In Colossians 3:5, the apostle Paul told the Christians there to “Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire and covetousness, which is idolatry.” The reason for this admonition? “Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience…” (vs. 6).
The phrase “members which are on the earth” is an interesting one. These things “members” are aspects of a person that precludes him from serving God acceptably. Specifically, while these things could be considered sinful themselves, they are also the attitudes and characteristics that lead a person to sinful actions. These “members” are characteristic of a lustful, lascivious, hateful and greedy person. So, Christians should “put them to death.”
The KJV of the Bible renders the phrase “put them to death” with one word, “mortify.” The term as it is used in the English today has a slightly different meaning: to humiliate or to cause shame. The Greek word (nekró?) relates more to etymology of the English word (French, to put to death) than it does to modern usage. In other words, when the translators changed the word “mortify” to “put them to death” the change more accurately describes Paul’s intention to us.
We are not merely to weaken or shame these members, we are to rid ourselves of them completely! They are to be killed. A similar statement is made by Paul in Galatians 5:24-25, “And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” The existence of fleshly members is contrary to our spiritual desires to serve Jesus. You can’t be a little bit worldly, or dabble with worldliness and please God. Demas tried it, but we are told he forsook Paul, “having loved the present world” (2 Timothy 4:10). James wrote in James 4:4, “Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.” Or, as John wrote in 1 John 2:15-16, “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world.”
Paul doesn’t stop there, telling his brethren not to lie, and to put off, “anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth” (3:8). Simply put, it is unacceptable for a true Christian to compromise righteousness. The prevalent idea that a little worldliness will do no harm is not a scriptural concept! That is what our society believes. The present view: It’s OK to be a “little religious”, but don’t go overboard. This simply does not accord with God. Be holy!
