“Now the works of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, debauchery, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, anger, quarrels, dissensions, factions, envy, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these. I am warning you, as I warned you before: those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”
Galatians 5:19-21 NRSVue
Reflection:
I have heard so many sermons on this passage. Most of my life has been spent in Baptist churches, and no Baptist preacher can resist preaching on such a juicy list of sins.
This list has everything: sex, violence, drama, drugs, and greed. These are basically the key concepts in virtually every television show or movie we watch.
And what a great ending to preach on! “Those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.” And of course, everyone in the congregation needs to return next week to hear the contrasting, uplifting sermon on the following few verses about the Fruit of the Spirit.
I am always leery of how we in the Church spend so much time focusing on what we should avoid rather than what we should pursue. God is certainly a lot smarter than I am, and He gives us a rather juicy list here. Shouldn’t we then spend a reasonable amount of time exegeting this list? I do not doubt that there are entire sermons dedicated to the difference between porneia (sexual immorality) and akatharsia (impurity). I have heard a few such sermons.
I do not think, however, that I have ever heard a sermon focusing on phanera, which here is translated as “obvious.” I grew up with the King James Version, where it is translated as “manifest.” That sounds more impressive. “The works of the Flesh are manifest.” But it means the same thing. We rush through that clause, anxious to get to the juicy list of sins.
We have this exciting list of sins that make for good sermons. However, the Apostle Paul begins this list by stating that the ‘works of the flesh’ are OBVIOUS. I am not opposed to detailed Bible study, but perhaps when the author says, “Here is a list of really obviously wrong things to illustrate how obviously wrong the ‘works of the flesh’ are,” it might be okay to skim the list. Or perhaps, we should ponder “What makes this list so obvious?”
There are fifteen items in this list of sins, and nine words used to define the Fruit of the Spirit. That gives us 25 theological concepts to dig into… and with which to miss the point.
Paul is making a simple point. The ‘works of the flesh’ are all these ways in which we prioritize and make an idol of ourselves. This is not a list of fifteen unforgivable sins that will keep us out of heaven. It is a list of fifteen illustrations of ways we succumb to our pride and self-idolatry, and it is those things that come between us and God.
There is famously only one Fruit of the Spirit, and the nine terms (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control) listed are avenues through which other-centeredness, which is the Fruit of the Spirit, is manifested.
Paul says, the ‘work of the flesh’ is obvious. There are many ways we put ourselves first, and all those ways keep us from God.
A Quote to Consider:
“Simplicity is complexity resolved.”
-Constantine Brancusi
This is one of my favorite art-related quotes. As an artist, Brancusi’s strong, simple artistic forms resonate deeply with me.
This quote, though, is as accurate in life and faith as it is in art. We often become entangled in various complications in life. Life can be complex.
What I love about this quote is that it does not deny complexity but reminds us that when complexities are resolved, we find simplicity.
The other night, I watched a TV show where a character was on the witness stand. The lawyer went through a variety of situations and asked the character on the stand why, in each of the very different situations, he risked his well-being for the benefit of others. In each case, the character responded, “Because it was the right thing to do.”
I have seen Christians loudly proclaim their faith while they do terrible things to others. Often, they have complicated rationales to explain why it was okay, or even best, in their thinking, to do those awful things. The truth is, however, that if they had truly resolved the complex rationale of these ‘works of the flesh,’ they would have arrived at the simple truth that they should have done what was right, even if it was not in their own self-interest.
Paul provides us with a straightforward formula in today’s verses. When we center ourselves and our own self-interest by rationalizing ‘works of the flesh’, we do things that keep us from God. He essentially explains that when we focus on others, we live by the Spirit; we walk by the Spirit, we exhibit the Fruit of the Spirit.
This sounds remarkably similar to Christ’s admonition to love God and love our fellow humans. Living this out can be complex. But when we resolve that complexity, we live in the simplicity of God’s truth.
Prayer:
Lord,
Teach us to see what ought to be obvious and turn from the ways we place ourselves above You and others. Help us resolve life’s complexities through the simplicity of Your truth—loving You and walking by Your Spirit.
Amen.
Image: Pamela Reynoso
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