Rather Obvious

 Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Galatians 5:19-21

 

When I read this passage, I often skip to the list. The behaviors that are ‘no-goes” for the person wanting to be part of the Kingdom. However, it recently clicked to me that the passage starts with a rather important point. These behaviors are obviously wrong. The word translated either as “evident” or “manifest” originates in the term for shining. It’s akin to the modern phrase “there is a flashing red light” saying NO, BAD, DO NOT DO!

 Yet, how many of these behaviors are debated and justified? We try to make some form of them acceptable. We clean up the verbiage, we try to reduce them to socially acceptable levels and make them culturally correct.

 But they are not and it should be obvious.

  Years ago, I read some excellent advice;  “We try and talk ourselves into bad decisions and out of good ones”.  When it comes to sinful acts we try to talk ourselves into what should be glaringly obviously wrong.

 Don’t.