Wasted Ink

We Americans thrive on practical checklists and how-to guides. Keep it simple. Make it practical. Cut to the chase. These ubiquitous phrases provide proverbial guidance for weeding out the immaterial from the valuable.

Are biblically literate Americans tempted to rush through or even skip over the first three chapters of Ephesians to arrive at the really good part—the practical advice on Christian living? Except for a few proof texts, might some Christians functionally treat the early chapters like wasted ink?

How might Paul respond to such thinking?

103 Church Appreciation

Are we as distressed with our society as much as Lot anguished over his? (2 Peter 2:7-8) Do we echo Israel’s prophet who asked why God had not handled all that was wrong? (Habakkuk 1:2-3) In spite of how dark our culture might become, God can build the brightest of beacons in that darkest corner!

102 Church Appreciation

The sermonic letter of Hebrews awakens our eyes to another world. It describes an event incapable of human construction. No sophisticated technology whether audio or visual, no array of purchasable products whether banners or café bars can create this event.

101 Church Appreciation

Almost a decade ago a truck driver leaned on his dolly at my front door. In the midst of moving boxes into our house a short conversation ensued. “No, I don’t go to church anywhere. I don’t think that’s necessary. I might not be a saint, but I am OK with God.”

The apostle Paul, however, offers an entirely different view in Ephesians.  He would counsel us that spiritually independent free spirits are not in the stream of what God is doing in this world.