This morning I felt like I should read from Paul's letter to the Ephesians. As I was reflecting on some of the sad displays of sexuality we have seen in the last few days, I was asking the Lord for perspective, and this is where I felt led.
Ephesians 4:17-24 NIV:
[17] "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. [18] 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. [19] Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed.
[20] That, however, is not the way of life you learned [21] when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. [22] 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; [23] to be made new in the attitude of your minds; [24] and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness."
Really its quite simple and clear. As one drifts away, or chooses to follow a different path than following Christ, especially when one previously followed Him, their understanding is darkened, and their hearts become hardened. In other words, what was once seen as inappropriate and improper, sinful or just plain wrong, now starts to make sense, or become even desirable. Thinking changes, and rationalization begins to break down previously held beliefs.
What once would have caused sadness or revulsion or pain in ones heart, is now accepted, soon welcomed and finally embraced as the hardening of one's heart increases. In his letter, James writes about this downward path. James 1:14-15 NIV: ..."but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. [15] Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death."
Make no mistake, this path does not lead to freedom, as it advertised, but rather to pain, shame and death. Death of self esteem, death of innocence, death of relationships. The GOOD NEWS is that regardless of how far down the path of heart hardening and thought darkening one has traveled, there is always hope and a simple path back to the light and life. Repentance and forgiveness of sins is available to us all, and the Lord will welcome us back with open arms (Luke 15:20).
As the Body of Christ, the Church, we must guard our own steps, lovingly encourage others to begin to follow Jesus, and welcome back with open arms those that have pursued the wrong path, but have turned back to the Lord. We should not judge, or attack, or condemn individuals, "for our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." Ephesians 6:12. Let us be recognized as representatives of God's mercy and compassion, and above all, His love. We are called to be ambassadors of reconciliation.
2 Corinthians 5:18-21 NIV:
"All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: [19] that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. [20] We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. [21] God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God."
Amen! Let us pray for those whose thinking is darkened, whose hearts are hardened, and let us extend arms of love and reconciliation.
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