April 24, 2024

GOD’S WORD FOR TODAY:

“Find out what pleases the Lord. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to Himself as a radiant church without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.” (Ephesians 5.10; 25-27)

REFLECTION ON GOD’S WORD:

I grew up in “old church” meaning before there were praise choruses, we sang hymns and gospel songs that were adopted as hymns. I love praise choruses and the vitality of Christian music for praise and worship as we have today. But, I also believe that leaving behind the hymns of the past because they “don’t speak” to the newer generations falls into the same category for me as contemporary and modernized translations of scripture in order to appeal to those who felt that the “original text,” and I do not refer to the KJV! but it is a primary culprit of the 17th Century, was outdated and lacked understanding of the modern age. Without intending to offend modernistic pundits and worship leaders, I get this sense of “making things easy to express” may not resonate with the depth of the original “language” in which the faith was given by God and shared by those who believed in God. If God is the same yesterday, today and forever, then it stands to reason His word is the same. God did nothing without a reason and that includes revealing Himself through the written, spoken and sung, word. We are not called disciples for no reason. We are disciples, or intended to be so, for the very purpose expressed by the word: learners. Equally, as we are learning we are also become teachers of that word. By definition that means we are becoming apostles. How we may struggle with such terminology because it is “old church.” But, the truth of the matter never changes. It is consistent and persistent in bringing the reality of God into view. There is a reason why Jesus shared with His disciples “I AM the way (righteousness), the truth (the purpose) and the life (the expression); no one is able to come near to the Father except by being the way, the truth and the life.” And Jesus wasn’t speaking of being a name dropper as some seem to believe when they pray “in Jesus’ name.” It is not a magical phrase granting petitions like wishes from a genie in a bottle. Nor should we consider using it as an adjective or adverb to enhance each sentence uttered with deific titles; that is, the more times you say “God, Father, Jesus, Abba, Lord” the more effective is the prayer and the more attention to the matter that is given. In prayer language, such multitudinous usage equates to the fillers of “uhh, and, well, umm” (to name a common few) because a person is not prepared to speak fluently about the issue at hand. Or with the confidence that aligns with the model of prayer which Jesus gave to His disciples and they to those they taught how to pray. In language passed on by my father, “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”; yes, not original to my father but it makes the point of sticking with what the authority says works.

So what works, as Paul presents it to the Christ Community of Faith in Ephesus when it comes to submissive relationships between husbands and wives? In verses 25-27, “love” becomes the synonym for “submission.” Paul directs husbands to “love their wives as Christ sacrificially loved the Church to make her holy.” That would be a pretty tall order for most of us. Not because our wives are unholy or in need of extreme sanctification but because the sincere desire of husbands for their wives to be “holy and blameless” before the Lord. As the divorce rate levels out only because the marriage rate has decreased, it would be worth considering the initial intent of “holy and blameless” as the paradigm for a successful marriage. Without the grace of God, we would all fall short or reduce marriage to a state of mutual agreement on least common denominators. It is perhaps the expectation of marriage by God to meet the standard of holy and blameless which led to the admonition against mixed marriages: culturally, racially, ethnically, ethically and theologically. Such distinctions have a tendency to create conflict points which not only challenge husbands and wives but collaterally influence the raising of children. Having one focus and one goal does help to foster success and peace. Not that there is not diversity within that “oneness” but that the diversity reflects the fullness of God in all aspects of our lives. As we focus on seeing each other as we see God, the God that is seen becomes more visible in us and through us. It matters a lot to think about this before marriage instead of suddenly being confronted with the avalanche of challenges that would come after not heeding wise counsel. Of course, if “love; God’s love” is not our aim, then it does not make a lot of difference. But, for mighty ones of God, “love is our aim” and loving God is our first best objective. At least, it should be. And so it goes with such strong words to the men in the room, including myself.

TODAY’S PRAYER IN RESPONSE TO GOD’S WORD:

Father, before we were conceived in the womb, You had already formed us in Your love and by Your Spirit brought us into being. Each one of us is blessed with the opportunity of doing right, being good and producing the fruit of the Spirit so that others may be fed the truth of that same love so that the two will become one. It is our soul’s sincere desire to embrace the oneness You have in mind that we would know that we are Your people and that You are our God. Lead us in that discovery of the truth and the manifestation of that love for us all. In Jesus’ name, we pray. AMEN.