Why the New Testament calls “Party Spirit” a Sin

Last updated on: December 31, 2014 at 2:30 pm by Mark Shea

Why the New Testament calls “Party Spirit” a Sin 2014-12-31T14:30:03-07:00 Mark Shea

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

A (conservative) reader writes:

My wife just looked up at me from the morning paper and said, “I hate conservatives, and I don’t want to be associated with them.”

This is surprising. She is very conservative, morally and otherwise. “What are you talking about?” I asked.

“Michelle Bachmann is jumping all over Michelle Obama for trying to encourage mothers to breastfeed,” she said. “Honestly, these people. What is wrong with them?”

Said the breastfeeding, La Leche League enthusiast.

The problem with party spirit, like all sin, is that it makes you stupid. You forget that the goal is the common good and start thinking that the goal is winning and defeating the Other Party. You ignore and deny what people in the Other Party say (even if it’s “Breastfeeding is good” or “Twice two is four”) because your top priority stops being “What is good? What is true?” and becomes increasingly, “How can I shout down my opponents in the other party?”

Now the works of the flesh are plain: fornication, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, anger, selfishness, dissension, party spirit, envy, drunkenness, carousing, and the like. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. (Galatians 5:19-25)

Uncategorized

Previous Post

February 24, 2011

Joe Carter at First Things writes...

Next Post

February 24, 2011 Victor Lams Bait

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Uncategorized

Select a Month May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 September 2006 June 2006 July 2005 April 2005 May 2002 April 2002 0000

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz