Not even named

But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. – Ephesians 5.3-4

There are certain things that just don't fit in with the Christian life.  And yet some of these things seem to be almost acceptable.

I hope most of us don't have problems with fornication and uncleanness and filthiness. Those thing are obvious and still rightfully looked down on as sin in the church. 

But what about?

Covetousness

Foolish talking

Course jesting

Let's pin it down a little bit further, though all of these things can be troublesome an can't be ignored. We just don't have the space to go down the whole list so I am going to focus on two - foolish talking and course jesting.

Exactly what are those things?

Foolish talking is speech which wasteful and empty and vain and non-edifying.

Course jesting is the kind of mind that is 'easily turned' to make something innocent into something that is corrupt or impure.

This is the kind of thing that I think even the godliest Christian can battle.  We all know how it goes. We avoid 'dirty' talk and filth, but we get in those conversations that are just slightly off colour and though we may not cross over the line on purpose we get as close to the line as we can and we might even get bumped or drawn across the line. At the time it all seems like a little innocent fun and we might even be a little embarrassed or enjoy the embarrassment of someone else.

Yes, I know, I can do this as quickly as anyone else.

But that's not how we are supposed to walk.

This kind of stuff shouldn't even be mentioned among us. That is the way the world acts. That is not how we act. It’s far better to stay as far away from that line as possible.

It really isn't good enough just be 'not as bad as' the world. There is a higher standard for God's people. There are things that not only should not be a part of lives, but there are things that should not even been named among us.

It’s time we stop dabbling with the ways of the world – even in these subtle areas.