I came upon an interesting perspective in the New Interpreter's Bible. For reasons I
won't detail here, Andrew Lincoln assumes that the book of Colossians is deutero-Pauline.
Also, there was an earthquake sometime between 60 and 64 C.E., which destroyed nearby
Laodicea and Hierapolis, as well as Colossae. The first two cities were rebuilt much more
quickly than Colossae, and in fact, Colossae, a smaller city than the others, remained
uninhabited for quite some time after the quake.
Lincoln speculates that the letter of Colossians was actually written to the church in
Laodicea, during the time after Paul's death.
If Lincoln is correct, then the letter was received by folks who may have still been in
the process of cleaning up the rubble and hauling it away, dealing with bodies and
grieving families, and trying to rebuild a church in that traumatized population center.
That context would add meaning to some ideas in this week's pericope. How would people
respond to the statement that they have died and their life is hidden in Christ (v. 3)?
Their very life situation might illustrate that idea. The writer also urges them to
"Put to death" that list of things that are "earthly". Such people are
starting a new life in more ways than one!
I know it's speculation, but it's interesting, nonetheless, and it may put some of our
own life tragedies into context. MTSOfan
I like the comparison Paul makes here to the putting on clothes. I know that when i put
on my clothes i don't jump into them all at once its a process of putting one leg of my
pants on at a time...etc. And in the right order as well, I can't put my shoes on before i
put on my pants (A lesson my 4 year old has yet to master!) Along the same lines I love
the phrase "being renewed". It seems that we all too often want there to be a
lightning clap and a SHAZAM and we are brand new and changed, or we expect that of others
who find their way by one way or another into our church and a relationship with Christ.
We forget this lifelong process of sanctification God leads us on we truely become
followers of him.
Mark in SW WA
Because of our system for putting together Powerpoint presentations for contemporary
worship, I need to write my sermon now. This week, I'm repeating the contemporary
presentation to a group of college students. I'm calling the sermon, "What Do You
Wear to an Earthquake?" Like you, Mark, I'm using the image of taking off the old
clothes and putting on a new robe, as in baptism, but I'll stress that sometimes, people
get stuck in the middle. They've seemed to get rid of the malice, impurity, fornication,
etc., that are in the list, but spiritually, they haven't gone as far as the inclusiveness
and social justice that the text implies. Instead, they're still focused on themselves.
They celebrate the day they were "saved", but fail to do the work of God's
realm, including the removal of barriers. Those who are stuck halfway between their old
clothes and the new robe may even be creating new barriers (labeling, etc.). God calls us
to move along in the process that Mark from SW WA wrote about-- and that means reaching
out. MTSOfan
I to am using the idea of clothes. What kind of clothes are you wearing? The old
clothes of envy, strife, lies etc. or have you put on the new clothes of meekness
kindness, humility etc. Just what kind of clothes do we wear anyway?
I see the point about the new clothes and it is good. I think I,ll take a different
route though. Dying to self. If we can still have our feelings hurt and we still want the
worldly things we haven't died yet. To be alive in Christ is to become like him in
character. Just a rambling thought. Harold in Alabama
The clothes idea is definitely a popular one...I like the image of taking off the old
clothes of sin and putting on the new clothes of compassion, kindness, etc...It occurs to
me that those folks who just take off the old clothes, celebrating their salvation, but
not put on the new character of life in Christ are not just stuck, they are standing
around naked.
The title of my sermon is "God's Dress Code" and I think I am going to use
the illustration of a man I encountered at my last church. 'Larry' was very consumed with
the idea that people needed to be dressed properly for church. He was outraged at what the
teenagers would wear, he gave fashion advice to the other men in the congregation, and
even felt the need to advise me a time or too. Only suits and ties were acceptable, and if
you didn't comply you didn't belong. Larry really believed that the way you dressed
reflected the kind of Christian you were. The only problem was that he was so concerned
with linen and cotton, that he never gave the spiritual clothes folks were wearing. Larry,
as piously dressed as he was, was one of the most hateful, angry, bitter people I have
ever met. He boasted about how easily lying came to him. He was full of malice, and was
driven by a need to have power and control over others. There was no kindness, humility,
compassion, peace, meekness in him. He may have been dressed properly as far as GQ was
concerned, but his spiritual clothes were stained, worn, and smelly. God cares about the
clothes our spirits wear, the true clothes that reflect the state of our hearts and
whether or not we have died to the old life and taken on a new life in Christ. Meredith in
FL
I have been interested in the contrast between "hidden" and
"revealed". "Hidden" seems to be referring to being protected, like
something or someone who is precious which we might hide so that it will not be taken by
someone else. It could also be synonymous with "salvation". But we do not want
to be hidden or protected. We want to discover the earthly things, be part of them, and
somehow we think that we can be involved with the earthly stuff and it will not harm us.
However, we see the death and destruction that come into our lives because of this
earthiness (fornication, malice, lying, greed, etc.)revealing the wrath of God. We are
"hidden" under the water of baptism and are revealed with Christ as He rises
from death and is victorious. Our sin, our earthiness is hidden with Christ in the grave,
and as Christ is revealed in the empty tomb, our sin is forgotten and forgiven. The earthy
and the Christ-like are in each of us. We can't change on our own. In Christ we are
claimed by God, even with all of our earthliness clinging to us. We are hidden with
christ, precious, protected as His own children. As we are very much a part of the world,
we are sent to reveal the love of God in Christ, who includes the circumcised and
uncircumcised, the slave and the free, the earthy and the Godly. He is the One who turns
our lives around so that our minds are set on things that are above, focused on Christ.
Tom from MO
As we all know, there is more than one way to die. I've been reflecting on what Jesus
taught in the parablem of the Rich Fool in Luke 12:13-21 and what Paul wrote in
Colossians. It seems to me that both are about our external and internal life, and whether
or not CHRIST is the focus of those realms.
This business of dying to Christ is not a once and for all thing. Every moment holds
the possiblity of dying to Christ or building up our "barns" with more and more
and more.
One other thing....we can become quite legalistic to the point of excluding others. On
the outside we do all the proper, expected religious duties, but on the inside we are like
a big, empty barn.
From my perspective, it's a constant struggle not to set my mind on earthly things. I
like new clothes pay raises, etc. like anyone else.
JRB..Ks.
I get the feeling that not too many will be preaching from this text. It's a bit too
"close-minded", a bit too "judgemental", far too "right
wingish" and "extreme".
And yet I cannot help but wonder how one reconciles "Put to death, therefore,
whatever in you is earthly: fornication, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed (which
is idolatry)" with the attempts by so many in the Church (shepherds and lay people)
who are sanctioning and affirming those very earthly behaviors.
How does one reconcile "On account of these the wrath of God is coming on those
who are disobedient" with leaders who embrace without rebuke those engaging in the
very behaviors that Paul warns will bring God's coming wrath.
"But now you must get rid of all such things--anger, wrath, malice, slander, and
abusive language from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have stripped
off the old self with its practices..." I tremble to know that I occasionally delve
into anger, wrath, and the like but rejoice in the knowledge that God is merciful and
forgiving of those who repent and seek Him. (Thanks be to God who gives us the victory
through our Lord Jesus Christ!)
Isn't the world literally dying to find those who "...have clothed themselves with
the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge according to the image of its
creator."
How many will preach this text? I'm seriously curious...
Rick in Va.
Well, actually, Rick, I think that I will be preaching on this passage, partly because
it stands in wonderful compliment to the Gospel, and partly because of a term which I have
found coming forth at the Lambeth Conference.
Here's a bit of what Bishop Simon Chiwanga of Tanzania said at the Opening of Lambeth,
about "interpretative charity":
"Interpretive charity can be defined as the ability to apply the most loving
interpretation to actions and opinions of others. Interpretive charity means listening to
one another in love. It demands that we restrain our impulse to start formulating our
response before the other has finished what they are saying. It is difficult. It is a lot
easier and more attractive to evaluate the first few words of the speaker and then plug
that statement into a pre-constructed mental model.
Interpretive charity calls us to persevere with the discomfort of thoughtful silence
and to use that time to prepare a loving response to what we have heard. Interpretive
charity challenges us to avoid demeaning labels that we are so eager to apply to our
opponents."
I think the good Bishop speaks in the tradition of the author of Colossians, and I
think he's got it about right.
Keeping our "minds on things that are above", rather than storing things from
here, may be hard to accomplish, but that seems to be the direction in which these lessons
are pointing.
Jim
Jim,
As a fellow Epsicopalian (assumption on my part), I too had read the words of the good
Bishop from Africa. Interpretive charity has a ring of decency to it. A true Christ-like
attitude. However for some in the Church, the same old song is constantly sung. I tire of
those whose agenda is not unity but affirmation of behaviors, agendas and doctrines
contrary to the Word of God. I seek God's assistance in being charitable but can't help
but wonder at what point we who uphold the authority of Scripture are to shake the dust
off of our feet and move on to saving souls in the name of Jesus.
I'm looking forward to the conclusion of Lambeth as I believe that the direction of the
Episcopal Church USA, as members of the Anglican communion, will become clearer.
It's clear that Paul, in the text, is calling us to, as a matter of choice and under
the guidance of the Holy Spirit, leave behind our 'old' self (oblivious or apathetic to
the nature and consequence of sin) and move toward being made in the image of Him who made
us. The prevalent theology of many is not to leave anything behind but instead to
construct a theology that makes us 'comfortable' in the midst of behaviors and attitudes
that the Scriptures teach grieve God's heart and separate us from Him.
I'm trusting that as I come to understand how I'm separated (by my actions not God's)
from Him, that with the help of the Holy Spirit, I can 'strip off the old self' and put on
the new. My struggle is to recognize those areas where I'm still the 'old' me in need of a
'new' me. The Scriptures, the Historic teachings of the Church, fellowship with other
believers and my own devotional time with Him are what I believe to be those things that
will aid me in that recognition. What I don't want to do is follow those who'd rather I
dwell in the old self.
Sandy,
I think I appreciate your words although I'm intrigued by the idea that I've engaged in
blasphemy. Help me understand your point. I do know that I'm to balance justice with
mercy, the Law with Grace. If that's what you mean, then I'm with you. If something else,
please let me know.
Rick in Va.
