Day 195, Ephesians 4
Most of Paul’s letters begin with truth and revelation, moving through practical application and ending with personal greetings. We have already said that this letter is universally applicable and has no personal greetings, but the practical application is crucial for us to embrace. It is counter-cultural in the Western Church, and challenges our thinking about how to faithfully follow Jesus as Paul did.
Let’s see what we can learn, and seek to not be offended by Paul’s challenge to our traditions!
Firstly, in verses 1 through 6, Paul reminds us that we are one. United in Christ. And so it behooves us to live royally, in peace and humility, rather than bickering and dividing over opinions. Already Paul is prodding against religious tendencies to stridently defend specific details of our belief to the point of forming factions.
Then, describing such divisions as immaturity, Paul turns to challenge our church polity (the structures and operating methods of our congregations). Since God has generously lavished us all with supernatural gifts in proportion to the size of the gift of Christ (i.e. bigger than we could ever request or expect), we are to build up the Body of Christ by operating in all five of these gifts: apostles, prophets, evangelists, shepherds and teachers. Clearly our Western, Protestant model of a pastor teaching the congregation to understand and apply the Bible is lacking several dimensions of supernatural gifting. The role of these gifts is to equip the believers for ministry themselves, so that the Body becomes both united and mature. So turning these gifts into titles to be given to individuals is also erroneous. Rather, we are to establish gatherings of believers where all five gifts are welcomed and offered in harmony to equip others to become more fruitful ministers. That is substantially different from the way most congregations operate today, at least in the Western Hemisphere.
So how do we change to be more biblical in our life together as the family of God? The instructions in the second half of this chapter take us a long way toward that transformation. Human logic and spiritual apathy are our enemies. If they have gained a foothold, the solution is a greater experience of God’s life and presence. When He comes, He will reveal truth and life in us, and we will relinquish deceit and lies, along with the anger, dishonesty and evil speech with which the enemy seeks to defile us. Forgiveness is the oil that makes this process run smoothly, and the Holy Spirit in us is the anointing to forgive and respond in gentleness, kindness and edification to those around us. Words come from the heart. A heart full of the Holy Spirit will release heavenly words and bring unity with those around.
Have a great day!
Mark.