The Christian No-Nos
Ephesians 5:1-7
Incarnational or Pure?
Headed to the Library. I was headed to the Library.
Apparently the “Library” is a strip-club in Orange County. It turns out we were not going to the same
place.
Now these are my co-workers. I am working with these guys daily… SO I have to decide. One, am I going
to go with them. Okay, that's easy. But also, how am I going to react. How am I going to interact with
them in the future.
This is sin: going to a bar for the purpose of lusting after naked women. I am supposed to love and
minister to these guys.
But... I am not Jesus. I know I am going to be influenced by them.
I will influence them. They will influence me.
Where do I draw the line of purity in my interactions and behaviors?
Summary
Put off the old self. Put on the new self.
Book
Ephesians 5:1-7
1 Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children 2 and walk in the way of love, just as
Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
3 But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity,
or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. 4 Nor should there be obscenity,
foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. 5 For of this you can
be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a person is an idolater—has any
inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for
because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. 7 Therefore do not be
partners with them.
6 Vices
Verses 3-5 carries 6 vices: 6 Christian no-nos. Some are obvious... and some I just don't like!
Sexual immorality.
Unsanctioned sexual intercourse.
The opposite of self-sacrificial love: self-indulgent sensuality.
Impurity.
Trash. Refuse. Uncleanness.
Could pick up the context of sexual impurity but “every kind of” implies much more besides. In fact to
limit it to sexual impurity artificially narrows the scope of what he is talking about.
Greed.
From outward manifestations to inward cravings of the heart. Covetousness. In Colossians 3:5, it has a
parallel passage – greed which is idolatry. And we see that paralleled a few verses below.
Of all these things “not even a hint”. Not even a rumor. Not toeing the line, figuring out what is okay
and what is not. Not a hint. These things are fundamentally of the old self, they are improper to your
new selves as God’s saints, his holy people.
4 Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather
thanksgiving.
Obscenity.
Not “curse words” but obscene and shameful behavior. “Corrupting talk” from Ephesians 4:29.
It picks up the sense of language by being in the same list as the next two. It is highly influenced by
context, something that flouts social and moral standards.
Foolish talk
Foolish – lack of forethought and wisdom. Neglects and despises what relates to salvation. Fool is a very
strong word in Biblical language, usually referring to one who knows the right thing to do but doesn’t do
it.
Coarse joking
Wittiness, facetiousness. In Classical Greek, it was that sense of wit which was regarded as essential to
good social conversation.
“That which easily turns and adapts itself to the moods and conditions of those with whom it may be
dealing at the moment.”
Polished and witty speech as the instrument of sin.
Does this mean “dirty jokes?” The double entendre?
(Someone please convince me otherwise. I don't like this command! I like being witty. I think a wellplaced "that's what she said" is just funny.)
We do not want to build a whole theology on one verse but...
“Is it possible that to treat sexual matters as a topic of amusement is not to take them seriously
enough and is likely to lead to an atmosphere in which the actual practice of sexual vices is also
accepted too easily?”
What really convinced me is this. If I am constantly going for the sexual innuendo, am I perhaps
hinting at sexual immorality?
Sinful Speech
When I use my words to fill the air with nonsense I miss opportunity to use my words for good.
Thanksgiving stands over “sinful speech”. It is a radically different character of speech. One that is Godfocused, Kingdom focused. Rather than looking for the laugh, I am looking to the Giver.
Kingdom consequences
5 For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a person is an
idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. 6 Let no one deceive you
with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient.
It says that we know this, absolutely and experientially.
The root cause is idolatry. Perhaps going back to the Gentile, the old self, where it is all about pleasing
the self, sensuality.
Does this mean that those who continue to choose sexual immorality and impurity and greed do not go
to heaven “they have no part in the Kingdom of God?”
Or does it mean that they get no treasure in the Kingdom, they barely get in, “saved – even though only
as one escaping through the flames” (1 Cor. 3:15)?
Some commentators pick out a tendency of Paul to use "Kingdom of Christ" to refer to the present
Kingdom reality and "Kingdom of God" to refer to its ultimate fulfillment in eternity. So no inheritance,
no piece of the pie EITHER now or in eternity?
Either way, it’s not good. And in fact, trying to find the precise line of punishment risk/reward scenario
is really the wrong approach. It probably reveals our heart.
Lest we think it’s not a big deal…
Empty words
“The wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience!” Let no one deceive you with empty words!
(Message, religious smooth talk / religious sales talk).
Partners
7 Therefore do not be partners with them.
Some older translations use "do not associate" and from this we can get this idea of Christian
isolationism. What is sometimes called "purity" culture in the larger sense. We must wall ourselves off
from culture. We must separate and disassociate from the outside world because (and this is true) it is
FULL OF SINNERS!
It is full of sinners.
And if I am hanging out all day with sinners, I am going to influence them, but they are going to
influence me too.
It is going to skew my reality of what is acceptable. If all the speech I hear is obscene, foolish and
"coarse joking" how am I going to speak?
If all the behaviors I observe is sexual immorality and impurity and greed, isn't that going to shift my
ideas of what is normal and even holy and righteous?
This word partners is Co-partakers. Don’t join in their vices. Rather – Stop becoming joint-partakers.
Stop joining the Gentiles, the old-selves in their behaviors. There are consequences now and forever.
But also, Paul has given advice for a community that can reprogram and reshape us and prepare us from
life among Gentiles without being partners-in-sin with them.
The church community is where we prepare for and practice righteousness and holiness.
This is why there cannot even be a hint of sexual immorality and impurity and greed among us. Why it is
critically important. Because if we accept that in among us, we lose our regular experience and practice
of righteousness and holiness.
We cannot take this lightly. We cannot afford to.
The Library Revisited
Not for one second did they think we were going to the same "Library." They teased me, they joked
with me, they laughed... but they never thought for a moment that I would see them at the strip club.
Somehow, at that time, I lived in such a way that there was no hint that that sexual immorality was a
possibility in my life. They knew. They knew both that I loved them, was great friends with them, and
that it was simply incompatible with my faith, life and walk that I would be at that Library.
So I pat myself on the back. I am so good at this ;).
This is my conviction: I am not so sure it would be so clear now. I have the title of Pastor and that comes
with certain assumptions. But without that, I have to wonder if the way that I speak and behave tells
quite the same story.
Walk in Purity, Walk in Love
This passage raises a tension between tradition purity culture vs. Incarnational ministry. Do we live in a
pure Christian bubble or do we eat with tax collectors and prostitutes?
This passage raises so much passage within me about the ways I behave. It challenges me. It convicts me
and I don't like it!
I must root out immorality, impurity, greed and sinful and foolish language in me.
You, if you are a Christian here, part of our church community, you must root out immorality, impurity,
greed and sinful and foolish language in you.
Church leaders, we have a responsibility to clean house among us! It is simply not consistent with life in
the Kingdom, life as the Kingdom. It doesn't match, and it hurts us. There are consequences.
And we need to be prepared when we reach out and live out our lives extending out past this
community. Because we have to do that too. We have to follow Jesus into the homes of tax collectors
and prostitutes.
Do not be partners with idolaters… but love them sacrificially. We root out immorality, impurity and
greed in us and among us. We walk in Christ’s way of love always.
Pure in character, missional in action.
1 Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children 2 and walk in the way of love, just as
Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
Let others see the way that we love. Let us together practice love and pure holy righteousness, in
word and deed.
As you love me, help me to do this. As your pastor and as I love you, I'm going to try and help you too.