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and you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world Ephesians 2:1-2

The Course – So, now we know that being dead is tied to a particular kind of activity.  Paul calls it “walking according to the course of this world.”  Of course, “walking” is a Hebrew idiom for behavior.  When I was dead, my actions demonstrated my true state.  Now that I have been redeemed, those former actions should no longer be part of my being alive.  That makes sense, doesn’t it?  The only problem is that we don’t have a very clear picture of those former actions.  We get all confused.  We think that Paul is only talking about moral behavior.  So, we concentrate of the drinking, dancing and smoking rules or the praying, participating and attending requirements.  We convert being alive into another set of dead men’s rules, and it’s all so mixed up that we actually debate among ourselves about the virtues of Christian behaviors.

Paul uses the word aion, meaning “age”.  He wants us to see the patterns of the age of human self-sufficiency, the age of the domination of sin.  We won’t be able to look at all the patterns of this world, but we can look at one of them – one that is so much a part of our worldview that we don’t even think about it.  Nevertheless, this one pattern has devastating effects on how we think, choose and act.  It’s as powerful as it is hidden.  Now is the time to uncover it.

It’s all about numbers.  The Greek view of reality is based on mathematics.  In other words, the Greeks believed that reality was ultimately reducible to mathematical description.  What is real is capable of being expressed numerically.  Anything that can’t be reduced to numbers just isn’t real.  Furthermore, numerical values determine the worth of everything.  Numerical values determine the order and structure of everything.  Just think about this for a minute (ah, “for a minute” is already a conversion to numerical value, isn’t it?).  You run your life by the clock.  Time is measured by the standard progression of numerical values.  Did you know that the mechanical clock wasn’t invented until the 1400’s?  How did people live before then?  It’s difficult for us to imagine a world without clocks.

You measure the worth of things, and yourself, in terms of numerical values.  If it costs more, it’s more valuable; or if you make more money, you are more valuable.  Really?  If Johnny gets an A, he is a “better” person than Tom who gets a D.  Why?  If my church has 10,000 members, it’s more successful than the church with 12 members.  Really?  Begin to observe how much of your life is governed by the metaphysical presupposition of numerical value and you will see how insidious this pattern of the world really is.  Think about all your behavior, value assessments and conceptions that are controlled by numerical expressions.  What have you given away to join forces with this Greek view?

Now ask yourself if this is the view of the Bible.  What does God count as valuable:  numbers or relationship?  What’s more important:  accomplishments or devotion?  What matters in biblical time:  work or rest?  For this last one, you might re-consider the fact that the beginning of a biblical day is the evening, when you rest.  These are just a few thoughts to help you see how subtle the course of this world really is.  Now, what will you do about it?

Topical Index: World