Ephesians 5:10 – The Judgmental Christian

Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.
Ephesians 5:10

It’s no coincidence that after declaring the nature of the fruit of the Spirit, Paul now directs the reader to prove what is acceptable. The word for ‘proving‘ can also be translated as ‘testing‘. In the Greek word, it is closely linked to the idea of metals, and specifically, currency. It comes from a word that means ‘acceptable’, particularly of money (thayer’s). It brings to mind the imagery seen in movies were one bites the coin to test whether it’s the real thing or not.

The same imagery can be imagined of fruit, for sometimes the fruit can appear pleasant on the outside, but be rotten inside, sour, tasteless, or otherwise bad. The end application is the same. Looks can be deceiving. To determine whether something is genuine will require testing. By testing, Paul does not meaning a cursory glance, but a vigorous examination. The biting into a coin is not a glance – neither should the testing a Christian applies to the things he participates in.

What then is the testing focused on? What is acceptable. To whom? Unto the Lord. When testing the coin, the goal is to see if it reflects the qualities of the metal it is purported to be. When testing the fruit, the goal is to see if the fruit reflects the qualities that are desired by the one who planted and tended the tree. Perhaps fruit makes the best analogy here, as it was used in the previous verse. What makes fruit good is determined not by the tree itself but by the one who partakes of the fruit. Likeso, what is acceptable is not something determined by the christian, but by his Lord.

In the following verse, Paul will write: And (connecting it with this verse) have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness. We can therefore discern that what we are testing to be acceptable to the Lord are WORKS. As at the very start of the chapter till now, Paul has been listing descriptions and behaviors that are unacceptable and acceptable. These are there to aid in the identification of what is acceptable and not acceptable.

Is it good? Is it righteous? Is it true? (verse 9) These are the hallmarks of things acceptable to God. Is it unclean? filthy? belonging to fornicators, idolators, and the like? (verses 3,4,5) These are the hallmarks of things not acceptable to God.

What something truly is may not be readily apparent, thus is the call: Test what is acceptable to God. Prod it. Poke it. Dissect it. Don’t simply take the face value, but see if it checks the marks or not.

The word used for acceptable here is also translated as ‘fully agreeable’ (Strongs). The standard of the works with which a saint wants to exhibit is that of FULLY agreeable. It’s the degree of excellence which has no more to add. A good tree puts forth good fruit. Not passable fruit.

There is a place for being a ‘judgmental’ Christian. Dare we say, it is essential that the Christian be judgmental if they wish to be saints.

Prove what is acceptable. That is the call to each and every one who is a saint if they wish to remain so. It’s a call that puts the responsibility of your actions on your shoulders. You prove what is acceptable. Not the ministry, your family, the government, the church, or anybody else. You need to prove what is acceptable.