Today I preach in chapel at the seminary. I’ll be preaching out of Ephesians 4:1-6, and the topic of my sermon is how to avoid spiritual schizophrenia. “People with schizophrenia may have perceptions of reality that are strikingly different from the reality seen and shared by others around them. (link),” and many times they live in the new reality that they perceive to be true.
Many times, we don’t live according to the calling we have received. In Ephesians 4:1-6, Paul gives us four things that we should do to avoid living in an alternate reality.
As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope when you were called— one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
We are to act humble, gentle, patient, and tolerant. If we do these things in love and strive for unity, we will be living according to the calling that God has for us.
The interesting thing is that Paul had already been to Ephesus and the region surrounding that great city, and he had seen God move in a mighty way in their community. I believe that part of this letter was reminding them to get back to the things that had begun the revival. I think that He thought strongly enough about unity that He knew that without it, it would be very difficult to see a mighty work of God in the midst of their community.
