Colossians 3:5 speaks of an “inordinate affection”.
Exodus 20:3 “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.”
Romans 12:3 “For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.”
II Timothy 3:5 “Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.”
Sometimes when we read forthright pointed scriptures, and meditate on them from the black and white perspective of the “Law”, we close our mind. Perhaps this is almost a part of our natural reaction, like an instinctive reflex. Similar to our reaction when we step on a sharp rock while walking barefoot on a summer day. However, when we view these same “tough” verses through the lens of joyful Christian servitude, we are impressed with their helpfulness in maintaining the joy.
Paul in Ephesians 4:29 – 32 writes “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.”
One of several definitions of inordinate is “not within proper or reasonable limits; immoderate; excessive”. (Dictionary.com)
When we go off on a “me first” tangent, we quickly become obnoxious. When we take only specific parts of God’s word and use them to make a point, we make the practice of living a Christian Life unattractive to those looking on.
The media very quickly applies the name “Christian” to describe any person who uses any word even hinting at Christianity in their self-promoting declaration. We cannot expect the world to recognize the false prophets who are using Christ’s name in a vain attempt at securing authority. This is clearly condemned in the Bible. In both the gospels and the Old Testament, instruction is given, to “from such turn away”.
It makes no difference if our inordinate affection leans toward conservative or liberal pursuits. Either way it does not promote or exemplify Christian Love.
