Keeping Politics in its Place

For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. – Romans 13:3a

 

Politics is a part of life. It seems politics has become an obsession in our day. Everybody has an opinion. Everybody has chosen a side. Everybody seems to have been tattooed with a label (some literally!). Democrat, Republican, RINO (i.e. Republican In Name Only), Progressive, Conservative, Alt-Left, Alt-Right, Communist, Socialist, Democratic, Federalist, Republican, “Patriot,” “Traitor,” I could go on an on. We see divisions everywhere. There are more and more political mobs and rioting. Political anarchists, insurrectionists and revolutionaries are on the move. Actors and actresses (if such gender declarative titles are acceptable to you), news casters, sports figures, talk show hosts, those employed and those unemployed, young, old and in-between, male and female and those in-between, everybody is expressing their political views. Political statements are being made by activists dancing naked in the streets or kneeling at a game. Law and order is being seen as a crime. There’s fighting about immigration and citizenship. There’s serious issues with our voting system. People are looking at the political climate and building family bunkers and loading them up with at least six months of supplies for the coming demise of society. It’s all bound up in the web of politics. It should be clear and evident to all in our day, politics is significant. Politics affect life.

 

Politics is not the answer to life’s questions or the solution to life’s problems. We have to keep politics in its place. The only sufficient solutions to life’s problems and answers to life’s questions are found in God. They are bound up in Jesus and revealed to us by the Holy Spirit. You may disagree with that, but in the end, you’ll find it to be true. But even if you accept God as your solution and answer, if you seek His truth and will in the area of politics (and really for life in general), you’ll discover He really doesn’t endorse isolationism or willful ignorance of this area of life.

 

Even if we look to God for solutions and answers to the topic of politics, we will find He has some important things for us to consider. Abstinence from government is really in reality not an option. There are those who choose to stand on the sidelines and are satisfied to ignore all things political. But politics is in our face. It’s banging down our doors. It’s creeping more and more into our lives. It does this through taxation. Everything from the food and drinks we consume to the access to the places we want to go, are taxed by those in politics. Our wages, property, inheritance, education, communication, transportation, and just about everything else are imposed upon with taxes. Politics also directly affects our freedoms. Freedom to speak, freedom to worship, freedom to assemble, freedom to have a say in government, and freedom to live like we want to live are all some of the areas politics and government affect. Our right to privacy is being directly affected by politics. More and more and in many ways, we hear the warning, “Big Brother is watching you. Big Brother is spying on you.” Politics is even coming into play with robots equipped with Artificial Intelligence that one day may threaten our existence. We can’t avoid politics. But we can’t let politics overwhelm us either. We can’t let politics enslave us. We have to find a way to keep politics in its place.

 

Politics has to do with the mechanics of government. There are all kinds of governments, all have their warts and weaknesses. Really, no matter the government, because fallen sinful people are involved, it is doomed to frustration, futility, and failure. We won’t have a true right working political system of government until Jesus returns to lead it. And that Jesus led government will reign gloriously for a thousand years!  But what do we do in the political governmental systems we live in until then? God in His Word instructs us.

 

Romans 13:3-4 - “For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. For he is God's minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God's minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil.”

 

A righteous government “is God’s minister.” A “minister” is a “servant.” True purpose and reason for being for a government is found in their service to God. This presupposes a government’s belief in God. And as a servant of God a government should seek God’s purposes.

 

Here in these verses, God’s purposes for government are spelled out as encouraging “good” and being a “terror . . . to evil.” If you do “good,” (Greek agathŏs) or that which benefits others, promotes wellness and joy, you have nothing to fear. If you do “evil” (Greek kakos) or that which is defined by the words, depraved, intrinsically worthless, injurious, harmful, bad, rotten or wicked, then look out, government is there to expose it and put a stop to it. That is the prime purpose of government according to God’s Word.

 

But it’s important to properly define what is “good” isn’t it? Right away we can see by applying “good” and “evil” to our society that what some people call “good” others would call “evil.” Indeed, Isaiah spoke of a time when good and evil would be confused. “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!” (Isaiah 5:20). This happened in Israel and it led to her destruction and captivity. It is a principle that marks the condition of any nation. When you can’t tell “good” from “evil,” you’re ready for destruction and captivity. Really, since good and evil are diametrically opposed to each other, if we can define one of these words it will give us a good start on defining the other by contrast. Let’s focus on “good.”

 

What is “good”? The term “good” occurs 652 times in the Bible. Whew! That’s a lot. [1]God has a lot to say on what is good. And if we serve God, goodness is bound up in what God says is good. Even if we don’t acknowledge God or choose not to serve Him, God has given all humanity a conscience by which we can intrinsically know right from wrong, good from evil. Our God-given conscience enables us to know good from evil (Romans 2:12-16). For God, right and wrong are bound up in His revealed Law (e.g. Exodus 20). To keep us from becoming legalistic or from having a wrong view of the Law, God has reduced it to a simple but profound principle of, “Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law” (Romans 13:10). It is only through the Gospel of Jesus Christ that we can receive God’s implanted love in our heart to accomplish such law-abiding living. It is when the Holy Spirit regenerates us and we are born again with a second spiritual birth that such love is poured out into our heart. Such love is not something generated by humanity but comes from God (e.g. Romans 5:5). The world has its brand of love which is limited. God’s brand of love is unlimited other than to be guided by the truth of His word (cf. Luke 6:27-36). This world needs the love of the God who loves them so much (e.g. John 3).

 

God’s goodness involves grace and compassion (Exodus 33:19). God’s goodness would involve the things He stands for and revealed to us about Himself such as truth, faithfulness, love, and justice, to name a few. “Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; Mercy and truth go before Your face” (Psalm 89:14). These are things we should seek and promote and encourage wherever we find them.

 

A particularly important aspect of God’s nature for government is that God is orderly (e.g. 1 Cor. 15:33 and 40). We see His order in the design of the universe and creation. When God is working we see order. Sin however brings disorder. We see this in the fall of humanity (Gen.3). When Adam and Eve sinned, they were cast out of the beautifully ordered Garden of God. They were cast out into a world where sin abounds. Thank the goodness of God “that where sin abounded, grace abounded much more” (Romans 5:20). That grace is realized in the words, “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1).  Sin and its disorder brings anxiety and lostness. Salvation in Jesus brings order and peace.

 

Right and wrong are closely linked to order versus disorder. This is a Biblical principle. Now, because we are sinful we often get tripped up in the dirty socks of sin strewn about our life. But the Holy Spirit has a way of pointing out the sinful disarray and then bringing us back into His order. Sometimes, God’s order conflicts with our “order,” but He has a way of straightening us out. He reconciles us when we get off course. Government can be a part of that, especially when our disorder takes the form of crime.

 

Government is one of God’s means to maintain enough order that complete chaos associated with sin does not reign. A good government provides orderliness by promoting good and fighting against evil. Good governments have laws designed to maintain order according to godly principles. Bad government uses law to give license to sin. That’s called licentiousness or giving license to sin. That is very bad.

 

The good order provided by God through government creates an environment where His truth can be shared. Anarchy enslaves with fear. It leads to intimidating circumstances. It leads to bullying in the extreme. There’s little more terrifying than the pillaging that occurs during times of rioting. Good government liberates by promoting freedom through law and its order. Our Constitution is an example of this. Government is turned on its head when it works against such freedoms. When that happens, like in our history, a Declaration of Independence may be called for:

 

When, in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bonds which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the laws of nature and of nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. [2]

Notice in this declaration the prominence of “nature’s God,” and our “Creator.” God is at the heart of good government. Many in our government have forgotten those precious words of declared independence. And the consequence has been dire. Freedom is turned on its head when it is used to promote sin. That is what has happened in our nation of late. Without God and His truth nothing works properly for humanity.

 

A good citizen in a governmental system, does “good” and receives “praise from the same,” or praise from the government. If we do good, we have nothing to fear from the government seeking to be pleasing to God. But really, we should first and foremost and primarily be seeking praise from God. “For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For it I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ” (Galatians 1:10). That is true of the minister of the Gospel. But that is also true of others areas of life too, including political.

 

Most governments historically have little to no appreciation for, let alone belief in, the God of the Bible. That is simple and damning evidence that they are not fulfilling their God-ordained purpose. They are failing and will ultimately fail. We need to be mindful of that. Change wrought through politics and government is always going to fall short. But that doesn’t excuse us from working for the good and yes, being involved in politics.

 

Government has a mandate to oppose evil. It states, “for he is God's minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil.” The government is to identify, expose, and stop evil, “to execute” or carry out God’s wrath on evil. Governments promoting deception and dark ventures are operating counter to their perfect purpose and will be as empty, impotent to change, and unfulfilling as any individual living in deception and dark ventures.

 

Of course, governments led by sinful fallen people have strayed far, far away from God’s ideal since Babel (Genesis 11). Some are worse than others. Our Federal Republic and constitutional democracy began better than most governments. But we too have strayed. That is especially true in the last 30 years. But I see changes for the better recently.

 

We see this scientifically as sonograms unmistakably remove the veil of willful ignorance about the humanity of children in the womb and consequently the atrocity of abortion. Our government legalized abortion in 1973. As time goes on we see that this was done on false pretenses. As sonogram technology improves and we see the personhood of the baby in the womb, laws will change. We need to work for that.

 

Government corruption is being identified and exposed. We see this in such activist movements as Project Veritas as well as individually by such people as Julian Assange (perhaps not a Christian but a part of this move nonetheless). And we see this in the stated political platform of the present administration to “drain the swamp.” These are all “good” things.  

 

There is an effort today in our country to root out evil that should be applauded and supported by those God calls to “have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them” (Ephesians 5:11). All of this should have the Christian’s support. James spoke of a sin of omission. He was inspired to write, “Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin” (James 4:17). Christian, we have been inactive about supporting the “good” around us for far too long. It is sinful. We need to get up off the couch and get involved. We need to be salt and light. We need to get involved. We need to infiltrate this world and influence it for the glory of God.

 

But be warned, we should not be enslaved to party affiliation but rather dedicated to the efforts to do good and oppose evil whoever is promoting them. Wherever you find a party spirit in scripture it is a negative.  When we side blindly with one group over another, it is sin or at least a sign of spiritual immaturity and unbecoming carnality (e.g. Acts 11 and 15; 1 Corinthians 3; Galatians 3:28). There is only One to Whom we give total allegiance, King Jesus (1 Corinthians 3:11). He’s our President, Senator, Congress-Man and political Representative above all others. Our prime citizenship is in heaven (Phil. 3:20). We serve the Kingdom of God first and guard against other allegiances that tempt us to idolatry. We can be a patriot to our earthly nation, but only inasmuch as its precepts and actions align with our heavenly citizenship. We must be clear on that. We serve here to promote God’s truth and light, His justice and impartial fairness, His mercy and grace, His sense of right and wrong. We serve God by serving others the way God would have us serve.

 

In this effort, we should be wary of and not surprised by the fact that the “father of lies” seeks to side track us and confuse the targets of evil by way of deception. Today we see this in “fake news” and anti-God indoctrination and misguided education. All of this needs to be exposed. Falsehoods need to be exposed by the light of the Lord which is most clearly seen in His Word. Using God’s word as a refence point for truth and justice used to be a common practice in the early stages of our nation. We need to get back to that.

 

This is how Christians in all nations should live as salt and light. In every nation, regardless of government system, we act as agents of light; we cut through deception and support those who act in this common cause. We speak God’s truth in the powerful love of the Spirit (Eph. 4:15). Imagine if all Christianity united internationally across their government systems in support of one another to expose evil with God’s light? It just might lead to a revival, another Great Awakening.

 

Practically, we expose the darkness and seek good through means such as prayer, evangelism, teaching and discipling others with God’s word, and being informed and getting involved in society politically. We fulfill God’s call on us as we infiltrate and influence the world around us for the glory of God.

 

All of this doesn’t mean we see ourselves as necessarily or primarily, part of government. Some will be called to participate in government systems and politics. Some will run for office. If they do, I would only counsel them to run with Jesus. Walk as He walked (1 John 2:6). There is a great need for this today. But not everyone is called into politics. What is meant here is that we see government as a means to the end of encouraging good and discouraging evil. It means we get involved. We always serve with undiluted undivided loyalty to the Kingdom of God. We keep politics in its place.

 

 

 

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[1] “Evil” by the way occurs 461 times in scripture.

[2] http://www.let.rug.nl/usa/documents/1776-1785/the-final-text-of-the-declaration-of-independence-july-4-1776.php

Do you Pass the Smell Test?

And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma. – Ephesians 5:2

 

The Wiktionary defines “smell test” in part as “an informal method for determining whether something is authentic, credible, or ethical, by using one’s common sense or sense of propriety.” [1] Did you know that the Bible provides us a kind of smell test for Christians? Jesus sets the standard for any spiritual smell test. Of Him it states, “And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma” (Ephesians 5:2).  The smell test of Jesus according to this verse is love that leads to offering and sacrifice. That’s a sweet, sweet smelling aroma. Unfortunately, there are too many people who call themselves Christians but who do not pass the smell test.

 

I brought my SUV in for an oil and filter change this morning. As I entered the newly redone customer waiting area, I sat down and tuned into my IPad to read the Bible.  But then I noticed a disturbing and unpleasant smell. It wasn’t a smell I could sense with my nose. It was a smell I sensed in my spirit. You see, a TV program playing in this waiting area was tuned into a talk show program considering the problem of sex trafficking. It started to smell when one offender was interviewed and began his confession with the words, “I was brought up in a Christian household. I go to church. I’m married and have two children.” I kept my head down. My heart sunk, as did my spirit. The problem of sexual immorality is pervasive in our society. It is wrecking a lot of lives. There are many scars of immoral sexual activity left in the souls of those victimized by sexual sins. That’ particularly the case with those involved with sex trafficking. But what compounds the problem is when those who are called to a holy life indulge in sexual sin. It’s true that the testimonies of victims frequently allude to the fact that it is Christian church workers who are instrumental in their rescue. But how sad it is when such workers are cleaning up after the mess left by Christians. How sad it is when it is a Christian who shortsightedly and superficially gives into sexual temptation not considering the depth of hurt and pain their indulgence will cause others. Such Christians don’t pass the smell test. The smell left by that “Christian” man interviewed in that TV program left an embarrassing stench in that waiting room area.

 

Now the Christian offender in the above circumstance may well be a genuine Christian. But if they are, their sinful behavior indicates a sever backslidden state.  It’s more likely they are a stunning example of false conversion. The fellow mentioned above did seem to be remorseful in his interview. The point is, we shouldn’t presume that Christians can’t indulge in serious sins. Samson had his Delilah. David committed adultery with Bathsheba. Sexual sin is serous. But we too, if we’re honest, must admit we aren’t necessarily above or beyond falling into some kind of sin ourselves. Be honest. It’s true. It’s scary. So how can we guard against such sinful falls? Is there a safeguard? How can we assure that our Christianity is genuine? How can we pass Jesus’ smell test?

 

The context of Ephesians 5:2 provides us with a well-rounded smell test for genuine Christianity. Taking notice of what is mentioned in Ephesians 5 serves as a preventative measure as well as provides us with a gauge of where we stand, or fall, spiritually. Let’s clear the air. Let’s take a whiff of Ephesians 5.

 

Ephesians 5:1-21

Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. ² And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.

³ But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; ⁴ neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. ⁵ For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any 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. ⁷ Therefore do not be partakers with them.

⁸ For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light ⁹ (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), ¹⁰ finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. ¹¹ And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. ¹² For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret. ¹³ But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light. ¹⁴ Therefore He says:

     “Awake, you who sleep,

     Arise from the dead,

     And Christ will give you light.”

¹⁵ See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, ¹⁶ redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

¹⁷ Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. ¹⁸ And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, ¹⁹ speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, ²⁰ giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, ²¹ submitting to one another in the fear of God.

 

Verse two says, “and walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.” The first thing we notice is that the aroma sought to pass a smell test is a Christ-like aroma. We want to smell like Jesus. When we walk among others, we want to leave a holy aroma like Jesus. So, the most basic aspect of the smell test is that we smell like Jesus, we walk, talk, and think, like Jesus. This, Paul is inspired to write, is a “walk worthy of the calling with which you were called” (Ephesians 4:1).

 

The walk worthy of our calling in Christ, the walk that passes the smell test, is a walk whereby we offer ourselves totally (all that we are and all that we have) to God as a sacrifice which we intend to be “a sweet-smelling aroma” to Him. This is what Jesus did. This is therefore what we His followers should do. There is an aroma associated with our worthy walk. 

 

An aroma is something that gets our attention through our sense of smell. There are good aromas and bad aromas. A woman with the right kind and amount of perfume or a man with the right kind and amount of cologne can turn a head and leave a lasting impression. Too much of even a good perfume or cologne can create a headache, cause an allergic reaction, turn a head away in nausea or cause an eye to tear. There are other good aromas like the smell of fresh wood, a flower, leather, a home cooked meal, barbecue, or the beach. And there are bad aromas like the stench of road kill or a skunk, excrement, rotten food, a dirty body, or burning rubber.

 

Read Ephesians 5. In these verses Paul is inspired to give us some aspects of a worthy walk that leaves a sweet-smelling aroma behind. When you walk in this way you will attract people to the Lord. But he also mentions some things that create a stench that is offensive to the Lord and should not characterize children of God.  In this way Paul makes his point by way of contrasts. When you put all of these things together you get ten ingredients of a spiritual sweet smelling aroma. Let’s look at these verses and gauge how you score on the smell test.

 

First, a worthy walk of God-like love leaves a sweet smelling aroma (5:1-2). God pours out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit who indwells the believer (Romans 5:5). Love is what the followers of Christ are to be known by (John 13:35). God’s love is to be the compelling force in all we do (2 Corinthians 5:14-16). When a person injects love into life’s circumstances it leaves a certain undeniable aroma to those who are the objects of it and it becomes a sweet smelling aroma to the Lord who looks down and sees it. Do you smell of Christ-like love or do you leave the stench of loveless body odor?

 

Second, a worthy walk of sexual purity leaves a sweet smelling aroma (5:3-7). This point is made by Paul by contrasting stench producing lust, sexual impurity and coarse speech. “Fornication’ is any sexual activity outside of the marriage covenant. “Uncleanness” refers to immoral thoughts and activities associated with those preoccupied with sex.  “Covetousness” is lusting after more of something you already have enough of. What we see in verse three is reference to the kind of sexual perversity so common in a world lost in sin and living in outright rebellion against God and all He calls holy. Verse four speaks of those sexually perverse conversations and inappropriate jokes filled with sexual innuendo or outright filth. Such talk is not fitting. Instead we ought to focus on what God has blessed us with and be thankful.

 

Third, a worthy walk of giving thanks to God leaves a sweet smelling aroma (5:4). The answer to sexual perversion is turning to the Lord and giving Him thanks for all we do have. Life apart from God is filled with a lust for more; an insatiable appetite to fill hedonistic lusts for pleasure. Such lust often drives people to use and abuse others and see them as mere objects rather than human beings created in the image of God. The picture is one of lost humanity functioning on a base animalistic level. God’s wrath is on those living in such sinful ways. Instead we should turn to God and be thankful for the beauty we have from God.

 

Fourth, a worthy walk in God’s light of “goodness, righteousness and truth” leaves a sweet smelling aroma (5:8-9). Those who have experienced the wealth of salvation in Christ have stepped out of this world’s darkness and into God’s light. The result is a life of fruitfulness manifested in goodness, righteousness and truth. Those who walk in this way leave a sweet smelling aroma of good works, the respectability of doing what is right and living by and sharing with others the truth of God’s word.

 

Fifth, a worthy walk of seeking what is acceptable to God leaves a sweet smelling aroma (5:10). The person who lives by what is acceptable to God leaves a sweet smelling aroma that indelibly marks those with whom they make contact. When we live in ways that are pleasing to God we leave a mark and impression that glorifies God before others.

 

Sixth, a worthy walk separates from and exposing of the unfruitful works of darkness creates a sweet-smelling aroma (5:11-13). We are not only to refrain from unfruitful works of darkness but we are to take action and expose them. This is the aroma of holy activism. We walk in a way that points out the shamefulness of sinful lifestyles. We shine God’s light of His Word into the dark. Like turning on a light in a rodent infested barn, the light makes the rodents run.

 

Seventh, a worthy walk of evangelism leaves a sweet smelling aroma (5:14). We call sinful people to awake from their spiritual slumber; we call lethargic Laodicean Christians to wake up and shine His light. This leaves a sweet-smelling aroma as people are freed from the bondage of their various sins.

 

Eighth, a worthy walk of circumspect wisdom in a dark world leaves a sweet smelling aroma (5:15-16). We need to be aware of what is going on around us. We are wise to the extent we apply God’s Word to what is going on around us. That is what true wisdom is. We do this mindful that the time is short and we are close to the end. The evidence of this is that the days are getting more and more evil. We therefore redeem the time by offering the redemption of Christ to a world bankrupt in sin.

 

Ninth, a worthy walk of knowing God’s will leaves a sweet-smelling aroma (5:17). We don’t live ignorantly without being guided by God’s will. To live apart from the will of God is foolish. But instead we seek out, learn, and live by the will of God as revealed in his Word. That leaves a sweet smelling aroma.

 

Tenth, a worthy walk of continually being filled with the Spirit leaves a sweet smelling aroma (5:18-21). Such a life is characterized by worship (5:19). Such a life is filled with thankfulness in all situations and for all things (5:20). Such a life is humble and has a mutually submissive attitude toward others in the body of Christ (5:21). It is only in the power provided by the indwelling Holy Spirit that we can walk a walk worthy of God’s calling on us and give off a life aroma glorifying to God.

 

How’d you score? Did you come out smelling like a rose? Or did you come out smelling like a skunk? I’ve been told that some people actually like the smell of skunk. I don’t understand this. It’s kind of like a dog returning to its vomit. But don’t settle for being spiritually stinky. Look at the rest of the chapter and take a bath in His word.

 

Ephesians 5:22–33 

²² Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. ²³ For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. ²⁴ Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything.

²⁵ Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, ²⁶ that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, ²⁷ that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. ²⁸ So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. ²⁹ For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church. ³⁰ For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones. ³¹ “For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” ³² This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church. ³³ Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.

 

You know, our olfactory sensors can lose their sense of smell. If you ignore your initial sense of smelling something, your olfactory senses stop smelling the smell. I think this is a kind of defense mechanism. If you work in a pig sty with smelly pigs all day, mercifully your sense of smell dulls and you get used to the stench of pigs and their slop. That’s a good thing. But when you walk from the sty to the house, what was good for you isn’t going to be good for those around you. You’re still going to stink! You’re going to have to hose down, take a bath or a shower to wash off the filth.

 

You may have passed the smell test of Ephesians 5 so far. But let me ask you, is your passing grade due to actually passing the smell test, or have you been around the filth of the world that you’ve been dulled to its stench?  There’s an easy way to find out the truth. Ask someone else how you smell. Tell them to be honest. Be ready for some odorous reality.

 

But if you’re assessment of your smell test is accurate and you passed with flying colors, good for you. Praise the Lord! But even if you’ve passed and done well, you still have to maintain your spiritual hygiene. And if you flunked, or want to improve, the rest of Ephesians 5 can help you.

 

Paul concludes Ephesians 5 by referring to the most important relationship outside of our saving relationship with God in Christ, marriage. I don’t think this is accidental. If you’ve been married for any amount of time, you know that marriage has a way of exposing rotten smells that could otherwise be covered up. If you can be successful in marriage, it’s a good bet you can pass the smell test in areas outside of marriage. What we learn in God’s word about marital relationships will help us to come out smelling like a rose in other areas of our life. How can we freshen up our spiritual lives if we start to smell? How can we take a bath that will clean off the smell of sin?

 

Subject yourself to Jesus (5:22-24). There’s nothing that will create a spiritual stench faster than pride and rebellion. Paul is moved by the Spirit to speak first of wives and their need to “submit to your own husband, as to the Lord.” I know that isn’t a popular truth for our world today, especially amongst women. I think its been greater misunderstood. It doesn’t mean a wife should be a man’s slave. What is stated here is for a wife to her own husband, not generally to women toward men. And even subjection of a wife to her husband doesn’t mean she is to be his slave. This is “as to the Lord.”

 

The wife is to “respect” her husband (5:33). If you’re an Abigail with a fool like Nabal for a husband, just look to her as your example and how God is able to deliver you (1 Samuel 25). He might not necessarily drop dead of a heart attack, but if you act wisely and trust the Lord, He is sure to give you grace. And wives shouldn’t ever pray against their husbands, pray for them. Always keep Jesus in mind.  When we submit to others, we really submit to the Lord. We submit to Jesus because of all our Lord has done for us; how incredibly totally He has loved us and given Himself for us. He has a way f working things out. He is able to restore the years the locust has eaten (Joel 2:25). Subject yourself to Jesus.

 

But subjecting ourselves to anyone, even Jesus, riles up our sinful rebellious nature. And when we refuse to submit to Jesus, we start to sweat and stink and the aroma of rotting flesh permeates the area. Jesus is “the Head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body” therefore, submit to Him and be sprayed with the most beautiful smelling perfume you’ve ever smelled.

 

Love like Jesus (5:25, 28-29, 33). “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for he.” (5:25).  Guys, if you aren’t loving your bride like Jesus loves His Bride the Church, then don’t complain. It’s a lot easier to submit to someone who loves you and who doesn’t lord their roles over you. Paul says very succinctly, “For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church” (5:29). Your wife is a reflection on you. Love your wife, on the bad days and the good days. There’s no condition here. Husbands are simply commanded to love their wives. Love them even if they’re growling at you. Love them even if they burn breakfast or dinner or forget to pack your lunch the way you like it. Love them even when they aren’t “in the mood.” Love them as they age and their physical beauty is diminished (because you’re aging too!). Love them by serving them. Love them by sacrificing for them and helping them. Love them when you’re dead tired. Love them always and in every way. No excuses. Love them.

 

And we, inside and outside of marriage are to love others. There’s not sweeter smell than the smell of Christ-like love. Simply love. No matter what, love.

 

Take a bath in God’s word. What young man growing from adolescence to teenage to adult hasn’t learned that, a sweaty time at the gym needs more than a spray of deodorant or a swipe of anti-perspirant? You seat at the gym, you need to take a shower and wash the smells away. Same is true spiritually. We need to be sanctified, cleansed, by the “washing of water by the word” (Ephesians 5:26).

 

Be united; be one. The last thing Paul mentions here is the picture of unity a marriage is designed to give. He says, “For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones” (5:30). He is the “head” (5:23). We are the parts of His body. We’re the potentially smelly parts. Just as in marriage we leave our parents to unite to our spouse (5:31), we subordinate all other relationships to the supreme saving relationship between “Christ and the church” (5:32).

 

So, how’d you do? Did you pass the smell test? Maybe you scored less than you thought you should. If so, look at marital relationship and what we are taught from it. My prayer is that we can clean up and come out smelling like a rose in the garden of the Lord. But first, you have to take the smell test.

 

 

 

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[1] https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/smell_test

Growth that Comes from God

So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase.

- 1 Corinthians 3:7

 

“Growth” is the process of increasing. Growth can be good. Growth can be bad. When our muscles grow and we get in shape that’s “good.” When fat grows and we “grow out of” our clothes, that’s bad. Growing in knowledge of God is good. Growing in knowledge for the sake of knowledge and becoming proud about it is not good. When our paychecks grow, that’s good. If our taxes and expenses grow, that’s bad. Growing into holy relationships is good. Growing in unholy relationships is bad. Growing up from infancy, to adolescence, to teen age and young adulthood is good. Growing older and experiencing the gradual deterioration of our bodies is bad. Growing spiritually is good. Growing in carnality is bad. Churches that grow qualitatively are good. Churches that only grow quantitatively but not qualitatively are bad. Growth that comes from trusting God is good. Growth that comes from trusting things or people other than God is bad.

As a pastor, these last couple of areas of growth are vital. A good pastor wants his church flock to grow spiritually. They want people to grow in their relationship with Jesus. They want them to grow in the knowledge of God’s word. And they want people to develop and grow spiritually so that their “walk” in Christ matches their “talk” in Christ. “Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus” (Colossians 1:28). The word “perfect” (Greek telieos) speaks of spiritual maturity. To the Ephesian church Paul was inspired to write:

Ephesians 4:11–16 ¹¹ And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, ¹² for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, ¹³ till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; ¹⁴ that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, ¹⁵ but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ—¹⁶ from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

These inspired words speak of spiritual growth.

The lack of growth can be very discouraging. That’s especially true for pastors. Many a pastor has left the ministry because they didn’t “see” or perceive growth in their congregations. After years of feeling like they were banging their heads against the walls of the church, they quit. I think this is due in large part to confusing “good” with “bad” types of growth. It’s due in part to adopting a worldly view of what good growth is. To the world numbers and quantitative size of a congregation is the measure of “good” growth. But from God’s perspective that isn’t always true. A large church, a mega church congregation, can be a mile wide quantitatively but an inch deep in terms of real spiritual maturity and Biblical understanding. When that kind of growth is sought, the church becomes lukewarm and less than Jesus intended it to be. When quantitative growth is exalted as the supreme measure of “good” growth, then it frequently leads to compromises in scriptural teaching. Fear of decreased numbers of people can result in not challenging people to go deeper with the Lord. When big numbers are your end all, you aren’t going to speak about or deal with issues of life that risk offending people, seeing them leave or seeing them stay away.

The measure of “good” growth must come from the truth of God’s word. Everything we do in life should be approached through the lens of scripture. The Bible is God’s measure of what is “good” or “bad.” “Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You” (Psalm 119:11). “Turn away my eyes from looking at worthless things, and revive me in Your way” (Psalm 119:37). “Through Your precepts I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way” (Psalm 119:104). “Rivers of water flow down from my eyes, because men do not keep Your law” (Psalm 119:136). “I am small and despised, yet I do not forget Your precepts” (Psalm 119:141). What we need is a revival from the Lord. We need to be revived in our passion for and dependence upon God’s word as the only true measure of growth.

If you aren’t growing or don’t think you’re growing spiritually, that is cause for concern. If a church is not growing or increasing the way it should, that can be very discouraging to the pastor. The key is having the proper mindset or attitude about growth. Jesus spoke of the seed of His word received by some whose spiritual roots were short and shallow. He spoke of those whose roots were choked off by the things of this world including worldly perspectives. That’s the perfect example of what bad growth looks like. Good growth according to Jesus produces fruit and isn’t destroyed by trials and distractions (cf. Matthew 13:1-9 and 18-23).

The world pushes and pulls people to grow in the things of this world. The world wants you to grow in recreational activities. Grow in your knowledge of Hollywood productions. Grow in your TV watching and star worshipping. Grow in BIG crowds of people and the consumption of alcohol, drugs and sex. Grow in the pursuit of making an “event’ spectacular. Make a spectacle of yourself. Grow in your tolerance of evil and your intolerance of what God calls “holy.”  Grow in breaking laws. Grow in immorality. Grow in freedom from God and His word even though such “growth” or “increase” means you are that much more a slave of “the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience” (Ephesians 2:2). That’s not good growth.

“Good” growth, “bad” growth, growth is a part of all aspects of life. What does the Bible say about growth or “increase”? In 1 Corinthians 3:7 it states, “So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase.” The Greek term for “increase” is auxano and means to grow, enlarge, to become greater, or increase. The Complete Biblical Library Greek-English Dictionary says the following about “increase” (Greek auxano):

The basic meaning of this verb is “to grow,” that is, the natural increase in the plant kingdom (lilies: Matthew 6:28; Luke 12:27; mustard: Matthew 13:32; Luke 13:19; wheat-barley: Mark 4:8) and the animal kingdom. John the Baptist and Jesus grew as children grew (Luke 1:80; 2:40). The word is also used figuratively: (1) of the increase of Jesus’ influence as compared to that of John the Baptist (John 3:30); (2) of the enlarging sphere of the saving power of the Word (Acts 6:7; 12:24; 19:20); (3) of the increase, spread, and growth of the Church (Acts 7:17; 1 Corinthians 3:6,7; Ephesians 2:21; Colossians 2:19); and (4) of the spiritual growth and maturation of believers and groups of believers (2 Corinthians 9:10; 10:15; Ephesians 4:15; Colossians 1:10; 1 Peter 2:2; 2 Peter 3:18).[1]

How can we grow properly, in a “good” way? How can we guard against “bad” growth? How can we assure that the growth and increase in our lives is for the good and not bad? 1 Corinthians 3:7 tells us the proper view of growth and increase. This verse gives us the proper perspective on increase in our lives. And the context in which this verse is set provides the right perspective on “growth.”

First, if you want growth from God you have to know your place. Our verse says, “So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, . . .” It doesn’t say we are “nothing.” It does say we aren’t “anything.” If Paul said we were “nothing,” then we’d just sit back and wait for God to bring growth. It would also imply a lack of worth. God doesn’t see us as worthless. He values us so much that He sent Jesus to die to redeem us from our sinful state. We are God’s “workmanship” (Greek pŏiēma) or literally His poetry. God loves us (John 3:16). We are precious to God (e.g. 1 Peter 3:3-4). But “anything” speaks of a focus. Our focus or reliance isn’t to be upon the one who plants or waters in the mission. Our focus is to be on God - “God who gives the increase.” If God so desired, He could bring growth without us. But He chooses to use us and for that we should be thankful.

This means that if we plant God’s word in ministry and then follow up with watering it, (caring for and ministering to those with implanted seeds by washing them in the water of God’s word, e.g. Ephesians 5:26), then any growth that comes is the responsibility of God. Growth depends on God not us. Yes, we plant and water, but the growth, the miraculous growth, comes from God. If that is true then it means no one should be taking credit for or lusting for the spotlight associated with “the increase” that comes from God. We shouldn’t esteem the planters or waterers when the growth comes from God. We shouldn’t take credit or seek the credit for something that God has done. All we can do is to offer God thanks and a love offering of our appreciative praise for the growth He has brought about. Pastors will know exactly what I mean by this.

The world worships those who can draw a big crowd. They worship those who can hold an audience’s attention and entertain them. That’s the measure of “good” in the world. Why then do those in the church so often live by the same worldly measure of “good”? God tells us in His word, “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world – the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life – is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever” (1 Jon 2:15-17). The growth that comes from God is the only growth we should be seeking. And when it comes, we should glorify the God who brought it. No person should be exalted for the growth God does. There should be no “stars” in ministry. If you’re a “star” or a groupie of a ministry “star,” just remember, the name “Lucifer” means light-bearer, or star. We need to take our proper place. “Therefore let no one boast in men” (1 Corinthians 3:21a). Whatever “growth” comes by way of God including us in His plans, it is only “according to the grace of God which was given me” (1 Corinthians 3:10). When it comes to growth and increase we aren’t “anything” compared to the One Who blesses with the increase. Growth comes by God’s grace and that, like our salvation, is “not of works, lest anyone should boast” (Ephesians 2:9).

Second, why don’t we trust God for growth? Do you believe God enough to trust Him for growth and increase? Whatever your circumstance, do you trust God to bring increase? Why don’t we trust God to bring increase? So many people, pastors included, when they don’t see the “increase” they desire, turn to worldly means or their own means to achieve the growth they want.

There is a pervasive underlying lust in the church and its leaders. The lust is that “we want a big church.” The bigger the congregation supposedly, the better the church. The bigger the congregation supposedly, the better the pastor. But did you ever consider, really consider, that God may not always want a church to be “BIG”? The church where Billy Graham got saved was a tiny little country church, but that church and the preacher was in the perfect strategic position to be used by God to convert a man that would lead countless people to salvation in Jesus Christ. What if that preacher had thought to himself, “I’m not going out there to preach to a handful of people. It’s not worth my time. There’s a bigger crowd in the next county”? Sometimes the Lord calls people to serve Him in what He views as very strategic positions. Some ministries are like a Navy Seal Team sent in to perform a special mission. That mission is just as important, even critically important to the overall plan.

If the size of congregation was the measure of God’s blessing, then what of the Old Testament prophets? The prophets of God were elected by Him to call God’s people to repentance. And for the most part the prophetic message was not well received. The Lord specifically warned Jeremiah, “They will fight against you, but they shall not prevail against you. For I am with you,’ says the LORD, ‘to deliver you” (Jeremiah 1:19). How many “star” ministers today would be willing to accept such a calling from God? Perhaps not many. How could the prophets of old and the apostles and the early believers in both Testaments be a part of God’s growth process when it seemingly offered so little? Because they knew that in reality in God’s growth process they weren’t “anything.” They trusted God to grow His redemptive plan. They weren’t looking to build their own kingdoms. They were looking to be a part of God’s kingdom.

The point here is that, God determines the place and station of calling, not us. Paul commented, “I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:1-3). And again, Paul is inspired to write, “Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful” (1 Corinthians 4:1-2).  Serve where God calls you to serve and rejoice that He has called you at all. It’s a privilege to serve the King of kings and Lord of lords.

If we look at the context of 1 Corinthians 3:7, we see that the prime reason Paul was teaching about such things is that the Corinthians were carnal; they were self-centered; selfish. He said of them, “And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. ² I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able; ³ for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men? ⁴ For when one says, “I am of Paul,” and another, “I am of Apollos,” are you not carnal?” (1 Corinthians 3:1-4). When we focus on people as the source and cause of growth, it exposes a spiritual childishness and immaturity. When our focus is on people as the source of growth it leads to factions, prejudices, division, in-fighting in the church. Wherever there’s a split in the church, you can be sure it was because people got their eyes off of God and onto themselves or others. We don’t trust God for growth because we are spiritually immature. We need to stop being cry babies and grow up in our understanding that growth comes from God.

The Church needs to come together and seek the Lord for growth. The Church needs to seek the Lord for growth and then be satisfied with the growth He provides. That isn’t an excuse for complacency. That’s a reason to be content and satisfied in the mission God calls you too. That’s reason to put aside your grumbling and complaining and march in the ranks God has put you. That’s serving faithfully to the glory of God. Remember, it was the grumblers and complainers who were barred from entering the Promised Land.

Third, we need to dig deep in our understanding that growth comes from God. When we dig into the context of 1 Corinthians 3:7 we see a number of shovels full of valuable treasure pertaining to understanding that growth comes from God. It is the Lord who “gives to each one” their position of calling as well as the tools to minister (1 Corinthians 3:5). Paul was a great church planter and Apollos was a tremendous orator (Acts 18:24), but still these greatly used men of God knew it was God Who “gave the increase” (1 Corinthians 3:6-7). When you dig deep you begin to realize that we aren’t competing against one another but we are competing alongside each other. We “are one” (3:8a). And “each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor” (3:8b). We are “fellow workers” with God (3:9). We take our orders from Him. And it is “according to the grace of God which was given me, as a wise master builder” that we labor on (3:10a). Serving God is a gift of His grace.

All our work and ministry rests on the foundation of Jesus (1 Corinthians 3:11). We build on Jesus which means we build in line with how He builds. He came, not to be served, but to serve and give His life as a ransom for many, so should we (Mark 10:45). Like Paul our attitude should be, “For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand” (2 Timothy 4:6). We should be seeking to be spent for the Lord. It is by being poured out for the Lord that we are to find our worth and reason for being. Success in ministry, true growth that is from God, is being poured out for Him. That’s oftentimes a very hard lesson to learn. We have to dig deep.

Paul is moved by the Spirit to insert an illustration in the context of 1 Corinthians 3:7. He cautions, “But let each one take heed how he builds on it” that is, the foundation of Jesus (3:10b). He contrasts building, “with gold, silver, precious stones” versus building with, “word, hay, straw” (3:12). He speaks of “the Day” when all our efforts lives will be accountable to the Lord. One day we will all stand before the Lord Jesus and “each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire” (3:13). The gaze of Jesus Who humbly gave His all will see right through efforts made that were nothing more than building personal kingdoms. That built with carnal motives and shallow faith is like the “wood, hay, straw,” it’s that found on the surface and is easily picked. If you’re ministry or walk with the Lord was a mile wide and an inch deep, those efforts will be burned up “but he himself will be saved, yet so through fire” (3:15).

There is work done, that is like precious jewels to the Lord. “Gold, silver, precious stones,” are all objects that require mining; digging deep. This describes ministry wherever God calls one to serve, that knows and lives selflessly by faith with the understanding that it is “God who gives the increase.” There is a treasure for those who choose to dig deep.

Fourth, the treasure of understanding that growth comes from God is a product of the Spirit. Paul speaks of digging deep and then takes out the shovel and spade of the Spirit Who is the One Who teaches us that growth comes from God. Paul says, “Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? ¹⁷ If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are” (1 Corinthians 3:16-17). Planting and watering, working with the understanding that growth comes from God and trusting Him for such growth, is all a product of the Holy Spirit residing in the believer. All that we do is a product of the Holy Spirit’s work in and through us. How silly and obtuse it is when believers in any way take credit or silently receive the accolades for what God has done through them (and often in spite of them).  It really is offensive when people, small tiny people, weak people, carnal and selfish people, take credit for what God has done. Our mandate is to give glory to God, not take it to ourselves. “Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31). That is what the Spirit desires our attitude to be.

 A final warning. Herod stood by and received the accolades of, “The voice of a god and not a man!” And he was struck down and eaten by worms (Acts 12:20-23). If that were to happen today, we’d probably have a lot of healthy worms to go fishing with. The world’s allure can be very deceiving. Am I seeking for sinners to be saved and disciples being made according to God’s increase? Or am I simply seeking to build up my church to go full time in ministry? Am I seeking a crowd to glorify me or God? Truly we should dig deep into our soul and heart and answer these questions.

There’s nothing wrong with a BIG church. BIG churches are able to do powerful things in God’s plans. Their corporate organization can be used for the glory of God. There is a place for BIG churches. But if BIG congregations are nothing more than crowds where people’s anonymity and lack of serving God is excused, then that is not good. Smaller churches bring a personal interactive atmosphere. They provide opportunities to serve and participate. They are like families. But families can degenerate into cliques. People in small churches can fight against the growth God desires to do. They can settle and be satisfied with their friendships as is, and subtly resist reaching outsiders who need the Gospel.

The final words of Paul in this chapter sum up the proper attitude toward growth that comes from God. He writes, “Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you seems to be wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. ¹⁹ For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, “He catches the wise in their own craftiness”; ²⁰ and again, “The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.” ²¹ Therefore let no one boast in men. For all things are yours: ²² whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas, or the world or life or death, or things present or things to come—all are yours. ²³ And you are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s” (1 Corinthians 3:18-23).  “You are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s.” I like that. Even if we mess up and get our growth wires crossed, still “you are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s.” Follow the leading of the Holy Spirit and He will help you find the growth that is from God.

There is good growth and there is bad growth. There are good churches and bad churches of all sizes. Truly it isn’t a matter of the size of the church at all, its seeking out and being satisfied with the growth that comes from God. Leave the size of your church or whatever you are doing for the Lord, up to Him. Focus on the God Who gives growth. Plant, water, and trust God to bring the increase. That is something only the Holy Spirit can show you. That is something only the Holy Spirit can help you understand. But that is something, when found and enjoyed, that will glorify God.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[1] Complete Biblical Library Greek-English Dictionary, The - The Complete Biblical Library Greek-English Dictionary – Alpha-Gamma.