ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
May 6, 2026
After work the other day, on my drive home, I was listening to the 70s station on the radio. The song, “Signs,” came on the radio by Five Man Electrical Band. Without looking it up, I could not remember the name of the band, but as I was listening, I realized that I had not been paying attention to the words. There’s a line that caught my attention…
If God was here, he’d tell you to your face
‘Man, you’re some kind of sinner’
Now I will acknowledge that this will sound a bit judgmental, yet when scripture tells not to judge, it is directed mostly toward those outside of church. Notice how the Apostle Paul was very direct in his judgment of folks in the churches, especially when they were not demonstrating the Fruit of the Spirit — love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). People can have some good disagreements on the nature of the Trinity or how the Holy Spirit works through prayer, but when folks take the name of Jesus and their actions absolutely trample the Fruit of the Spirit, then maybe they should be ready for God to make an appearance and announce, “Man (or woman), you’re some kind of sinner.”
Holy God, Voice of Healing, I know I’ve got some work to do if my life is going to more fully produce the fruit of a faithful follower. Yet as I continue to grow, help me to discern so that I may provide clarity in a world where too many are confused about whether Jesus was full of love or hate; violent or gentle. It seems pretty straightforward, yet hateful and threatening rhetoric is finding its way into the pulpits and churches in this country. Lord, have mercy! Amen.
