Ephesians 5
3 But immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints ; 4 and there must be no filthiness and silly talk, or coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks.
What do you laugh at?
Humor is such a funny thing (ha,ha, pun intended). It is individual enough that what makes you laugh may not make me laugh and vice versa. Certain situations brought to light in a “humorous way” might not be funny to me because it is something personal and serious. But God has indeed established a common standard for what is funny: Would it be “funny” to Him?
Believers have much freedom in Christ. Freedom to obey God and not to serve sin. Freedom to eat whatever food they choose without fear that the food itself will be considered immoral. Freedom to observe days and feasts or not observe any day as special. Freedom to drive any color car, have any color house and the list of liberties goes on.
But there is no freedom to take part in things of the world, things that should not be part of a Christian’s life. This list is vague and general, but specific enough to guide our behavior. Immorality is any sexual behavior outside the boundary of marriage as is impurity. Between the two words, every sexual sin is covered so there is no gray area for a believer to “dabble”. Greed is the desire to obtain more as a means to an end of self-gratification. These are things that should never be characteristic or charged to a believer in Jesus Christ.
And a second list that deals more with the discussion of the first list than the actual behaviors themselves.
Filthiness refers to obscene acts or gestures, discussions about sexual things outside their place. The implication is that this is something said lightly and with a devious intent, not a frank discussion between husband and wife or patient and doctor. Silly talk and coarse jesting are the things we laugh at.
Do words that are foolish or about foolish things compel you to laugh?
Does the folly of an unbeliever discussing things of God tickle your funny bone?
Does talk of sinning said in a light manner bring a smile to your face?
Do we laugh at the “dirty joke” that makes light of God’s creation of sex and its place in marriage?
It is all too often in this culture that entertainment media (being the world’s main avenue for information and instruction) presents shows, movies and variety acts that strive to be funny. I sometimes love to hear or watch stand-up comedy. Who doesn’t love a good laugh at the exaggerations of the life we live?
My problem comes when I find myself laughing at something that when I stop and think about it is offensive to God. Unfortunately, the brand of humor that is most prevalent today is categorized under silly talk (foolishness) or coarse jesting. The problem is that in time, we become desensitized to what God’s opinion on the matter is and don’t stop to take a stand on what believers should not be part of. May we never be so calloused and part of the world that we cannot separate ourselves from the filthy things it seeks to entertain us with.
Ask yourself if what you laugh at would God laugh with you?
3 But immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints ; 4 and there must be no filthiness and silly talk, or coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks.
What do you laugh at?
Humor is such a funny thing (ha,ha, pun intended). It is individual enough that what makes you laugh may not make me laugh and vice versa. Certain situations brought to light in a “humorous way” might not be funny to me because it is something personal and serious. But God has indeed established a common standard for what is funny: Would it be “funny” to Him?
Believers have much freedom in Christ. Freedom to obey God and not to serve sin. Freedom to eat whatever food they choose without fear that the food itself will be considered immoral. Freedom to observe days and feasts or not observe any day as special. Freedom to drive any color car, have any color house and the list of liberties goes on.
But there is no freedom to take part in things of the world, things that should not be part of a Christian’s life. This list is vague and general, but specific enough to guide our behavior. Immorality is any sexual behavior outside the boundary of marriage as is impurity. Between the two words, every sexual sin is covered so there is no gray area for a believer to “dabble”. Greed is the desire to obtain more as a means to an end of self-gratification. These are things that should never be characteristic or charged to a believer in Jesus Christ.
And a second list that deals more with the discussion of the first list than the actual behaviors themselves.
Filthiness refers to obscene acts or gestures, discussions about sexual things outside their place. The implication is that this is something said lightly and with a devious intent, not a frank discussion between husband and wife or patient and doctor. Silly talk and coarse jesting are the things we laugh at.
Do words that are foolish or about foolish things compel you to laugh?
Does the folly of an unbeliever discussing things of God tickle your funny bone?
Does talk of sinning said in a light manner bring a smile to your face?
Do we laugh at the “dirty joke” that makes light of God’s creation of sex and its place in marriage?
It is all too often in this culture that entertainment media (being the world’s main avenue for information and instruction) presents shows, movies and variety acts that strive to be funny. I sometimes love to hear or watch stand-up comedy. Who doesn’t love a good laugh at the exaggerations of the life we live?
My problem comes when I find myself laughing at something that when I stop and think about it is offensive to God. Unfortunately, the brand of humor that is most prevalent today is categorized under silly talk (foolishness) or coarse jesting. The problem is that in time, we become desensitized to what God’s opinion on the matter is and don’t stop to take a stand on what believers should not be part of. May we never be so calloused and part of the world that we cannot separate ourselves from the filthy things it seeks to entertain us with.
Ask yourself if what you laugh at would God laugh with you?
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