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May 14, 2025 06:00am

The Reformation of ETB

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The sound of glass shattering. A high-pitched cackle of laughter filling the street. And then the familiar voice, with a backwoods, hillbilly drawl, rang out:

“You ain’t seen the last of Ernest T. Bass!”

In the classic sitcom Andy Griffith, Ernest T. Bass was a character who made his appearance periodically. He would always come down the mountain into town, and there was clear evidence of his arrival due to the broken windows in town. That seemed to be the way he communicated best.

In one episode, Ernest has a desire to find himself a wife. He believes the answer is just to take whomever he pleases. However, Andy and Barney step in and decide to “reform” Ernest so he can attend a local gathering.

The work begins.

They cleaned him up. They taught him manners—how to speak properly and politely, and how to interact in social gatherings.

The day arrived. It was time to release Ernest. All their hard work would be proven that evening. Although with some apprehension, the two men believed Ernest was ready to go.

“How do you do, Mrs. Wylie.”

Ernest had practiced it a million times. And now, for the first time, he was able to put it to use. Barney and Andy watched as he interacted, used his manners, and it seemed things were going well.

With a slight sigh of relief, they allowed him some space to enjoy the evening.

But without supervision, the old Ernest began to rear its ugly head. When something didn’t go as he liked, he reverted to his old tactics. It was hard for Ernest to let go of that heavy mountain influence. And pretty soon, Andy and Barney had to step in.

1 Corinthians 1:1–3

“Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes,
2 To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be His holy people, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ—their Lord and ours:
3 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”

Corinth.

A major city on the coast of the Aegean Sea. It was a major city for trade, being on the coast, and with that came great diversity and religions.

The church had been planted. The people believed in Jesus, they committed their lives to following Him, they learned what it meant to be a believer. Paul was instrumental in showing them what it meant to be sanctified—or set apart—for Christ.

But without Paul there to supervise, their old ways started to rear their ugly heads. Division spread throughout the church over issues of pride, immorality, freedoms, worship, and roles within the church.

After receiving reports, Paul wrote a letter to the church in Corinth to address these issues and guide them back to their purpose—to be united in their faith, mission, and service to the Lord. He wanted to teach them how to live for Christ even in a corrupt society. Christ had changed them. It was time to put off the old life and take hold of the new.

It’s not easy, is it? Do you remember being a young Christian? Maybe you are now—not in age, but in the newness of your faith. The pressures of society and sin surround you. What you were once a part of seems to rear its ugly head, encouraging, tempting, drawing you away from Christ and toward sin. Worldly talk begins to desensitize you, and although you know something is wrong, you begin to say things like “it’s not that big of a deal,” “let people live their lives the way they choose,” “who am I to tell them what to do,” or “it’s okay as long as it’s not hurting anyone.”

But what does Christ say? What does God’s Word instruct us to do, how to live, and how to respond? It’s important for us to have someone continually pouring into us truth and wisdom. It’s vital to our Christian faith to seek the Lord daily through prayer and studying His Word so that we might grow, be strengthened to withstand the outside world, and reflect Christ.

Is change evident in you since you became a follower of Christ? Does it reflect the truth of God from His Word, or do you still walk, talk, and act like this world?

What does it mean to be a truly devoted follower of Christ? What does that look like? Let me show you. Go to follow.lifeword.org. Learn more about the real Jesus defined in Scripture. Be transformed by Him. Choose to join Him on His mission. Learn what it means to be led by the Holy Spirit instead of self.