Ephesians--Chapter 5 &6

Ephesians 5 &6: Combatting Evil in Life: Take Up the Armour of God!

Comments: Last night at our Tri Church Lenten Series with our local Presbyterian and Roman Catholic churches, we discussed how we confront evil through the rituals of the church. Yesterday evening we focused on baptism. As we continue to ponder how we live as Christians, how we put on Christ in our lives, I want to set the stage for our final week's discussion by drawing your attention to this famous passage in Ephesians 6:

Finally then, find your strength in the Lord, in his mighty powers. Put on all the armour which God provides, so that you may be able to stand firm against the devices of the devil. For our fight is not against human foes, but against the cosmic powers, against the authorities and potentates of this dark world, against the superhuman forces of evil in the heavens. therefore, take up God's armour; then you will be able to stand your ground when things are at their worst, to complete every task and still to stand. Ephesians 6:10-13

How do we face evil? What is the difference between sin and evil in our lives?

Our commenters Mary Jo and Margie this week spoke about how we deal with estrangement in our daily lives:

Mary Jo said in part: "Resentments will not only kill the spirit but will eventually kill the flesh. Resentments can take over your entire life. Your entire demeanor will reflect the anger and bitterness that accompanies resentment. I try not to carry resentments. As soon as I realize that resentment is creeping into my life I will talk with someone about what is going on. Sometimes resentment is based on miscommunication or misinformation. even if the cause of resentment is based on truth, it will kill me if I hang on to it. It is impossible to be joyful, happy and free if resentment controls my life......What is the hardest thing about being a Christian? Being a Christian!....Being a Christian is like being a hero. It's not that a hero isn't afraid. The hero goes forward in spite of the fear."

Margie in South Africa said this: "To live as a Christian everyday means listening to others rather than criticising them. We need to be THERMOSTATS, not thermometers." As a part of her e-mail, Margie sent a piece on being a thermometer which said in part: "Scripture says you overcome evil with good. In your life, when you deal with those who are negative, critical, rude and short-tempered, you don't have to let them infect you. You can infect them. You don't have to be part of the majority; you can live in the minority. You can act as a thermostat, one who changes the temperature and the attitudes of those around you....when you talk defeat, you draw in defeat....You didn't let them pull you down. You pulled them up."

Do you think that being a Christian thermostat can work in the world? Can it work against not just sin but evil?

Homework: Read Chapter 6. Also, read through the text of the hymn "Onward, Christian Soldiers." (Hymnal 1982, #562) There are many who have issues with this hymn. Some love it. How might it relate to the armour of God? Think about evil in the world. How is it different than sin? How do we stand firm in a world with evil?