Ephesians 4:1-16
…so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. (v. 14) This verse follows Paul’s speaking about unity and Christian maturity, then commenting on those items that can lead us astray. I imagine that back then he had the Gnostics and the Jewish leaders in mind – possibly even devoted Christians who were speaking un-truths – but in all of these he was speaking of confusions and deceptions within the body, not those from “the world”. So this verse carried me to today, how the church today is tossed to and fro by whatever is the latest thing. It’s Bible scholars finding new twists and re-interpretations of long-held truths. It’s media preachers building huge followings and amassing great wealth, even while preaching truth. It’s the outside world’s influence on the church today, telling us that killing babies is OK and that same-sex unions are just part of what it means to love one another. I feel like St. Andrew’s is something like an island, a safe haven from those confusions and deceptions where we draw strength from one another. But we’re not meant to just relax in that island life. That world with its confusions and deceptions needs the body of Christ to reach out, to speak those truths that we hold within ourselves. We are “in the world, but not of the world” (John 17:15-16). The world is hurting; we need to help.
See also: September 5 / Ephesians 4:1-6; September 6 / Ephesians 4:7-16