Comments:
Fully aware of this world's evil, Paul still finds much for which he
is grateful. Here he describes the alternative quality of life
available to those who have been reconciled with God and one another.
5:19 as you sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among
yourselves, singing and making melody to the Lord in your hearts.
5:20 giving thanks to God the Father at all times and for everything
in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
These two verses are part of the UMW theme of sing a new song. The
church today is learning to sing new songs of inclusiveness. Language,
culture, etc. new songs are of a generation or generations. The theme
of the new song is the same, " Jesus Christ is your Saviour, and grace
abounds, Have faith". But the words and tunes are different. I had to
remind an older parishioner that the church has always changed in
response to the culture so that the message of Christ is heard
otherwise we would still be meeting by lakesides and in homes. Not
sure what good this posting is but it is early... Nancy-Wi
The days are evil... but here Paul is encouraging the believer,
prividing instruction on how to live...wisely, productively, investing
in the permanant and being in relationship with God and one another.
Tom in TN
This is relevant for today! Clerically Blonde in west ohio
Is anyone tying this to Proverbs? revjaw
revjaw- I can see a connection, but I don't think that is where I will
be this sunday. Struggling with the which will connect baptism the
best.
I will probably link this text to the passage of Solomon's prayer for
"Wisdom". "Do not be unwise - but wise." The evil in these days gives
us many means and opportunities to practice our personal and corporate
stupidity. Our various and sundry "addictions" - whatever they might
be (the example is wine) - will not serve the Kingdom of God. It is
very hard in our culture to keep "THE MAIN THING" the MAIN thing upon
which we collectively focus and work. The church is to embrace and
practice something different - a wisdom that we are to confessionally
pray for - and is thus gven by - what is authentically holy in the
world. chinabull (still in arkansas)
A scene yesterday at Subway...
I was waiting for my sandwhich to get all the "stuff" on it... as I
was filling my pop... I could hear the joyous "song" of a child... I
glanced over to a booth, mother and father and young son dancing and
just singing a nonsensical little song of joy next to the booth... a
"melody to the Lord"... "Austin, THAT'S ENOUGH!" "I was just singgen...
said the 4 year old..." he continued... "Now AUSTIN, I SAID, THAT'S
ENOUGH!"... I finished filling my pop, grabbed my sandwhich and as I
headed out the door I saw the boy clutching the top of the booth he
was sitting in by his father. Looking up with puppy dog eyes at me...
I winked a God-like wink to let him know, I ENJOYED his song!" Life is
too short for that...
Parents could learn from children about JOY, true JOY!
For what it's worth...
pulpitt in ND
pulpitt in ND
For what it's worth, inside a public building, others may not have
been joyed to hear the song (depending on volume, exhuberance, etc.)
Maybe a more understanding response by parents, would have been in
order, but I appreciate when parents take into consideration the
consternation their children may be inspiring in neighboring patrons.
Michelle
Michelle wrote: (I am reminded that nine of the ten cleansed lepers,
even though fully cognizant of the gift they had received, did not
respond in this way. But one of them did! Oh, for that one!!!)
Pulpitt,
Not that you need it, but the one in the booth received the gift of
joy, I like that!
Remember that on the day of pentecost the disciples, filled with the
Spirit, were accused of being drunk with wine. The results of both
fillings can look very similar - one of happiness in the Lord which
fills us with ecstacy, giving rise to songs that can inspire and
encourage others, - the other a filling which numbs the mind, can lead
to uncontrolled embarrassment and a kind of singing that mostly
embarrasses others. What a differecne there is between the two
'spirits'! And we receive the Holy Spirit in Baptism, setting us on a
new course of life. My theme is 'Live a life that counts!' Chris from
Downunder.
Ithink that this passage also offers a message to the church who has
grown complacent. I will be focusing on Redeeming the Time. Perhaps
expanding on the idea that in doing so we must be filled with the Holy
Spirit. This can put a song in our hearts which makes melody withthe
Lord. Any thoughts? SL, - SC
Chris from Downunder. I, too, am doing a compare and contrast between
wine (as an analog for our society of sensuality) and the "new wine"
of the Spirit. The title is, "Wise Guys" Pastor Rick in Fl.
Christ from Downunder - I read part of a short story a couple years
ago (while I was in a waiting room) and I can't remember anything
about it except an elderly man (character) talking about people
getting "sermon drunk." I've seen this happen, where exhuberance seems
to give way to mayhem or frenzy. I guess an argument could be made
that I'm not spirit-filled enough to appreciate it, and I certainly
couldn't disprove it. However, I'm certain that "religion" can be used
in unwise manners, too.
Sally in GA
18 Do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery; but be filled
with the Spirit,
I don't remember where it was, in some commentary, I saw it suggested
that Paul was warning against the sort of "worship" that might be
found at a "Bacchanalia."
(That is, that Christians ought to be filled with the Spirit during
worship, rather than with wine.)
Tom (in NY, far from NYC)
I just thought of a title: how does this sound?
"Who Does the Truth Hurt?"
We'd like for that sword of the Spirit that is the Gospel to be our
own interpretation of the Gospel and for it to pierce others'
defenses, but sometimes we've got to let the truth hurt us, too, in
order to conform to Christ.
Sally in GA
