August 24, 2003
Ephesians 6:10-20; John 6:56-69
In a world in which so much depends on meeting physical needs of food and shelter, it is not easy to recognize the importance of spiritual nurture. When one is extremely hungry not much else counts except food and water. If one is freezing from the cold or smothering from the heat, not much else counts until there is shelter and physical recovery. It is for this reason that Jesus is quoted as saying, "This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?" His listeners were prone to take what he was saying about being the bread and water of life literally. They were failing to get his point that he was willing to literally give up his physical life in an effort to help them understand the importance spiritual values. Without spiritual values, physical life becomes meaningless and empty. Could it be that a major cause of the present day threats of drug abuse and terrorism has its roots in an inadeqate emphasis on spiritual nurture and values?
Paul does an effective job of emphasizing to the Ephesian church how difficult it is to acquire spiritual health with the resultant values, while not neglecting the physical aspects of life. He admonishes these young Christians to "be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might". In other words he is saying that spiritual health and strength does not just happen, but that its attainment requires conscious and persistent effort. In a world which was believed to be controlled by spirits, some of which were evil, Paul admonishes them to put on the whole armor of God that they might stand against the "wiles of the devil." He said that inasmuch as they were not contending against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, powers and spiritual rulers of wickedness in heavenly places, those who would follow Jesus must gird their loins with truth, put on the breastplate of righteousness, place the sandals of the gospel of peace on their feet, and take the shield of faith in order to quench the darts of the evil one. In other words, a healthy spirit comes about as a result of working at it.
In our contemporary world we have learned the same about the body and the mind. Health does not just happen in any area. Progress in learning has brought us to the point where we emphasize the health of the "whole", i.e. body, mind, and spirit, as contributing to the health of each.
Neither Jesus nor Paul shared wisdom about a healthful diet, a good continuing education or emotional health. They did share important wisdom concerning spiritual health. Some of their admonishment, however, needs an interpretation that enables it to fit into our lives in the world as we experience and understand it.