So recently, I wrote on a post from a friend talking about black lives matter. In my comment I mentioned that, “shouldn’t we encourage dialogue around Colossians 3:11?” Now I want to admit there is a large part of BLM that I don’t understand and am honestly still somewhat ignorant about, however the specific “meme” that was shared was about how this POC (Person of Color) couldn’t grow “spiritually” at a church that dismisses BLM conversations.

So specifically, I was encouraging or trying to encourage discussion around the topic of what the Apostle Paul said; “Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all.” I mentioned this in a message to my facebook friend, his statement back was interesting, that; “This isn’t removing ones culture or skin color.” which I agree with in part. Colossians 3:11 isn’t saying that we don’t hold to certain cultural backgrounds, or celebrate ethnic holidays, etc. However Paul’s statements need to be taken in context.

I feel that I have been so focused on Colossians for sometime now. We as a church have talked at length about these passages from Colossians chapter two, and three specifically. Much of Apostle Paul’s writing here seems to deal with the issue of “Identity” and how our identity changes in Christ. My friends statement is a form of fallacy, this notion that Paul isn’t saying that even our culture our identity should not change when Christ has taken over our life is largely erroneous.

In chapter three Paul begin’s it this way; “If then you have been raised with Christ.” STOP. This statement is the new given Identity, as those who have been raised with Christ, obviously means, “Christians”  so as Christians we are too, “seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on the things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.” this all comes from Colossians 3:1 – 3 ESV. As Followers of Christ, we are no longer our “old selves” something has changed, we are supposed to be different, changed, no longer looking at the worldly ways in which we used to handle things. Paul continues to share with what those things ought to be…

“Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming. In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth, Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being created in knowledge after the image of its creator.” Colossians 3:5 – 10 ESV

Again, we’ve gone over this so much lately I feel like a broken record. However I come back once again because i am disturbed by what I see in some who profess belief in Jesus Christ. I was “attacked” although my fortitude is not so weak to be bothered by the “words” of the unenlightened and the ignorance of those who haven’t bothered to be students of the word. This is not an attack on those who responded to my statements, but a reality, look at my previous blog about that very subject… However, one statement stood out, from a message, calling me, “a pastor not worthy of being trusted.” Which honestly wasn’t surprising, because the rhetoric of these is all to transparent, some called me immature, and ignorant… but I digress… in the end I want to be known for following scripture, not following the ways and thinking of man.

I messaged my friend directly, about my desire to understand more, his personal connection, etc. but have not received word back about trying to “educate me” and nor does he need to oblige me either. I honestly have a meeting next week with another friend about my questions, and I am thankful for people that will meet and talk with me about that which I don’t understand. Again, I digress.

So What About You?

We use this phrase regularly at VCC, its our applicational statement or catch phrase. In light of everything going on in our society, what should be my application here… Well honestly, it comes in the form of the following statements of Paul in Colossians three; “Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And about all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body, And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another, in all wisdom…”

So, somethings I noticed, and didn’t notice… when I wrote what I did, like I mentioned before, I already unfortunately knew the rhetoric of those who would respond. But I never noticed anyone trying to “educate” me, but rather those who were “angry” with me, and a person or two who treated me with “malice” and those who would “slander” my name as a pastor. Again I say none of this as though I am bothered by it, My God is bigger than words and the statements of a few individuals who I haven’t talked to in years. But what bothered me, all those who made statements against me, are professing christians…

Christians that I spent time with at Boise Bible College and one who has been a family friend for some time, although honestly he and I have never had a real conversation before… he is friends with a family member, but even he professes to be a follower of Christ… I have no ill will or will not slander their names, I am not angry with them, confused by the behavior of so many, based on what? how we vote? the fact that I am not sure if I agree with the topic of “systemic racism” in America? It was these things that I was dismissed by those who are apart of the Body of Christ, and this is troubling.

Troubling because as Christians, Paul told us to be bound by love, my error was possibly engaging in a senseless debate, which ironically I warned my congregation about getting into senseless debates, hence why I walked away from the thread altogether. I said what needed to be said, I approached it from scripture, and yet my “attackers” never once quoted scripture, only approached it from a worldly perspective. I don’t disagree that racism is a problem, however the answer is not through rioting and aggressive protest, those are things that self-proclaimed socialist Malcom X supported, but Martin Luther King Jr. promoted peaceful protest, to love thy neighbor, I find it amazing that Christian people are omitting how Jesus even said, “If you love those who love you, what kind (or type) of love is that?” As a follower of Christ I love those who still disagree with me, this isn’t easy, but it is vital!

I may disagree with you in the area of, politics, theology, even ecclesiology, or something Alister Begg states are not either, “main or plain” So application… Even though we disagree with other believers right now, as Paul puts it… “And whatever you do in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”  As I said in my comment to my friend;

We must unite under a banner of Christ and not a banner of skin color

We must continue to choose to love one another, to encourage each other to cling to the word of God over the thinking of man, we must forgive one another, even when we have a grievance against one another, and like the Apostle so adequately stated, “do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus.”

Let Colossians 3:1 – 18 become the New Identity we hold too as Christians, Christ died to free you and I from our previous way of thinking! He loves all skin colors, Racism does not get a vote in the bride of Christ! from whomever the racism comes, it gets no voice… Only the voice of Christ!