Scott Satko said:Scott Satko said:
Ephesians 4:17-32 (NIV):
So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more.
You, however, did not come to know Christ that way. Surely you heard of him and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body. "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. He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need.
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
Wow, I come back 3 days later and see that this passage has really raised the hackles of quite a number of you. Why don't we focus on just the last two paragraphs. Rather than post a meaningless statement of how offensive all this is, what a bigot Paul was, how uneducated Paul was compared to you, etc., tell me specifically what parts of the last two paragraphs you disagree with:
- putting off falsehood?
- speaking truthfully to one's neighbor?
- not sinning in one's anger?
- not letting the sun go down on your anger?
- not stealing, but working instead?
- sharing with those in need?
- not letting unwholesome talk leave your mouth?
- building up others with your words?
- getting rid of bitterness, rage, anger, brawling, slander, and malice?
- being kind and compassionate to one another?
- forgiving each other?
It would be really interesting to see which of these ideas you think are bad things.
Hi Scott,
In my reply to doug, and it sounds like you have had a look, I didn't dissagree with any of the moral points that Paul was making. My point was they were all clouded by his insistance on colorful prose, which would certainly have put off many potential converts.
Steve
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