a bowl.... of cherries
8. That which does not kill me.... only makes me stronger
9. Don’t count your chickens.... before they hatch
10. Never mix business.... with pleasure

I think one of the great benefits that has come out of our detailed study of Ephesians, is that it has caused us to take a step back and question some of the “conventional wisdom” that is often applied to some of these verses. And our passage this morning is certainly one of those places. Paul says;

“In your anger do not sin: do not let the sun go down while you are still angry: and do not give the devil a foothold.” Ephesians 4:26, 27 (NIV)

I desire for us look at the fundamental basics of Bible study; in our fuel groups questions have been asked as to how one would understand what scripture is saying, over taking it at face value. So let’s look at several keys to a correct understanding of this passage:

Keys to understanding this passage:
1. Consider the context:
• Paul is writing to the church, not individual believers

Based on much of my research this week, it seems that the “conventional wisdom” is to take this passage and use it as a platform for a message on how to deal with the anger in our individual lives in a healthy way. I know that was my initial inclination. It’s not that we can’t apply it that way, but that’s not the context in which Paul is writing. Paul will deal with individual anger a little more directly when we get to verse 31. But I’m convinced that is not the focus of Paul’s writing here. Paul is speaking much more with life in the body than it does with our individual lives as believers.

• Paul is giving practical instruction on how to live according to what his readers already are in Jesus.

In verses 22-24, Paul reminded us who we already are in Jesus. We are to put off all the things that characterized our old way of life and put on those things that are consistent with the character of Jesus. Then, beginning in verse 25, Paul exhorts us to put off falsehood and put on truth within the body of Christ.

Verses 26 and 27 are a continuation of that practical instruction to the body.

• Paul quotes an Old Testament passage in support of his teaching.

In verse 26, Paul quotes Psalm 4:4 directly from the Septuagint, the Greek version of the Old Testament. So it’s going to be important for us to understand the theme of that Psalm and why Paul uses it here. More tomorrow...you are loved!

Making Right Decisions - Habits

Making Right Decisions - Habits
Ephesians 4:25

Yesterday we looked at fear and acceptance as reasons one might use falsehood to protect themselves. Today we will finish with why falsehood can become habitual.

• Habit: There is quite a bit of research to support what most of us instinctively know – the more we lie and get away with it, the more likely we are to make lying and deception a habit especially at a young age.  

When we allow these things to control how we live, we begin to live an overly self-centered life. It’s about what I want, how I might get hurt, how I am going to be accepted by others and about what’s comfortable for me. But If Christ is in you, truly, the mind of Christ is in you. You can overcome these patterns in your life. This interplay lies on a continuum of do you choose.

Paul referenced Zechariah 8:16, 17 in 4:25 “What this adds up to, then, is this: no more lies, no more pretenses. Tell your neighbor the truth. In Christ’s body we’re all connected to each other”:  Zechariah says “These are the things you are to do: Speak the truth to each other, and render true and sound judgment in your courts; do not plot evil against your neighbor, and do not love to swear falsely. I hate all this," declares the LORD.” Zechariah 8:16, 17 (NIV)  You can see the connection.

The command that Paul gives here is in the present tense, so he is literally saying that we need to keep on speaking truth within the body. Once we begin to see how we engage in falsehood, it’s pretty easy to see what is required to speak truth – it’s the polar opposite of falsehood. The next question is to be asked is do you want to be set free this? Transformation takes place when we follow James words: “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed” James 5:16 (NIV)

If you confess your sins of falsehood, do you know what you’ll be healed from?

• Hurts:
o Relationships that are damaged will be restored:

Example: I am thankful for a wonderful wife and a great marriage relationship. But when I look back over the years, the most difficult times in our relationship as husband and wife occurred when I wasn’t totally honest with Amy. Maybe I didn’t out and out lie to her, but I deceived her in some way – usually by just omitting the truth or by failing to share how I really felt. That falsehood harmed our relationship because it damaged the trust that we had built up. But one thing we learned is that when we allowed healing to take place it changed how we looked at and treated each other.

Painful memories will be wiped away…
How do we fix it? We get healing, and when we get healed it affects the whole body. Can you see the Holy Spirit working getting you ready for healing and transformation?  

o God is ready to do Ministry today for healing in you…
o If you don’t respond Your Healing will be Delayed

We fail to obtain the healing that we need because we’re too afraid to be honest with others in the body. But when we do that we miss out on the very means that God has provided in our lives for the purpose of helping us to heal.

Are you ready? You are loved!

Making Right Decisions - Fear

Making Right Decisions
Ephesians 4:26-27


I hope you are enjoying this series on Making Right Decisions...Yesterday we took a quick look at Greed and how it impacts us to not be genuine. Today we look at fear and acceptance.

• Fear is deliberating: Jesus actually spoke of fear in Matthew 6 when he said “don’t worry about your life, what you will eat or wear.” Right before that he told us we can’t serve two masters, God or money.

Fear of not having enough usually starts at a very young age, but it can happen at any age. We tend to take fears and habits with us when we receive Christ. These are the things Christ has set us free from, that we sometimes hang on to. That’s where the choice thing comes into play.

Example: When I was young my dad got very sick and was in and out for the hospital for over a year. We had very little. We were eating macaroni because it was cheap. I can remember our dog Pal, and don’t be grossed out because it was this bad. Our dog pal went to one of the neighbors, still don’t know how he got a good ham, the dog grabbed it and brought it home. My dad saw the dog chewing on the ham and went out and took it from him. He cut off were the dog bit it and we had ham. That affected me. Can you see how circumstances in our lives can move us toward false pretenses as a protection mechanism?

How we live and re-act to circumstances come from self-perseverance. So we choose what is more important at the time. Life ends up being a roadway on which your choices and God’s choices merge–the intersection of choice.

Let me give you another example. Your children learn early to put on false pretenses.  You ask your child, “Did you hit your brother?” And of course, wanting to escape the punishment that we fear, for me it was a beating, we quickly answer “no.” “Then, why is there a red mark on his arm?” “I don’t know.” “You didn’t have anything to do with that?” “Well, my fist may have accidentally run into his arm?” “In other words you hit him, right?” “It all depends on how you define the word ‘hit’.” There were times in my childhood were this was my strategy to put off the inevitable. How about acceptance issues?

• Acceptance: Have you struggled to be accepted? We often resort to deceit so that we’ll be liked, accepted and appreciated. We want to look good to others. This was one of the keys that led Ananias and Sapphria to do what they did in Acts 5. They wanted to be accepted without giving their all. God didn’t appreciate that and they paid the ultimate price for lying to Him. Learning to live for Christ means we are already accepted. We don’t have to do anything else to be accepted. God accepts us just as we are. That’s the position we get by being a child of God when accept Christ as our savior. If we don’t get this, this area of falsehood will become habitual? More tomorrow...you are loved!

Making Right Decisions - Ephesians 4:25

Making Right Decisions - Ephesians 4:25

The Message bible gives a little more insight:
“What this adds up to, then, is this: no more lies, no more pretense. Tell your neighbor the truth. In Christ’s body we’re all connected to each other, after all. When you lie to others, you end up lying to yourself.” Ephesians 4:25 (Message)

I especially like the phrase “no more pretenses”. Given the context in which Paul is writing here in chapter 4. Pretense's seems to be the best word to describe what falsehood is in today’s culture.; and specifically we are not to engage in pretense within the body of Christ, the church.

Unfortunately our church is not immune to followers of Jesus Christ who fail to put off falsehood at times. I know what a lot of you are thinking right now. I would never lie to, or deceive my Christian brothers or sisters. A little righteous indignation might be rising up inside you. Let me give you a little food for thought.

• Are you a different person when you’re at church than you are the rest of the week? If you’re trying to live several different lives depending on your setting, then you might still be walking in falsehood.
• When people ask you how you’re doing, do you just say “fine”, or are you honest about how you’re really doing?

• Have you ever told someone that you would pray for him or her and then not followed through?

• Have you ever made a commitment to a ministry in the church and then not followed through?
These are all forms of falsehoods or pretense's. Remember the words of Jesus from the Sermon on the Mount: “Simply let your ’Yes’ be ’Yes,’ and your ’No,’ ’No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.” Matthew 5:37 (NIV) That's a scripture we have to take seriously or we may find ourselves speaking a non truth.
Remember the story of Ananias & Sapphria?

Acts 5:1-11

Act 5:1 Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property.
Act 5:2 With his wife's full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at the apostles' feet.
Act 5:3 Then Peter said, "Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land?
Act 5:4 Didn't it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn't the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied just to human beings but to God."
Act 5:5 When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard what had happened.
Act 5:6 Then some young men came forward, wrapped up his body, and carried him out and buried him.
Act 5:7 About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened.
Act 5:8 Peter asked her, "Tell me, is this the price you and Ananias got for the land?" "Yes," she said, "that is the price."
Act 5:9 Peter said to her, "How could you conspire to test the Spirit of the Lord? Listen! The feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also."
Act 5:10 At that moment she fell down at his feet and died. Then the young men came in and, finding her dead, carried her out and buried her beside her husband.
Act 5:11 Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events.

 

This is an amazing example of the pretense of falsehood. It has greed, fear, acceptance issues, and habitual repetition. It’s a soap opera.

• Greed is a subtle thing: Ananias and Sapphria engaged in falsehood because they believed it would help them get something they wanted – power, money, and social status. What brought this all on is what happened in (Acts 4:32-36). They wanted to be like everyone else but they just couldn’t do it, give it all away. So they put on the pretense that they were giving it all.  Life ends up being a roadway on which your choices and God’s choices merge–the intersection of choice. If Christ is in you then, truly, the mind of Christ is in you. This interplay lies on a continuum, and there are times when an event tilts more toward your decision and the Lord simply says, “I approve that or I don’t.” At other times, events represent His decision—when He is divinely guiding through circumstances. When we live this way falsehood is an afterthought. It’s not a part of who we are. More tomorrow...you are loved!

Making Right Decisions

Making Right Decisions – Ephesians 4:25

In the last section of this chapter Paul is going to go into even more detail on how to apply these passages in some very practical ways. He is going to instruct us to put off our vices and put on our virtues. We’ll see that we are to:
• Put off falsehood and put on truth
• Put off anger and put on reconciliation
• Put off laziness and put on hard work
• Put off words that tear down and put on words that build up
• Put off bitterness, rage, anger, brawling, slander and malice and put on kindness, compassion and forgiveness.

I know you’re all excited to look at falsehood? Have you ever heard the phrase, “Out of the mouth of babes?” It comes from the simple truth that sometimes it takes a child to reveal lasting wisdom.
For example:
· Patrick, age 10, said, “Never trust a dog to watch your food.”
· Michael, 14, said, “When your dad is mad and asks you, "Do I look stupid?" don’t answer him.”
· Michael, also said, “Never tell your mom her diet’s not working.”
· Randy, 9 years of age said, “Stay away from prunes.” One wonders how he discovered that bit of wisdom.
· Kyoyo, age 9, said, “Never hold a dust buster and a cat at the same time.”

Some humorous real truths…This week, we’re going to deal with only one verse. It’s not that this verse is hard to understand. However, it is one of the most difficult verses for us to apply within the body of Christ.

“Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body.” Ephesians 4:25 (NIV)

The word “falsehood” comes from the Greek word from which we get our English prefix “pseudo” which we use to describe something that appears to be genuine, but is not.  So when Paul writes that we are to put off falsehood that word covers a broad variety of things that appear to be genuine, but are not. It goes far beyond just lying, which is how the word is translated in the KJV and NIV.

Most of us don’t have problems identifying outright lies. But most falsehood is much more subtle than that. Consider these top ten lies that are a little more subtle:
1. The check is in the mail.
2. I’ll start my diet tomorrow.
3. We service what we sell.
4. Give me your number and the doctor will call you right back.
5. Your luggage isn’t lost, it’s only misplaced.
6. Leave your resume and we’ll keep it on file.
7. I just need five minutes of your time.
8. Your table will be ready in a few minutes.
9. Open wide, it won’t hurt a bit.
10. I’m from the government and I’m here to help you. If the IRS comes to you and says that?

We laugh a little uneasily at many of those because most of us have either used some of those or we’ve had someone else use them on us. But perhaps an even more insidious falsehood occurs when we actually attempt to use true facts to deceive others, truths revealed to deceive. Like a person using true facts to make a gain financial gain over you; or to control you in some way. There are many ways we can use true facts that are actually falsehoods. This is what Paul is talking about in this verse...more tomorrow. You are loved!