Empty Words

I've been reading Ephesians for the past few weeks. I found this quite interesting.

¹ Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. ² And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. ³ But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. ⁴ Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. ⁵ For 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. ⁶ Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience (Eph 5:1-6).

I apologize for the length. I had to put the whole thing there to get the entire thought, the whole context.

The aim, then, is to "be imitators of God" on the basis of the reality that those who belong to Christ are God's "beloved children." The way in which we imitate God is to "walk in love", and not merely as the world "loves", but "as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us" -- a self-sacrificing love.

Contrasting to imitating God and walking in love, we have another set of options. These include sexual immorality, impurity, and covetousness (which, by the way, Paul defines as "idolatry"). These include "filthiness", "foolish talk", "crude jokes" ... oh, wait, am I meddling too much? (That's what my old pastor would say when he started applying Scripture too close to home.) Paul is not ambiguous here. He's not dancing around. "Well, we've got to be accepting, tolerant, non-judgmental. You don't want to alienate people." Instead, he offers, "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." Oh, really, Paul? Come on. Tell us what you really think.

It's interesting today that we -- even many who are self-professed Christians -- find ourselves on the opposing side of this discussion. When the Bible defines "sexual immorality" as "any sexual behavior outside of marriage" (and good luck finding any biblical definition of "marriage" as anything but the union of a man and a woman) and so-called brothers are telling us, "No, no, that's not at issue", there is a problem. When purity is ridiculed among those who call themselves Christians, there is a problem. When covetousness is encouraged (I'm thinking of things like the "health and wealth" types, for instance), there is a problem. Paul says these "must not even be named among you." Named? In some circles, they're the standard!

According to Paul, "because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience." That is, this is serious. It's not a matter of "judgmentalism" or "intolerance". It's not a case of "preferences" -- "Oh, sure, it's wrong for you, but don't go all high and mighty on us and think it's wrong for everyone." It's the reason that God visits wrath on humans. No small issue. Interesting, then, is the warning Paul offers. Given that these things ought not be even hinted at among Christians and given that these things are so very dangerous as to prevent a person from entering the kingdom and bring about, instead, God's wrath, what should we be careful of? "Let no one deceive you with empty words."

Empty words. That's what you get. "Why are you defending this particular sexual immorality?" The answer is only empty words. "It works for them" or "Who are you to oppose the love of two people?" or "Did God say ...?" Lies. Empty words. "Why are you coveting what your neighbor has?" The only answer is empty words. "What's wrong with wanting more? It's the American way!" "Don't be so judgmental!" Empty words. "Let no one deceive you with empty words." Because that which is considered damnable in this passage is considered normal and even commendable by so many around us. It's not a small issue.