Certainly, your Facebook feed is a diverse set of friends. Certainly some people are more venting than others. Same would be true at a big party, say a new year’s eve party, where you meet friends of friends and decide to chat or move far to the other side of the room.
On Facebook there’s a snooze button. I use it. So that what I see doesn’t make me upset. I like to stay friends with all, but wow some with their visceral wall.
Apostle Paul saw these attributes in his time and longed for people learning and maturing. Yes! We, like Paul writing to Ephesians, are all at different stages of reaching unity in the faith. Honestly, I think that we are walking up many ladders – I hope they are built strong.
Paul spoke of listening to the gifted servant teachers who: equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
Paul wanted all of us to “Grow up!”
Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.
Paul wanted us to GET REAL and speak truthfully to our neighbors, as members of one body in Christ. In your anger do not sin: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold. Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
Yeah, I bet Paul would have liked to see not the rage of the “information age” but growth in the spiritual age of the information… I bet if Paul had a Facebook page, he would post this:
For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord.
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Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.
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be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 5