A life of self-absorption = Debauchery

 

Ephesians 5:18-21

Growing up Baptist in the fifties, we did not talk much about the word debauchery: it is defined as; “excessive indulgence in sensual pleasures, a life of self-absorption.”  But I did often hear this quote; “And do not get drunk on wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, . . .” This is what I understood, wine was bad, and mother took it to a new level, even ginger ale was evil, in that she had seen on bill boards that it was used with alcohol.  It was the forbidden fruit and I could not wait until I could try it.  It happened at my friends Jimmy’s house, I was ten years old and his parents were not Baptist, but Catholic and they had a cabinet full of the forbidden fruit.  We tried the peach brandy, it was the nastiest stuff I had ever tasted, but we said it was good.

I do not recall any sermons being preached on 1Timothy 5:23, in those small Baptist churches.  Chapter five of the letter that the apostle Paul is writing to Timothy is on Instruction for the church, and it covers many important areas, such as not rebuking an older man and honoring widows.  Verse 23, “No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments.”  Now I know Baptists that do not know how to quote John 3:16, that have this one down chapter and verse.  In fact most of them have not had an ailment in years.  How often we look back and say what if; what if those preachers had understood and preached that almost anything that draws us to excessive indulgence in sensual pleasures would lead us from the heart of God, it may be wine, food, sex, power or money. 

I have yet to see a two year old that is not self-absorbed, but it is a passing thing and we cannot have a community of self-absorbed people, who only look for their own interest and indulge in sensual pleasures, with no regards for God or man.  Yet is that not the world we find ourselves living in?  And what about the Church, what about the leaders of the Church, and what about you and me; are we living a life of self-absorption?

Has your heart been taken captive?  The Scripture tells us to sing and make melody to the Lord with our heart.  Verses 20-21, tell us the following; “giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.”  The battle is going to be between the flesh and the Spirit; am I giving thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, or am I self-absorbed, acting like a two year old?

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice