Stop the Fast and Start the Feast!

A Crazy Night at Choir Practice

“We’re not here to have fun! We’re here to worship the Lord!”

Those words rocked my world. I didn’t know what was wrong with what was said, but I knew it just didn’t make sense. But it sure seemed to me that a lot folks believed fun and Jesus were mutually exclusive.

The scene is the choir room in a midwestern baptist church. The names have been changed to protect people I love and respect (and some I honestly can’t remember). My best guess is this happened in 1972. Slightly after the Jurassic Period and Lindbergh crossing the Atlantic.

When Practice Becomes a Party

It was the era of Watergate, but that break-in is a misdemeanor in my mind compared to the scandal I witnessed one night at youth choir practice. Okay, we were out of control. I admit that right up front. WAY more laughing than singing.

We had been so consistently rowdy that the church thought it was a good idea to bring in some parents to keep us in line. As we did everything we could to turn this practice into a party that night, one of these bouncers attempted to keep us in line.

“We’re not here to have fun! We’re here to worship the Lord!”

A No Fun Zone?

Wait! WHAT?!? While I had never exactly found church to be Six Flags over Jesus, nobody had ever announced it was a No Fun Zone. I got up and walked out. I wasn’t giving up on Jesus but if this is what church is about, I’m out. I had no plans of ever going back.

Over the years, God wooed me back by showing me how joy and celebration are a big part of worshipping the One who has saved me. Once I began to wrap my brain around all Jesus has done, it was time to get this party started!

The Fun Police

Jesus Himself had a similar experience. No, not at youth choir practice. It happened in the wake of a big shindig in Galilee. The religious fun police call Christ and His crew on the carpet for cavorting with the wrong crowd and enjoying themselves WAY too much (Mk 2:18-22). In their minds, He and His boys aren’t taking their faith seriously enough. Instead of feasting, they should be fasting.

“We’re not here to have fun! We’re here to worship the Lord!”

In his bio of Jesus, Mark tells us that our Savior and His followers have just been the guests of honor at a party over at Levi’s place (Mk 2:13-17). The host is a local tax collector who filled his home with all sorts of rejects, losers, and outcasts so they could meet this amazing Rabbi/Carpenter from Nazareth.

Inviting the Uninvited

A group of party crashers accuses the Lord of hanging out with the local scum. Jesus responds by telling them that they just don’t get it. Those folks are EXACTLY why He’s here. His mission is to invite those who know full well they’re uninvited.

At this point, the charges against Him move to not taking God seriously enough. “Once when John’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting, some people came to Jesus and asked, ‘Why don’t Your disciples fast like John’s disciples and the Pharisees do?’” (v18).

Feast or Fast?

In other words, the fun police are out in full force. How dare you enjoy yourselves! Wipe that smile off your face. Religion is super serious and is no place for fun. If you REALLY understood what’s at stake, you’d wouldn’t be living it up. Stop feasting and start fasting.

Mark drops the Greek word for “fast” (Gr. νηστευω/nesteuo) six times in just three verses (v18-20). As a matter of fact, this is the ONLY place it shows up in his entire Gospel.

Specifically, νηστευω/nesteuo describes going without food for religious purposes. It literally means “no eating.” But the bigger idea is to stop doing any activity in order to set your focus on God. Fasting is a way to express deep sadness, either over failure to meet God’s perfect standard or to mourn the death of a loved one.

Fasting to Focus

We see all sorts of people in the Bible avoiding food as a means to repent, seek God, and hear from Him clearly. There’s fasting in the OT (Ex 34:28; 1Sam 7:6; 2Sam 1:12; 12:16-17; 1Ki 21:27; Ez 8:21-23; Neh 1:4; Est 4:16; Ps 35:13-14; 69:10; Dan 9:3-5; Joel 2:12; Joh 3:5-8) as well as the New (Mt 6:16-18; Lk 2:37; 18:12; Acts 13:2-3; 14:23).

Let’s face it. You don’t hear a lot of folks fasting in the 21st Century. Oh, there’s plenty of people who are more than happy to tell you about their dietary restrictions. No meat. No gluten. No lactose. No thanks! The sad truth is I’m way more likely to belly up to the buffet than skip lunch to hear from the Lord.

Jesus’ Weird Cousin

Meanwhile back in Mark 2, the author tips us off about a couple of different factions of folks are currently going without food. The first group is the followers of John the Baptizer. You may remember him from the opening of this particular Gospel (Mk 1:1-11).

He’s Jesus’ weird cousin who wears a lot of leather and eats a lot of bugs. God commands John to get the world ready for the arrival of the Messiah. Suddenly, he’s the hot new thing that everybody wants to see. But John leverages his popularity in order to point to the true Star of the show, the Lamb of God.

The Baptizer’s behind Bars

While they’re related, John and Jesus are VERY different. The Baptizer lives more like a somber monk than his fun loving cousin. John is known for fasting while the Lord has earned a rep as the life of the party (Mt 11:18-19; Lk 7:33-38).

Chances are John wouldn’t have been caught dead at Levi’s big blowout even if he was able to go. But he’s not available due to a previous engagement. You see, the Baptizer is behind bars (Mk 1:14). His followers would have every reason to fast and pray for their leader’s release from the slammer. Spoiler alert: he doesn’t (Mt 14:1-12; Mk 6:14-29).

Hangry?

Maybe John’s crew is freaking out because Jesus should be focused on getting their guy out of the joint rather than having fun at parties. If You REALLY cared about Your cousin,You’d stop feasting and stop fasting like the rest of us!!

Makes you wonder if John’s boys are just a wee bit hangry. That’s when you’re so hungry you get angry. It’s like the Snickers commercials. The ones where people aren’t themselves when they’re hungry. Munching on a candy bar transforms them from a grumpy Steve Buscemi or Roseanne Barr back into their kinder, gentler selves.

Chances are, you’ve fasted for a medical test or procedure. Ever noticed that’s EXACTLY when everybody around you is eating a cheeseburger? And why do they call it a “fast” when time seems to stand still? Whatever reason for their fast, John’s disciples are understandably cranky when Christ doesn’t seem to care.

Taking It up a Notch

But they’re not the only ones skipping meals at the moment. The Pharisees are also fasting at the time. Most of us immediately see them as the bad guys in the story of Jesus. But back in the day, these boys are the religious superstars of first century Judaism.

Nobody but nobody is as fanatical about keeping God’s rules than the Pharisees. How fanatical? They tithe from of their spice rack (Mt 23:23: Lk 11:42)! While God only commands one fast a year at Yom Kippur (Lev 16:29-31; 23:27), the Pharisees took it up a notch. To show everybody just how serious they are, they actually fast TWICE A WEEK (Lk 18:9-14)!

Image Management

You see, the Pharisees are ALL about image management. They want the world to see just how pious and holy they are. Their Facebook and Instagram feeds are nothing but prayer meetings, church services, and mission trips.

That’s fine but honestly God really doesn’t give a hot hoot about what we look like on the outside. He cares deeply about what’s going on inside our hearts. He’s NOT impressed with our phony fasting. Matter of fact, it REALLY ticks Him off.

Don’t believe me? Buckle your biblical seat belt and see what He tells the prophet Isaiah (Is 58:3-7). I’ll wait right here humming the Final Jeopardy music. Oh, you’re back. Any questions?

Jesus’ Forty-Day Fast

Don’t make the mistake of thinking Jesus always feasts and never fasts. The Gospel writers tell us He did it at least one time. And it was BIG time. We’re talking forty days…IN THE DESERT IN THE FACE OF THE DEVIL (Mk 1:12-13; Mt 4:2; Lk 4:2-4)!

And when He did, our Savior fasted it in private. He didn’t call a news conference or announce it on social media. He didn’t try to grab the spotlight so He could make a run at the top spot in the power rankings of the pious (Mt 6:16-18).

You can bet the farm that if this is a time for scripturally mandated fasting, Jesus would be fasting. But He’s not. And neither are His followers. It’s all about timing. There’s no doubt there are times to be serious. But never miss a moment to celebrate.

The Wedding Reception

As He so often does, the Lord flips the script on His critics and turns this into a teachable moment. In the process, He drops three mini-parables. Little stories with a big impact. One about a wedding reception. A second about patching holes in your clothes. A third about the best way to package your pinot noir.

First, you don’t start skipping meals when you’re heading to the wedding reception. “Jesus replied, ‘Do wedding guests fast while celebrating with the groom? Of course not. They can’t fast while the groom is with them’” (v19). Christ tells His critics to forget the fast and start the feast!

God as the Groom

This is Jesus’ not-so-subtle way of saying He’s the One God has promised to send to save our eternal bacon. For a couple of thousand years, Old Testament prophets compare God to a “bridegroom rejoices over his bride” (Is 62:4, 5).

God tells a guy named Hosea that He’s totally committed to His chosen people like best hubby you could ever imagine. “I will make you My wife forever, showing you righteousness and justice, unfailing love and compassion. I will be faithful to you and make you Mine, and you will finally know Me as the LORD” (Hos 2:19-20).

Jesus wants them to know that now that the Groom has arrived, it’s time to get this party started! He clearly takes fun seriously. VERY seriously. Don’t believe me? His very first miracle was turning several barrels of water into fine wine in order to keep a wedding reception going (Jn 2:6-11).

The Heavenly Hootenanny

And once Christ makes His final comeback, He’s inviting all of His followers to the ultimate heavenly hootenanny. It should come as no surprise that it’s a wedding reception (Rev 19:6-9). That’s the Lord’s point to the party poopers. There’s a time and place for fasting. This is neither the time nor the place. Once God is in the house, stop the fast and start the feast.

Grieving the Son of God

Christ does admit there’s a day on the calendar when set aside for sadness. “But someday the groom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast” (v20). He’s dropping a VERY strong hint at what’s about to go down. His betrayal, arrest, torture, murder, and burial. When that happens, you can bet His boys will fast and mourn.

Since that has happened, shouldn’t WE still grieve that the Son of God is gone? Absolutely not! Since He came strolling out of the cemetery on Sunday, the mourning period for His death lasted for just three days!!

A Command So Nice He Says It Twice

The Apostle Paul tells Jesus’ followers in Rome not to be sad but celebrate. When we trust in what He has done for us, His life becomes our life. He lived the perfect life of obedience we should have lived. He died the bloody death for our sin we should have died. And He rose to a jaw dropping new life that we don’t deserve (Rom 6:4-5)!

So why do so many Christians walk around like they’re headed for their own crucifixion? Once again, our man Paul says stop being so stinking sad! “Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice!” (Phil 4:4). It’s a command so nice, he says it twice!! And don’t try to tell me the man from Tarsus doesn’t know hard times. Dude, he wrote that from prison!!

The Gospel is NOT an Upgrade

Back in Mark, Jesus moves from a mini-parable about the party to mini-parable about a patch. “Besides, who would patch old clothing with new cloth? For the new patch would shrink and rip away from the old cloth, leaving an even bigger tear than before” (v21).

He’s letting us know that the Gospel for knowing God isn’t simply fixing a couple of bugs with the way we did it before. I love how Mike Lee puts it. Jesus brings a new system that is NOT just a better version. It’s NOT simply an upgrade! In other words, trusting in Christ is NOT Old Testament 2.0.

Oh, you can be sure there’s plenty about the coming Messiah all throughout the Hebrew Bible. After all, He IS THE Hero of THE Story! The writers of the OT are continually dropping hints, clues, shadows, prophecies, and predictions of the One who is to come.  But once Jesus arrives, He blows out what came before by fulfilling God’s perfect standard for us (Mt 5:17).

Box Wine without the Box

Mini-parable number three is also about how the crusty old religious system can’t hope to contain the explosive power of God’s grace. This time Jesus uses the picture of packaging wine. Starting to see why He’s the life of the party? “And no one puts new win into old wineskins. For the wine would burst the wineskins, and the wine and the skins would both be lost. New wine calls for new wineskins” (v22).

In the First Century, people didn’t make wine in big barrels but put grape juice into smaller animal skins. Goat skins to be exact. Kinda like box wine without the box. Instead of the plastic bag, it’s a goat skin. Pretty sure you won’t find one of those on the shelf at your local Walmart.

Mentos and Diet Coke

As the juice fermented, the pressure would build and the hides would expand. Once it was stretched out, the skin would lose its elasticity. The wineskin is a one-and-done. You don’t rinse it out and reuse it again. You’re asking for a big mess. Better have the club soda and OxyClean handy.

In the same way, Jesus totally blows apart the old Jewish belief system. He opens the party up to anyone and everyone who places their trust in Him. He transforms God’s Kingdom into a whole lot more than a Hebrew house party. Even non-Jews are encouraged and welcome. Just try pouring THAT into an old wineskin. You probably ought to step back. And you thought dropping a Mento in a Diet Coke was cool!

We ARE Here to Have Fun!

One thing is for sure. Jesus takes fun very seriously. So much so that He commands it. Stop the fast! Start the feast! He invites us to the party and ensures that He’ll keep it going. His Gospel is no upgrade. Trying to cram His grace into the old system is only going to make you made and make a mess. 

The bottom line is we ARE here to have fun! And there’s not better way to do that than worshipping the Lord!

©2017

Jay Jennings

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Wine and Wellness

“No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments” (1Tim 5:23).

Caution! The following may cause confusion, and in some cases, anger and irritability. Then again, a proper reading of Scripture will often do that. In Paul’s first letter to Timothy, he brings up the subject of alcohol. Since this is the Bible, the apostle MUST be telling Pastor Tim to be a teetotaler, right? Wrong! In a verse that freaks out a good many fundamentalists, Paul tells Tim to make wine a regular part of his routine. What sort of madness is this?!? The next thing you know, somebody’s going to say the Bible encourages us to dance! (If that’s you, I’ve got some bad news for you.)

Here in a personal note to his pastoral protege, Paul writes, “No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments” (v23). This is no call for holy happy hour. Tim had some very particular health issues. The apostle wanted him to be proactive in his wellness. The illness is chronic. Stomach problems and a general sickliness. The treatment is simple. Wine. The dosage is important. Just a sip or two. 

Don’t forget the context of the verse. Paul is sending Tim a note of instruction as one pastor to another. The apostle has placed him as the servant/leader of the Ephesian church, a large, multicultural congregation on the west coast of what we know today as Turkey. Paul personally planted this church during his third Mediterranean tour (Acts 19) and actually stayed there for three years (Acts 20:30). 

At some point after he left town, false teachers weaseled their way into the flock and distracted folks from following Jesus with all sorts of bizarro myths, genealogical rabbit trails, and some doctrine that was downright demonic (1Tim 1:3-7; 4:1-3). With Paul on the road to Macedonia, the apostle leaves Timothy in charge to continue the process of getting the church back on track. Much of the letter has to do with practical steps of pastoral leadership like encouraging prayer in the church (1Tim 2:1-8), finding new leaders of integrity (1Tim 3:1-13; 5:17-22), and establishing a system of assisted living Gospel style (1Tim 5:3-16).

A lot of this note is also instruction for a pastor who’s up to his eyeballs in the mess of ministry. It’s baptism under fire and on the job training. But Paul doesn’t leave Tim hanging and has important points for how to teach the Bible, stay focused on the Gospel, utilize his spiritual gifts, and deepen his walk with Jesus (1Tim 4:16-16). The apostle doesn’t ignore the physical side of the young pastor’s life. “No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments” (v23). If you don’t take care of yourself physically, you can’t take care of the church spiritually.

Shall we get the alcohol discussion out of the way now? There are many denominations and faith traditions that maintain a zero tolerance policy on drinking alcohol. While I appreciate the idea, I have a really hard time using Scripture to back that up. All throughout the Bible, wine flows freely and God doesn’t exactly stop pouring when we hit the New Testament. As a matter of fact, Jesus’ very first miracle is to keep the party rolling at a wedding reception by making more wine (Jn 2:1-11). Christ regularly taught using wine as part of His illustrations (Lk 5:37-39; Mk 2:22). He was such a regular guest at parties that He earned a rather dubious reputation (Mt 11:19). And you can’t ignore Jesus’ use of Merlot at the Last Supper (Mt 26:26-29; Mk 14:22-25; Lk 14:23; 1Cor 11:23-32). Jesus made it. Jesus drank it. And He goes so far as to say He won’t drink again until we’re all with Him in eternity (Mk 14:25). 

Don’t buy the lie that the wine in the Bible is little more than grape juice. If that’s the case, why are so many people getting wasted on Welch’s? There’s the time after the flood where Noah gets so drunk that he passes out naked (Gen 9:20-23), or is that “nekkid”? I wonder why they never taught us that part of Noah’s story in Sunday School? Over and over, Solomon warns his son against overconsumption. Be VERY careful when it comes to wine and beer (Prov 20:1; 23:21). Don’t hang out with folks who are always getting hammered (Prov 23:19-20). The king goes so far as describing what it’s like not just to be drunk but hung over (Prov 23:29-33).

Paul cautions the Romans not to spend the night on the town barhopping (Rom 13:13). Unrepentant alcoholics and addicts don’t have a spot in God’s kingdom (1Cor 6:9-10; Gal 5:19-21). Don’t miss the fact there were plenty of folks in recovery who were part of the Corinthian church (1Cor 6:11)! People with addiction issues have no place in church leadership (1Tim 3:2-3, 8; Titus 1:7). And if you’re going to get drunk on anything, make sure it’s the Holy Spirit (Eph 5:18)! If it’s a problem for you, avoid it. If you’re able to enjoy a glass, don’t get over-served. The bottom line is we also can’t ignore the dangers of alcohol and addiction.

But Paul’s point has less to do with whether or not a believer should drink wine but taking care of yourself physically. Remember, Tim and Paul are old friends. They met on the apostle’s second tour (Acts 16:1-3). The man from Tarsus is familiar with his traveling companion’s health issues. He has tender stomach as well as other problems that can’t be ignored. One way to head off any further problems is a regular does of wine. 

Paul was just following the guidelines for wellness back in the Greco-Roman world. Hippocrates said, “Wine is an appropriate article for mankind, both for the healthy body and for the ailing man.” And not much has changed a couple of thousand years later. According to Webmd, wine is good for digestive health. Believe it or not, scientists have just released a study saying that the resveratrol in a glass of red wine has the health benefits of one hour at the gym. Just a word of warning. Drinking the whole bottle of Cab by yourself is NOT the same as busting a P90X workout.

The bigger issue here is physical wellness. If your doctor has prescribed you medications, take them. If you need supplements or OTC meds, use them. Get regular exercise. Take care of your body. Paul tells his friends in Rome, “Present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual act of worship” (Rom 12:1). He uses a word that describes our PHYSICAL form. Remember, we are fully integrated beings, created in both soul AND body. Since my physical body is the temple of the God’s Spirit (1Cor 6:19), I need to keep the joint in tiptop condition! If you don’t take care of yourself physically, you can’t take care of others spiritually.

Worship and the Empty Glass

“Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. Likewise you also should be glad and rejoice with me” (Philippians 2:17-18).

Most of the time, an empty glass is not a good thing. It usually means the fun is just about over. The last sad slurp from the straw in the milkshake. An evening with friends at the local watering hole has come to a close. The end of a flight after testing craft beers. The last sip of a wine tasting. The final swig of coffee before heading to work. We normally see the empty glass as a sign that the party is over. Forrest Gump and his momma think life is like a box of chocolates. Not Paul. For the apostle, life is like a glass filled to the brim, and an empty glass is an act of worship. The sight of a mug poured out in service to Jesus a joy to behold. The party is just getting started when the glass is empty. 

The apostle’s joy drips down the pages of this epistle. You might read this little letter from Paul to his friends back in Philippi as some sort of “wish you were here” kind of postcard. There’s just one little problem with that. He’s in jail. And he’s been behind bars for several years. After firing off a few other notes to put out fires among other followers of Jesus (Ephesians, Colossians, and Philemon), the man from Tarsus writes a letter to a funky little church he planted back in Macedonia. No crisis to deal with. No problem to solve. He’s just catching up with some of his favorite people on the planet. They stoke his fire for Jesus and vice versa. His relationship with the Philippian followers of Jesus are a big reason he has joy in the joint.

From his cell in Rome, Paul sees his life as an empty glass. “Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering” (v17). He uses a Greek verb (Gr. spendo) which describes letting liquid flow. The apostle paints a picture of emptying himself like a frosty beverage. He’s not sipping. He’s chugging. But a closer look lets us know he’s not drinking but pouring himself “upon the sacrificial offering of your faith” (v17). What in the world is this dude talking about? Why would he waste a perfectly good drink by dumping it out? This image goes right over our heads. But his first century readers would know exactly what Paul’s talking about. In just about every form of worship at that time, you would pour wine on or in front of a burning animal sacrifice, wine would be vaporized. The writers of the OT describe drink offerings several different times (Ex 29:38-41; Num 15:10; 27:8; 2Ki 16:13; Jer 7:18; Hos 9:4). For worshipers Yahweh, the steam rose symbolizing the offering to God. But the Philippians come out of a pagan religion which bowed down to a boatload of minor league deities. While they didn’t have a clue of ancient Hebrew worship, they know all about pouring drinks like wine as something done at their temples.

So Paul sees the Philippians living a life of sacrificial worship to Jesus. It’s the same kind of “living sacrifice, holy and acceptable” he wrote to the Roman church about (Rom 12:1). These believers are giving themselves as “a sacrificial offering” for their trust in Christ. This “offering” is the Greek term leitourgia, which means an act of worship. It’s used to describe the service of a priest in the temple. It’s the source of our word liturgy. The big idea here is we’re all priests. Paul’s buddy Rocky goes out of his way to let us know that the followers of Jesus are a “royal priesthood” (1Pet 2:9). It’s not just folks wearing one of those weird collars. It’s not limited to dudes in pointy hats. Once Christ comes to our rescue, we’re all priests. We don’t need any sort of religious middle man to make it happen. That’s why Jesus personally ripped the drapes in the temple from top to bottom at His crucifixion (Mt 27:51). There’s no longer any separation between us and God. We’re all worshipers. As a result, my life is as an act of worship. The only problem with a living sacrifice is that it keeps wiggling off the altar. 

So here’s the picture Paul wants us to see. The Philippians offer themselves as an act of worship to Jesus. The apostle joins in to complement their sacrifice. He pours himself onto the altar of their surrender to our Savior. Paul’s point isn’t about Paul. It’s not a “hey, look at me” moment. He’s so stoked about what Jesus is doing in and through the lives of the Philippian followers that he wants to enhance their offering. Who is pouring into your life? Who is spending a tremendous amount of their energy to enhance your worship of Jesus? Who is spilling into your life and giving of themselves on your behalf? But the pour doesn’t just stop in your glass. It doesn’t just end with my mug begin full. Who am I spilling into? Who am I emptying myself to intensify and amplify their relationship with Jesus? This is about sacrifice. It’s about pouring ourselves out for others. We’re simply doing for others what Jesus did for us (Mt 26:27-28; Lk 22:19). Worshiping is about being an empty glass.

Paul tells us that an empty glass is actually a thing of joy. When he’s poured out, “I am glad and rejoice with you all. Likewise you also should be glad and rejoice with me” (v17-18). Don’t be sad when your glass is empty. This is a time to celebrate. This is a time to rejoice. It means we’ve poured out our lives for the Gospel in the lives of others. The party is just getting started when the glass is empty.

Leaving the Whine Country

“Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world” (Philippians 2:14-15).

Wine is booming right now. Folks hang out at wine bars, attend wine tastings, and go on wine tours of the wine country. I love a glass of Merlot as much as the next guy. My Savior has been known to keep the party going when the Cabernet runs low. However whine is also everywhere these days. At home. At work. At church. It seems like we’ve taken complaining and snark to an art form. There’s just one little problem. Believers shouldn’t bellyache. About anything. It’s one clear way we stand out in a world full of moaners. Paul lets us know once Jesus comes to our rescue we leave the whine country. 

Hey, if anybody had a reason to grumble it would be the man with the pen in his hand. The apostle writes to his friends back in Philippi from behind bars in Rome. He’s in Caesar’s Supermax after being wrongly accused of stirring up trouble among the Jewish people back in Jerusalem (Acts 21:27-36). He’s spent the past several years in the joint just waiting for his case to be heard and eventually appealed his case to Caesar (Acts 25:11). Along the way, he’s survived a hurricane at sea, been shipwrecked, bitten by a venomous snake before being thrown back in the slammer once again. What he’s been through makes “Planes, Trains, and Automobiles” look like a walk in the park. But take a listen outside Paul’s cell for just a moment. What do you hear? Not one bit of grumbling. Zip. Zilch. Zero. Now he writes to the followers of Jesus in Philippi. The best way to stand out from the rest of the whining world is to quit complaining.

I’m pretty sure the apostle left us a little wiggle room when it comes to grumbling. There must be a handful of things we can still gripe about. Let’s take a closer look, shall we? “Do all things without grumbling or disputing” (v14). Did he really write “all things?” Really? I can’t even complain about going to the DMV office? Surely he doesn’t mean calls from telemarketers. He must leave a loophole for those times I’m stuck in traffic and the interstate transforms into a parking lot. Nope. Sorry. “All things” (v14). A closer look at the Greek tells us Paul is talking about “all things.” As the old saying goes, “‘All’ means ‘all’ and that’s all ‘all’ means.” Trust me, I wish there a way around this too. We may have every reason to kvetch and moan. But we’re to follow the example of the One who came to pull us out of the mess we made. If the sinless of Son of God didn’t mutter under His breath as He was betrayed and murdered, what right do we have?

Just in case we’re unsure what “all things” we’re not to do, the man from Tarsus spells it out. “Grumbling or disputing” (v14). The first word is goggusmos, which means murmuring, muttering, or a complaint not openly shared complaining. This when we crank up a whisper campaign for those around us. We’re not grabbing a bullhorn and announcing to the world how jacked up the situation is. No, this is much more subtle and subversive. To paraphrase Governor Pappy O’Daniel from “O Brother, Where Art Thou?”, we’re not mass communicatin’. We’re one-and-a-timin’. We grumble to the person in the next cube about what’s going on. We whine to the folks in line at Starbucks. We rant on Facebook or Twitter. I’m looking for sympathy and support because I’m a victim. Look at poor, poor pitiful me. But maybe I’m the only one who does this. There’s no way you would stoop to anything like this, is there?

Paul tells us to steer clear of “disputing” (Gr. dialogismos). Notice how similar it is to the word “dialogue.” He’s talking about two people in an open argument. No whisper campaign here. This is blatant arguing. That’s EXACTLY the kind of garbage we shouldn’t find among God’s people. The apostle writes to his buddy Tim, “I desire then that in every place the men should pray, lifting holy hands without anger or quarreling (Gr. dialogismos)” (1Tim 2:8). He tells the church in Rome not to get into silly fights with folks who are immature (Rom 14:1). When it comes to arguing, remember that it takes two to tango. There are times to take a stand but does this dispute bring glory to God? Does it bring people closer to Jesus? Or is it simply throwing mud on the wedding dress of the Bride of Christ? More often than not, I need to let it drop. Or in the words of that great theologian Elsa, “Let it go!”

One huge reason for the followers of Jesus to drop the grumbling and disputing is to stand out from the rest of society. We avoid muttering and arguing “that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God, without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you will shine as lights in the world” (v15). Once we’re kids of the King, we have NOTHING to whine or complain about! When we stop griping, we’ll stick out from everybody else. Why doesn’t she bellyache about her boss? Why won’t he beef about his situation? Suddenly, we shine brightly in a very dark world. Jesus called us to be light shiners and salt spreaders (Mt 5:13-16). One key way we do that is stuffing a sock in mouths instead of calling the wambulance. Let’s be “the light of the world” and “a city set on a hill” (Mt 5:14) instead of Debbie Downer or the sultan of snark. Remember, once Jesus comes to our rescue we leave the whine country. 

God's Good Grip

A good grip can make all the difference. The grip on a golf club. On a tennis racket. On a baseball. The placement of your hands has everything to do with your performance. Nehemiah would agree. You wouldn’t think that grip would have much to do with being the royal cupbearer. Well, I guess you don’t want to drop the Cabernet in the king’s lap. On the other hand, we see the importance of a great grip on what goes down. A great grip puts Nehemiah in the presence of the most powerful man on the planet. A great grip opens the door for Nehemiah to make a ridiculous request. A great grip shoves a pagan king to sign off on rebuilding the Jewish capital. But let’s be sure of one thing. This has nothing to do with Nehemiah’s hand placement. This is because God has a firm grip on Nehemiah. The placement of His hands has everything to do with Nehemiah’s performance. God’s good grip makes all the difference.

It’s been four months since Nehemiah’s brother Hanani stopped by to break the bad news about the ongoing crisis in Jerusalem (Neh 1:1-3). That was back in Kislev during the winter, about the same time of the year as November and December on our calendar. It’s now Nisan (v1), roughly March or April. The breaking news about the city’s broken walls breaks Nehemiah’s heart. He spends day after day pleading with God to do something about it (Neh 1:5-11). He confesses not just his own sin but the repeated rebellion of the Israelites throughout the centuries. He calls upon God to act now on the covenant promises return His people to the Promised Land and restore His glory in Jerusalem. 

We read that it’s still during “the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes” (v1). He’s the ruler of the Persian superpower, the most dominant nation in the world at the time. In contrast, Nehemiah is a humble Hebrew slave in captivity. But the LORD has placed this lowly Israelite in a position that allows him access to the powerful person on the planet. He’s the “cupbearer to the king” (Neh 1:11). He’s not only the royal wine steward but he’s responsible for checking for poison. The good news is you get to drink the best wine. The bad news is the next sip could kill you. Yahweh’s hand is firmly on Nehemiah and His fingerprints are all over this situation. God’s good grip makes all the difference.

Despite receiving the heartbreaking news from his brother, Nehemiah makes a point of never wearing his emotions on his sleeve in front of the king. That could be dangerous. VERY dangerous. You see, kings like to know that you love living in their kingdom. A frown could get you killed. But one day, the burden of the Jerusalem crisis was just too much for the cupbearer and king noticed (v2). When Artaxerxes asks his royal sommelier what was going on, Nehemiah freaked out. He takes a deep breath and says, “Let the king live forever! Why should not my face be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers’ graves, lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire?” (v3). Well, it’s out there. The LORD presents Nehemiah with the opportunity and he leverages it for the glory of God’s kingdom.

You can feel the tension in the room. What will the king say? How will he respond? Will he “downsize” his cupbearer for having the gall and stupidity to say something like this? Is this his last day working in the palace? Is this is last day alive?!? But something crazy happens. “Then the king said to me, ‘What are you requesting?’” (v4). WHAT?!? Artaxerxes asks his cupbearer for how he can help! No pink slip. No head without a body. Instead, the most powerful person in the world wants to know what he can do to help a palace slave. This only happens when God has His hand on the situation. God’s good grip makes all the difference.

If we were standing in the room during this amazing conversation, we probably would notice a moment of silence. A pregnant pause. In my mind, I would be screaming, “Dude! Say something! The king wants to help! Jump on it!!” But there’s a reason for the quiet. That’s because Nehemiah is firing off a quick prayer to the LORD. “So I prayed to the God of heaven” (v4). Before he says anything else to Artaxerxes, he seeks God’s blessing on what’s about to happen. The future of Jerusalem hangs in the balance. We see hear that we don’t always have to drop to our knees and close our eyes for significant times of prayer. Sure, it’s important that both are part of the rhythm of our relationship with Jesus. Nehemiah gives us both here in the very first chapter. He prays for days (Neh 1:4). He prays in the blink of an eye (v4). It’s what the Apostle Paul describes as “pray without ceasing” (1Th 5:17). When you’re in a state of constant prayer and dependance on God, quick requests are easy. We can be in an ongoing attitude of prayer because Jesus is with His Dad right now pleading on our behalf (Rom 8:34). Nehemiah pauses. Nehemiah prays.

With the door flung open, our man walks boldly through. He asks that the king sign off on a massive rebuilding project for the city of Jerusalem. Nehemiah asks his royal highness for the permission to return to the Hebrew capital “that I may rebuild it” (v5). The walls are a pile of bricks. The gates are charred. But chances are, he’s not just talking about reconstructing the walls and gates. The city wall is simply a symbol and symptom of a deeper sickness. The entire situation in Jerusalem needs rebuilding. The city needs an overhaul of political, administrative, and social structures. 

At this point, Artaxerxes wants to know details. “How long will you be gone, and when will you return?” (v6). In other words, have you thought this through? Do you have a plan? Do you have something more than a pipe dream to make this happen? Nehemiah wasn’t just spitballing. He had a plan. Well, at least as specific a plan as he could considering that he’d never been to Jerusalem before. This was a little more than a vacation request. He was going to ask for a significant amount of time off. This was going to be a sabbatical. The trip itself is three months one way. While we don’t read it here, Nehemiah is asking for years, not days, weeks, or months. This is a big job. A very big job.

Nehemiah has sought God’s good guidance and come up with a very specific plan. He knows exactly what he needs to get the job done. “Let letters be given to me” (v7). He knows that he needs legal docs from the king that gave Nehemiah and his crew the royal stamp of approval for travel through the region. And he asks for the authority to get the lumber needed for the project (v8). Remember, this is the Middle East. Lots of sand. Very few trees. Timber is a hot commodity. Kings in the region would place armed guards around their royal forests. Nehemiah asks for a signed document from Artaxerxes to show to “Asaph, the keeper of the king’s forest that he may give me timber” (v8). So just where did Nehemiah get this very detailed plan? If you look closely, you’ll see God’s fingerprints all over it.

If this conversation isn’t bizarre enough already, this pagan Persian dictator says “yes.” “And the king granted me what I asked, for the good hand of my God was upon me” (v8). Nehemiah may have made a compelling argument but in the end that didn’t matter. The only reason the king signs off on this crazy request is because God made it happen. His fingerprints are all over this project and this book. Many commentators like to point out that there aren’t any miracles recorded in the book of Nehemiah. Tell me this isn’t miraculous? A lowly Hebrew slave gets access to the pagan king. Miracle one. The slave makes an over-the-top request to rebuild a city almost 1,000 miles away. Miracle two. The slave actually has a very detailed and specific plan for the reconstruction. Miracle three. And the king says “go for it!” Miracle four. 

Many smart dudes believe that Ezra and Nehemiah are actually one book written by the same author (probably Ezra, he was a scribe after all). Seven other times in these two books, we read about how God has His good and gracious grip on His people and the situation (Ez 7:6, 9, 28; 8:18, 22, 31; Neh 2:18). The placement of His hands has everything to do with Nehemiah’s performance. God’s good grip makes all the difference.

Nehemiah's Booming Serve

A tennis player with a booming serve can dominate just about any opponent. The top players in the game used their serve to take many titles. Roger Federer. Pete Sampras. Novak Djokovic. Venus and Serena Williams. Martina Navratilova. And they didn’t him Boris “Boom Boom” Becker for nothing. These folks could bring it. The Bible is also loaded with men and women with big serves. Nehemiah could let it rip. He could serve with the best. And here in Nehemiah 1:5-11, we see him uncorking one of the top serves in the Old Testament. And he does it from his knees. Our man Nehemiah serves others through prayer. Yeah, he’s got a big, booming serve.

Let’s back up a bit and see what led to Nehemiah’s big serve. After shipping His people off into Babylonian exile for their own disobedience, God is actively working to return them to the Promised Land. He nudges the pagan Persian King Cyrus to send a large number of Jews back home (Ez 1:1-4). The LORD also uses King Darius to sign off of second resettlement. Later it’s Artaxerxes’ turn to be used by the God of Israel (Ez 7:1-28). Despite rebuilding the temple (Ez 6:14-15), the renovation of Jerusalem grinds to a halt. Meanwhile, we meet a servant named Nehemiah working in the royal winter palace in Susa (Neh 1:1). His brother and his posse are fresh back from Judah and the news isn’t good. This situation there is so bad that Jerusalem has become a joke (Neh 1:3). The wall of the city is a pile of stones. The city gates are in ashes. The breaking news of the broken walls breaks Nehemiah’s heart. That’s when we see him serve. He prays, and prays, and prays. And in doing so, he serves, and serves, and serves. Nehemiah’s got a HUGE serve!

He pleads to “the great and awesome God who keeps covenant and steadfast love” (v5). Later in this same book, Nehemiah describes how the people turn from their sin and turn back to “the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who keeps covenant and steadfast love” (Neh 9:32). It’s probably not too surprising that this is almost exactly the same way Daniel cries out to Yahweh when he confesses the rebellion of God’s people during their captivity in Babylon. “O LORD, the great and awesome God, who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love Him and keep His commandments” (Dan 9:4). Nehemiah is crying out to the God who will absolutely do what He promises He will do. 

This is a massive reminder that this is NOT about the strength of our faith but in the One in whom we place our faith. Jesus will never fail. Jesus will never let us go. Once we’re in His kung fu grip, He’ll never let us go. Should we try to hang on to Him with everything we have? Absolutely. But eventually my grip will slip. I can trust in Christ and His steadfast, ongoing, never-ending, faithful, long lasting love. He’ll never let go. He’ll never stop loving. That’s the God Nehemiah is crying out to from the palace in Persia. That’s the God we can still call on today. 

Nehemiah pleads with God, “Let Your ear be attentive and Your eyes open, to hear the prayer of Your servant” (v6). It’s almost as if Nehemiah learned to pray by reading Daniel. “O my God, incline Your ear and hear. Open Your eyes and see our desolations” (Dan 9:18). There’s no doubt that the book of Daniel heavily influenced and encouraged God’s people during their 70-plus years in exile. And why wouldn’t it? Dan the Man is one of the first of Israel’s best and brightest to get shipped to Babylon (Dan 1:1-7). He knows the exile firsthand. The LORD uses Daniel to let the Jews know that He hasn’t forgotten them. He is listening to their prayers. He is watching what’s going on. He will bring them back home to the Promised Land. That’s exactly the God to whom Nehemiah calls on. He knows that God is listening. He knows that God is watching. He knows that God cares. You and I can be sure that He’s listening, watching, and caring what happens in our lives. Sounds like a great reason to pray, don’t you think? Nehemiah sure does.

The son of Hacaliah asks God “to hear the prayer of Your servant” (v6). While he’s a lowly slave in the Persian palace, he sees himself as God’s servant. He uses the Hebrew noun ‘ebed, which means slave, worker, bondservant, or manservant. This fascinating term appears a total of 22 times in the book of Nehemiah, eight of those are right here in this prayer (v5-11). While it can describe someone in forced and begrudging employment, the word actually be used for someone in willing and joyful service of God. Some scholars see a beautiful element of worship in this sense.  Moses uses a variation of this same word when he writes about God’s call on Adam in the garden. “The LORD God took the man and put him in the garden to work it and keep it” (Gen 2:15). Remember, this is BEFORE the Fall. Adam’s service in Eden was a joyful act of worship to our good and gracious God. Before the Fall, Adam had a booming serve. 

Nehemiah sees himself as God’s servant. He understands Moses to be in the same role (v7-8). He understands all of God’s people to be His servants (v10-11). Nehemiah knows that the coming Messiah is the ultimate servant. The prophet Isaiah writes pages of the suffering Servant who serves His God and His people by substituting Himself on their behalf (Is 42:1-7; 49:1-9; 50:4-10; 52:13-53:12). If you’re wondering, Jesus fulfilled Isaiah’s prediction as that incredible suffering Servant. A former murderer named Paul tells his Philippian friends that Jesus “emptied Himself, by taking the form of a servant” by going to the cross in our place (Phil 2:7-8). Christ came to serve you and me. He serves us by living the perfectly obedient life that you and I failed to live. He serves us by dying the death for our sin that we should have died. He serves us by rising to a glorious new life that we don’t deserve. The King of Kings is the Servant of Servants. Jesus has a booming serve!

Back at the palace in Persia, Nehemiah is “confessing the sins of the people of Israel, which we have sinned against You” (v7). Like Jesus, he has the attitude of a servant leader. He doesn’t just pray and confess his own sin and rebellion but he humbles himself before God on behalf of the people of Israel. He doesn’t just pray for their most recent sins but for the Israelites long, sordid history rebellion against God. Nehemiah traces God’s faithfulness and goodness back to back in the day. Back to Moses. He also traces the people’s rejection of God back to Moses. Nehemiah prays to a God who is a better Savior than the people are sinners. If his prayer on behalf of others sounds familiar, it should. In the prequel, Ezra confesses for the sin of the people (Ez 10:1). Daniel did too (Dan 9:20). Even Jesus pleads with His Dad to forgive the very people who were murdering Him (Lk 23:34). It would be easy for folks like these to take one look at the sins of their friends and say, “Stinks to be you.” But they don’t. They serve others by praying and confessing on their behalf.

Nehemiah understands that our sin is ultimately a sin against God. It’s a rebellion against His authority. It’s a rejection of His goodness. It’s a refusal of His protection. King David hooked up with one of buddy’s wives, gotten her pregnant, and then had him killed. Despite all of the bloodshed and betrayal, David knew that his biggest crime was against God. “Against You, You only, have I sinned” (Ps 51:4). Nehemiah confesses, “We have acted very corruptly against you” (v7). He makes it clear that the people are responsible for trashing their relationship with God. That all started with our first parents back in Eden (Gen 3:1-7). He points out that the people have specifically broken “the commandments, the statutes, and the rules that You commanded Your servant Moses” (v7). And it’s still true today. Our fingerprints of rebellion against the LORD are all over the scene of the crime. We’ve destroyed it. We’ve spoiled it. We’ve ruined it. We’ve broken it. But that’s what Jesus came to restore because there’s no way we could. He came to bring us back into a relationship with His Heavenly Dad.

The king’s cupbearer remembers God’s promises to Moses and His people. “If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the peoples” (v8; Lev 26:33; Dt 28:64). Nehemiah and the Israelites need no further proof of that. All they need to do is look around. They’re living almost 1,000 miles away from the Promised Land that God had given them. But Nehemiah also remembers God’s guarantee to bring them home if they only turn back to Him (v9). In his prayer, he praises Yahweh for rolling up His supernatural sleeves in the first place. “They are Your servants and Your people, whom You have redeemed by Your great power and by Your strong hand” (v10). The people did nothing to earn their rescue. God did it all by Himself. Through His great power. By His strong hand. Don’t forget that there’s absolutely nothing we did to make ourselves worth saving. God did it all by Himself. Through His great power. By His strong hand. 

Nehemiah wraps up his prayer of service by asking for a specific request. “Give success to Your servant today, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man” (v11). “This man” is King Artaxerxes. He’s really hoping that God will provide him with an opportunity ask the pagan dictator for something big. Something REALLY big. His heart breaks for the broken walls of Jerusalem and the broken lives those living in the Promised Land. You see, Nehemiah may just be a servant in the palace but he has regular access to the most powerful man on the planet. “Now I was the cupbearer to the king” (v11). He’s going to leverage his place and position for the glory of God’s kingdom and the good of His people. Where has God placed and positioned you? How can you use where you are for His glory and the good of His people. Think of him as Artaxerxes’ personal wine steward. But in the ancient world, it was more than just helping the king choose a Merlot or Chardonnay. He was there to check for poison. He would taste it first. If he would die, the king would know he should probably open a different bottle. We don’t know how many of the king’s cupbearers had croaked before Nehemiah. But today, he’s going to use the opportunity to serve. And Nehemiah’s got a booming serve!

An Endangered Species

“Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good” (v3).

Cougars are cool. At least that’s what movies, television, and novels will tell you these days. Certainly you’re aware of the species. Older women on the make for younger men. Older women who seem to say, “If you can’t say anything good about somebody, come sit by me!” Older women who say it’s always wine o’clock. These big cats are clearly on the prowl on the island of Crete. Paul tells Titus to make these cougars an endangered species. 

Before we watch an episode of “The Real Housewives of Crete,” lets remember the context of this verse. The Gospel of Jesus has transformed thousands of lives on this Mediterranean island. The Apostle Paul has moved on to his next mission in the Greek seaport of Nicopolis (Titus 3:12). He’s given his protege Titus a three-point plan to complete before he hits the road himself. Appoint elders in all of the local churches to fill the leadership vacuum (Titus 1:5). Eliminate the threat posed by Jewish false teachers (Titus 1:10-11). Set up a self-replicating system of discipleship so that new believers will learn what it means to follow Jesus (Titus 2:1-10). A big part of that is declawing Cretan cougars.

Just after instructing Titus to teach senior saints to be Old Man Strong, Paul tells him that “older women are likewise to be reverent in behavior” (v3). In other words, they are to pursue the same sort of qualities and virtues as the older men. In other words, “sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness” (Titus 2:2). They should live lives that are marked by strong faith, strong love, and strong endurance. That’s what it means to be “reverent” (v3). This is the Greek word hieroprepes. The term literally means “to stand out as holy.” It describes behavior that is fitting for what is sacred. One who lives in awe of God. A person devoted to their faith. If this is the goal then it’s not to hard to imagine that these women are just the opposite. Drunk. Undignified. Out of control. Only trying to satisfy their passions and desires. You know, cougars. Let’s be clear about one thing. Titus can’t cage these cats. Neither can Paul. Only Jesus has the power to redeem and transform our lives through His gracious Gospel.

Gossip is clearly a problem among these desperate housewives. Paul tells the Big T that they should no longer be “slanderers” (v3). A closer look at the original language reveals something more diabolical. Literally. This is the Greek term diabolos. It’s the word that writers of the New Testament use as the name for Satan 34 times! Translators use the word devil. It’s somebody who lives to gossip. An accuser. To be a gossip is to be an agent of the enemy. It seems that cougars are closely related to the “devil who prowls around like a roaring lion” (1Pet 5:8). Can we talk frankly for a moment? This isn’t limited to the ladies. I have a horrible habit of being a gossip. The book of Proverbs is chockfull of warnings against the danger of loose lips (Prov 11:13; 18:8; 10:19; 26:22). It destroys friendships (Prov 16:28). It stokes the fire of arguments (Prov 26:20). Instead of spreading bad news, why don’t we spread the best news? Let’s make the Gospel go viral.

Apparently another is issue is that these older women are “slaves to much wine” (v3). Paul doesn’t say she can’t enjoy a glass of Chardonnay. He is saying that she must not abuse it. A godly woman shouldn’t be under the control of alcohol or any other substances. That includes “momma’s little helper.” Again, this is not just an issue for the older women in the audience. It takes some nimble scriptural gymnastics to say God’s Word prohibits alcohol. It simply tells believers to only worship at the throne of our heavenly King, not the liquor cabinet.

After these godly older women put a cork in both the gossip and the bottle, “they are to teach what is good” (v3). This is actually just one long word (Gr. kalodidaskalos). It literally means “good things teachers.” Paul gives more specific examples in the following verse. Basically, these ladies are to do two things. One on hand, they should be examples. They should model the behavior for others, especially the younger ladies in their lives. On the other hand, they should be actively teaching others. Just as Paul had younger guys like Timothy and Titus in his life, an older woman who follows Jesus should actively pursue similar intentional relationships. Instead of creating more cougars, these ladies are making them an endangered species.

The Gospel of Jesus has the power to declaw the cougar, not just on Crete but all around the world. Let's make them an endangered species.

Drunk & Violent

“For an overseer, as God’s steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain” (v7).

According to the great philosopher and theologian Homer Simpson, you can always count on Lee Marvin. “Wait, wait! Here comes Lee Marvin! He’s always drunk and violent!” While the late actor cashed a career of checks playing liquored up brawlers, the Apostle Paul makes it clear that none of Marvin’s characters would qualify as an elder in the local church. Being an addict or ready to throw down are immediate red flags that you need to get help, not provide spiritual leadership. 

Paul has left his go-to guy Titus on Crete. The grace of Jesus has just rolled over this Mediterranean island like a spiritual tsunami. God has deployed the apostle elsewhere, probably the Greek seaport of Nicopolis (Titus 3:12). To wrap things up, he gives the assignment to his trusted righthand man Titus. He leaves the Big T with a three point objective. Fill the leadership vacuum in local churches by appointing elders (Titus 1:5). Shut down the message of a team of false teachers (Titus 1:10-11). Establish a self-sustaining and replicating process of teaching and discipleship (Titus 2:1-10). Don’t worry about a worship team. Setting up a nursery and children’s ministry aren’t at the top of the list. What are the priorities? Spiritual leadership, correcting false teachers, and sustainable disciple-making. I might be wrong, but these might be the front burner issues for anyone planting a new church.

When it comes to appointing elders, Paul gives Titus a list of qualities, “must haves” and “must NOT haves” (Titus 1:6-9). They should be men of integrity with no hint of scandal. They must be faithful husbands, faithful fathers, and faithful followers of Jesus. They need to always remember that while they watch over the spiritual welfare of believers, they only have their authority because they are under the authority of Christ. Then the apostle turns to the red flags. “He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain” (v7). Is he a self-absorbed hot head? If so, that resume immediately goes in the round file. Does the dude have a addiction issues? Is he looking for a fight? Yeah, these are warning lights of disqualification as well. Jesus isn’t looking for leaders who are drunk and violent. This is His church, not a biker bar.

When describing the “drunkard” (v7), Paul uses the Greek term paroinos. It’s a compound word that literally means “beside (para-) wine (-oinos). Is this somebody that always has an open bottle of wine next to them? But he’s talking about so much more than a bottle of Merlot or Chardonnay. This is someone addicted to alcohol, someone who habitually drinks too much, or someone who drinks to get drunk. Don’t limit this to simply drinking alcohol to excess. Anyone with any sort of physical addiction is unfit for leadership. An elder must be ready to follow Jesus when making tough decisions. He can’t be preoccupied with searching for his next hit, next high, or next hangover. The apostle went on to tell his Ephesian friends not to let mind-altering substances dominate your life. “Do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit” (Eph 5:18). The big point here is whatever fills you, controls you. 

So is Paul telling Titus that spiritual leaders can’t drink alcohol? I think that’s a bit of a stretch. Jesus Himself enjoyed enjoyed a glass of good wine. Shoot, His very first miracle was to keep the wedding reception going in Bethany when the wine ran out (Jn 2:1-11). He used wine to symbolize His shed blood at the Last Supper (Mt 26:27-29). He even said that He looks forward to that great day when we can all enjoy a glass of wine together at the Wedding Supper of the Lamb! What was Paul’s take on alcohol? He instructed his buddy Timothy that having a glass of wine for health reasons (1Tim 5:23). Tim just happened to be a pastor in Ephesus at the time. So it’s really a slippery slope to try and use Scripture to ban elders from taking a drink of alcohol. But let’s be clear here. VERY clear. Any person should be vigilant in avoiding anything that can steal the place of priority that Jesus must have in our lives. As our Lord, Christ is our boss. Not a bottle. Remember, whatever fills you, controls you. 

It’s not surprise that the very next leadership disqualifier Paul lists is being “violent” (v7). They call alcohol “liquid courage” for a reason. Too many times, folks under the influence are looking for a fight. Yeah, this pretty much eliminates any of Lee Marvin’s characters from sitting on the elder board. But this is more than just being a drunken brawler. A closer look at the original language reveals the Greek word plektes. This literally describes a striker, hitter, puncher, or bruiser. Somebody who’s a bully has no place as a leader in Jesus’ church. Believers shouldn’t have to worry that their pastor or leaders might punch them in the face. Paul is also warning spiritual leaders to stop looking for a fight. There is no spiritual gift of aggravation or confrontation. There are plenty of opportunities for that without prowling for a fight. Our leaders should be tough as nails. But they shouldn’t skate around the ice like a hockey goon looking for anyone willing to drop the gloves. 

When it comes to spiritual leaders, you can’t be drunk and violent. Sorry, Lee Marvin.

Under the Influence

And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit (Eph 5:18).

Are you under the influence?  Let me rephrase that.  We’re ALL under the influence of something or someone.  What controls you?  What drives you?  Paul tells us that we should avoid any sort of activity that fogs our brain and dulls our senses.  Instead we’re to load ourselves up on the Spirit of God.  “And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit” (v18).  See, here’s the deal.  Whatever fills you, controls you.  What some folks called “controlled substances” are actually controlling substances.  We’re not just talking about booze.  It’s anything that steals the wheel of command of your life.  Pills.  Drugs.  Weed.  Food.  Sex.  If we’re to be under the influence of anything, let’s make it the Holy Spirit.  

Are you under the influence?  Are you under His influence?

Paul knows all about life in Ephesus.  He knows the impact that alcohol has on folks who live there.  He spent three incredible years there telling everyone about Jesus (Acts 20:31).  Dr. Luke spends an entire chapter of his sequel telling us all about it (Acts 19).  As a key seaport, there’s no doubt that hooch was a big part of daily life in the city.  Ephesus was also the home to a huge temple to the Greek god Artemis.  Worship at the temple was nothing more than a drunken “Eyes Wide Shut” party.  So-called “worshipers” would get liquored up and have sex with the temple hookers.  That’s why local merchants blew their stacks when Paul and his crew started ruining business associated with temple worship by spreading the Good News.  Ephesians were coming under the control of God’s Spirit instead of the booze of pagan idols.  

The apostle continues to describe what life looks like for those who’ve been saved by God’s grace.  What it looks like to “be imitators of God” (Eph 5:1).  What it looks like to “walk in love” like Jesus (Eph 5:2).  What it looks like to “walk as children of light” (Eph 5:8).  What it looks like to “understand what the will of the Lord is” (Eph 5:17).  One thing that it DOESN’T look like is to get hammered.  “Do not get drunk with wine” (v18).  The Greek verb here is methusko.  It means to become intoxicated and inebriated, drink or consume anything with no limits.  It’s being unrestrained in any activity, no just drugs and alcohol.  When Jesus cranks up the wedding reception by turning water into fine wine, the host is blown away.  The host knows that after people have “drunk freely (Gr. methusko)” and gotten toasted, folks typically bust out the cheap wine (Jn 2:10).  Christ warns against losing hope in His return and becoming a mean drunk, physically abusing the people who work for you (Lk 12:45).  Paul uses this same word when he cautions the Thessalonians against getting wasted, passing out and missing Christ’s big return (1Th 5:7).  Paul knows that when I hammered, I give up control.  Remember, whatever fills me, controls me.  If I want to be under the control of anything, it should be Jesus and His Spirit.

Are you under the influence?  Are you under His influence?

The Bible is loaded (pun VERY much intended) with warnings against getting drunk (Prov 23:20-21, 29-35; 31:4-5; Is 5:11-12; 28:7-8; 1Cor 5:11; 1Pet 4:3).  We don’t read too far into Genesis before we find the first person getting completely trashed.  Noah drank himself stupid and passed out buck nekkid (Gen 9:21).  Why do you think they call it “getting wasted?”  It’s a complete waste of time.

Let’s be clear about something.  It’s very tough to make a scriptural case against complete drinking alcohol.  Wine is a part of daily life in both the Old and New Testaments.  As a matter of fact, Jesus’ very first miracle was to keep the party going in Cana with more wine (Jn 2:1-11).  Wine is a central piece of the Lord’s Supper.  But God is VERY clear that wine and alcohol must be used in moderation.  It must not take control of our lives.  It’s clear that the sovereign God of the universe knows the strength and damage done by addiction.  The consumption of alcohol is a personal choice with the very important input of the Holy Spirit.  You may realize that you cannot control how much you drink.  If so, the Spirit will lead you to stay away from it.  It’s all about influence.  It’s all about control.  

Are you under the influence?  Are you under His influence?

Paul warns us that a life fueled by alcohol leads to “debauchery” (v18).  The word asotia describes reckless living, rampant immorality and pursuing life with no moral or ethical boundaries.  This is complete lack of concern about the consequences of any action.  It’s very interesting to understand that the Greek term is actually the very opposite of being saved and made whole.  Elders must not live a life out of control (Titus 1:6).  To quote the great philosopher and theologian Zach Galifinakis, “You better check yourself before you wreck yourself.”  When I give up control of my life to mind-altering substances, I lose my boundaries.  What fills me, controls me.  It’s no coincidence that the Apostle Pete talks about how getting liquored up inevitably leads to reckless living.  He says followers of Jesus should avoid “drunkenness (Gr. methusko)” and the “debauchery (Gr. asotia)” which mark the lives of unbelievers (1Pet 4:3-4).

Instead we’re to be “filled with the Spirit” (v18).  We’re to be controlled by His Spirit.  We’re to be under His influence.  Every follower of Jesus receives His Holy Spirit when we trust in Him (1Cor 12:13).  That only happens once (Eph 4:5).  But there are times when we set aside our own wants and desires and God can fill us with more of Himself.  Think of it as topping off the tank.  The Bible is filled with Spirit-filled people.  Old Testament prophets.  New Testament believers.  Jesus Himself is the ultimate example of being filled by the Spirit.  John the Dunker probably said it best.  “He must increase, but I must decrease” (Jn 3:30).  John knew Whose control he should be under.  He wanted to be completely under the influence.

Are you under the influence?  Are you under His influence?