Washington Post, Sunday, December 10, 1006 “And to All a Raucous, Rollicking Good Night” by Anita Huslin

The Washington Post reported on a ladies-only “Christmas Pageant” held by Smith Island United Methodist Church in Ewell, Maryland. Apparently this has been an annual event at this church for upward of 40 years now. The Post describes the general idea of the event like this: “Here, roughly, is the program: throw together some costumes, whip up a feast and gather a hundred of your friends to share an evening of holiday laughs and debauchery” and the Post comments that it is a “welcome release from the everyday discipline of work and propriety.” D4

“Debuchery” and “a release from propriety” certainly seem like an appropriate way for a gathering of the saints to commemorate the birth of their Savior who was born in the flesh so that He might die a horrible death in order to save them from a life of debauchery and usher them into a life of propriety eh?

The festivities this year included humor that was “broad and physical, with ample attention to sight gags involving bottoms and bosoms, one woman’s adorned with tinsel for an impromptu dance routine…subtle double-entendres are in short supply; naughtiness is not. The Christmas dream sequence is as racy and ribald as after-hours cable. Sometimes just the suggestion of the word or a phrase they might smack their children for using brings down the house; anything not uttered in polite company- ‘Viagra!’ – seems funny enough.”

Well, at least there was a benediction…

“Pastor Rick, the only man ever permitted to witness at least part of the ladies’ dinner, gives a benediction, poses for a few pictures, and then rushes out with a wave after a woman in a sparkling green top sits on his lap and croons ‘Santa Baby.”‘

What a disgrace. One can only wonder what this Pastor said or prayed as a fitting benediction for that evening.

Okay- lets consider 1) What does the Bible say about this? 2) What would Wesley say about this?

Perhaps the most fitting passage is Ephesians 5:3-21

3 But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. 4 Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. 5 For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. 7 Therefore do not become partners with them; 8 for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light 9 (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), 10 and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. 11 Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. 13 But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, 14 for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, 15 Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, 19 addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, 20 giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,

21 submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.

In a world where Christians work harder at trying to prove that they are as hip and cool as the world than they do at trying to please their God, this passage seems almost out of touch. It is amazing how quick many Christans are to try and claim that this passage doesn’t say what it obviously does. And it is amazing how defensive Christians get about their own entertainment choices when confronted with it.

In this passage Paul is very clear about what is, and what is not, acceptable in Christian behavior.

In verse 5 he says that not only should Christians not be engaging in sexual immorality, all impurity and covetousness, but these things should not even be named among Christians.

Why?

Because it is not fitting for those who are saints to do so. It should bring great shame to a Christian to speak of these things (verse 12), not laughter on his/her or anybody else’s part. Sexual immorality and covetousness are sins which are condemned by God and which many will be judged for in the last day before they are cast into hell. These are sins for which Christ was crucified in our stead as believers. How can we speak of lightly, let alone laugh, at that which Jesus died for in order to free us from?

On the contrary, Paul later tells us that “Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish” (verses 24-27).

How can this sanctified, holy, spotless bride laugh at the fornicators who refuse to acknowledge her husband as worthy of worship? How can she imitate them as if they had something worthwhile that she lacked?

In 1 Corinthians 6, after listing “the sexually immoral” and “adulterers” among those who will not inherit the kingdom of God, Paul says “and such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of the God” (vs. 11). He then comments: “The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. And God raised the Lord and will also raise us up by His power. Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? Never! Or do you not know that he who is joined to a prostitute becomes one body with her? For, as it is written, ‘The two will become one flesh.’ But he who is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with him. Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexual immoral person sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God?” (vss. 13-19).

“I realize that adultery is wrong, but what is so wrong with catching an Austin Powers movie with my friends?”

Don’t you get it?

Adultery and fornication is so detestable, is such an act of rebellion against God and is so against everything God intends for people to be, that it is inconceivable that it should, or could, be the source of humor among believers. Especially a gathering of believers in the Lord’s house as a part of a celebration of the birth of the Son!

Unbelievable.

But in some ways it is believable, because this is not something we often talk about. We need to teach one another and hold one another accountable on this.

We need to remind each other that someone committing adultery or engaging in fornication is not funny. It is tragic.

These are the activities of those who are lost and who are without hope.

Here we are, the bride of Christ. United in marriage to the One, all satisfying Spouse, who willingly gave His life for us and will ever be true to us and we look on at the world and instead of saying to them- “Come, receive what I have received, drink from the fountain of living water and never thirst again!” We say- “Your life seems so fun-filled and entertaining!” By implication we are saying “Your life is worthy of a certain amount of envy on my part.”

We need to realize that playing the harlot is not funny, but it is immitating one who leads many to their spiritual deaths- read Proverbs and make a note of all the warnings to avoid the seductress.

And yet the women of Smith Island Methodist Church don’t mind dressing as the seductress, mimicking the way in which she leads many to their eternal damnation.

If Wesley were alive today and were to walk into this church which claims to follow his “Methods” of spiritual discipline, what would he say?

Well, to the Pastor of the church, he might quote a portion from his sermon on Matthew 5:17-20. In it he describes the type of pastors who destroy their own churches. One type consists of:

“the good-natured, good sort of men: who live an easy, harmless life, neither troubling themselves with outward sin, nor with inward holiness; men who are remarkable neither one way nor the other, neither for religion nor irreligion who are very regular both in public and private, but do not pretend to be any stricter than their neighbours. A Minister of this kind breaks not one, or a few only, of the least commandments of God; but all the great and weighty branches of his law which relate to the power of godliness, and all that require us to “pass the time of our sojourning in fear,” to “work out our salvation with fear and trembling;” to have our “loins always girt and our lights burning,” to “strive,” or agonize, “to enter in at the strait gate.” And he teaches men so, by the whole form of his life, and the general tenor of his preaching, which uniformly tends to soothe those in their pleasing dream who imagine themselves Christians and are not; to persuade all who attend upon his ministry to sleep on and take their rest. No marvel, therefore, if both he and they that follow him wake together in everlasting burnings.”

As for Ephesians 5, here are Wesley’s Notes- thanks to Christian Classics Ethereal Library– check it out!

3. But let not any impure love be even named or heard of among you – Keep at the utmost distance from it, as becometh saints.

4. Nor foolish talking – Tittle tattle, talking of nothing, the weather, fashions, meat and drink. Or jesting – The word properly means, wittiness, facetiousness, esteemed by the heathens an half- virtue. But how frequently even this quenches the Spirit, those who are tender of conscience know. Which are not convenient – For a Christian; as neither increasing his faith nor holiness.

6. Because of these things – As innocent as the heathens esteem them, and as those dealers in vain words would persuade you to think them.

8. Ye were once darkness – Total blindness and ignorance. Walk as children of light – Suitably to your present knowledge.

9. The fruit of the light – Opposite to ” the unfruitful works of darkness,” chap. iv, 11. Is in – That is, consists in. Goodness and righteousness and truth – Opposite to the sins spoken of, chap. iv, 25,&c.

11. Reprove them – To avoid them is not enough.

12. In secret – As flying the light.

13. But all things which are reproved, are thereby dragged out into the light, and made manifest – Shown in their proper colours, by the light. For whatsoever doth make manifest is light – That is, for nothing but light, yea, light from heaven, can make anything manifest.

14. Wherefore he – God. Saith – In the general tenor of his word, to all who are still in darkness. Awake thou that steepest – In ignorance of God and thyself; in stupid insensibility. And arise from the dead – From the death of sin. And Christ shall give thee light – Knowledge, holiness, happiness.

15. Circumspectly – Exactly, with the utmost accuracy, getting to the highest pitch of every point of holiness. Not as fools – Who think not where they are going, or do not make the best of their way.

16. With all possible care redeeming the time – Saving all you can for the best purposes; buying every possible moment out of the hands of sin and Satan; out of the hands of sloth, ease, pleasure, worldly business; the more diligently, because the present are evil days, days of the grossest ignorance, immorality, and profaneness.

17. What the will of the Lord is – In every time, place, and circumstance.

18. Wherein is excess – That is, which leads to debauchery of every kind. But be ye filled with the Spirit – In all his graces, who gives a more noble pleasure than wine can do.

19. Speaking to each other – By the Spirit. In the Psalms – Of David. And hymns – Of praise. And spiritual songs – On any divine subject. By there being no inspired songs, peculiarly adapted to the Christian dispensation, as there were to the Jewish, it is evident that the promise of the Holy Ghost to believers, in the last days, was by his larger effusion to supply the lack of it. Singing with your hearts – As well as your voice. To the Lord – Jesus, who searcheth the heart.

20. Giving thanks – At all times and places. And for all things – Prosperous or adverse, since all work together for good. In the name of, or through, our Lord Jesus Christ – By whom we receive all good things.