(Further reflections on “Ethos”—Sunday 7-Mar-2021)
In the Bible, the English word "habit or custom" (e.g. Hebrews 10:25; Acts 25:16) is translated from the Greek word, "ethos" which means "a pattern of behavior more or less fixed by tradition and generally sanctioned by the society." Borrowing from the Greek word, modern dictionaries put it in this way, “the distinguishing character, sentiment, moral nature, or guiding beliefs of a person, group, or institution” or “the distinctive spirit of a culture or an era.” As you can see there are some overlapping meanings, but the gist of the word is this. Ethos is a belief embedded in daily activities which reinforces the belief. This is why it is quite hard to change a habit. It is because it is hard to change a belief. Studies show, practically speaking, that people need 30-45 days to build a new habit and ditch the old one. In other words, our habit forms our belief and our belief instructs our habit. These two are intertwined. For example, people don’t drink enough water because they don’t have a habit to do so due to many conscious and unconscious reasons. This habit overtime morphed their belief into thinking, “It’s alright not to drink sufficient water and I’m still okay. And since the belief has been trained into thinking like that, the “ethos” conduct the daily/weekly/yearly activities which become a lifestyle. Thus, changing a lifestyle requires changing a belief. Now you know when you heard someone said, “It’s challenging to wake up early to attend Sunday service” or “I won’t be able to come because I have this/that, i.e. sports events, shopping tour, classes, etc. (we’re not talking about emergency cases), you somewhat know it is not their “ethos” to put Sunday as non-negotiable day of worship (and rest in) the Lord with the Body of Christ . If people do not believe Sunday is critical in their spiritual formation (not just personal but communal life), i.e. building an intimate relationship with God, having a Christlike character, living a holy life, bearing the fruit of the Holy Spirit (cf. Galatians 5:22-23), establishing a stronger spiritual “immune system” to resist temptations/sins, etc., then a habit of a non-negotiable Sunday is not there, for it is an option. Thus, decision about Sunday will be no longer made based on what God’s word said but by one’s own feelings/thoughts/habits or/and social norms (sanctioned by society). This belief overtime formed “die-hard” habits which in turn shaped the belief.
God’s word in Hebrews (10:24-25) reminded the church, “…let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit [ethos] of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day [Jesus’ coming back] drawing near.” This means, there were and still are some whose ‘ethos’ is ’neglecting to meet together’. This means some people have come to believe that not meeting on Sunday or/and weekday small group gathering is okay and naturally their ‘ethos’ (habit/custom) has confirmed it. The immediate context in Hebrews (10:19-26) seemed to suggest that those whose ‘ethos’ is ‘neglecting to meet together’ are those who, for whatever reasons, might not have confidence (10:19) in the blood of Jesus maybe because they still believed in the Old Testament ‘custom’ which is the blood of the animal sacrifice. Thus, their guilty conscience had prevented them from drawing near to God with a true heart in full assurance of faith (10:22), because perhaps they still believed that there is the temple curtain which separated them (non-priestly people) from entering the Holy of Holies (God’s holy presence). It is like today, when someone claims to be a Christian but do not have confidence to come on Sunday to worship Jesus with His Body—the church, because they feel guilty and shameful about their sins on Saturday (or during the week). Though they try hard to attend church and to be good a Christian, their ‘ethos’ possibly is still sticking with a belief that “I have to do more good deeds to outdo my bad deeds or sins.” Hence, their habit morphs their belief in making ‘smart excuses’ for not attending Sunday and weekday gathering. Instead of heeding God’s word in Hebrews 10:24-25, some do the opposite, not finding a way to stir up one another to love and good works, neglecting to meet together, and not encouraging one other to meet, but all the more isolating themselves (using the ‘pandemic-card’) as they don’t believe the Day (Jesus’ returning) is drawing near! This is a sad reality. But it is hopeful because it is only some. So do make sure you are not that ‘some’.
May the faith we have in Jesus shape our ‘ethos’ of committing and not neglecting to be a functional member of the Body of Christ on Sunday and during weekdays. Amen.
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Pastor Lap
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