UNIFORM LESSON FOR August 26, 2018
Scripture passage and lesson focus: Colossians 3:5-17
Do you think it is possible for people to be so heavenly minded that they are of no earthly good? That was the judgment of a former colleague of mine with whom I stocked grocery store shelves and built displays of produce. He was a very practical person who doubted the sincerity of people who wore their piety on their sleeves. In his opinion, “church people” spent a lot of time praying and going to church meetings and that was often used as an excuse for not actively working for justice and doing what is right. As the young people protesting against violence in our society are saying, thoughts and prayers are not substitutes for action.
Christian ethics calls for a close correlation between what we say and what we do. As Christians we are expected to practice what we preach lest our actions betray us as hypocrites. The author of Colossians urged the readers of this epistle, “Whatever you do in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus.”
Colossians 3:5-11 — New life in Christ
What difference does believing in Jesus make in a person’s life? That is a key question addressed in the epistle to the Colossians. Faith in Jesus makes all the difference in the world, our author asserts.
According to Colossians 2, this world offers “philosophy and empty deceit … human traditions … elemental spirits of the universe.” With these human ways of thinking come rules about food, religious calendar observances, visions and angel worship. Scholars are not agreed on the identity of the opponents being rejected in this epistle. They may be promoters of syncretistic Judaism. It is clear that their practices were not compatible with Christian faith.
Instead of following earthly standards, believers are urged to look heavenward, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. That means they must get rid of earthly behaviors and values that characterized them before they became followers of Jesus. Fornication, impurity, lustful passion, evil desires and greed all incur the condemnation of God. The emphasis here is on sexual sins. They had been a part of the lifestyle the Colossians had practiced before they became Christians.
Broadening the range of worldly behaviors to be rejected, the writer lists anger, wrath, malice, slander, filthy language and lying. All of these behaviors belonged to the way the Colossian Christians used to live. Just as they had put on new clothes when they emerged from the waters of baptism, so the believers are urged to put on new selves that reflect their new commitment to Jesus. That would demonstrate a radical transformation described here as being “renewed in knowledge according to the image of its creator.” The image of God is being restored in the believer. Concretely, that means Christ replaces all the old defining realities such as Greek or Jew, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free. A more radical transformation can hardly be imagined.
Colossians 3:12-17 — Clothed with Christ
The Christians of Colossae are called upon to demonstrate a radically new lifestyle. Continuing the clothing metaphor, our author urges the readers to put on compassion, kindness, humility, meekness and patience. Note carefully the contrast between the sinful lifestyle before becoming a follower of Jesus as described in verses 5-9 and the new lifestyle of believers who are now described as “God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved.”
Christ’s forgiveness, Christ’s peace and Christ’s word bring about harmony, unity and gratitude in the congregation. Teaching and admonishing one another wisely, the believers are instructed to sing psalms, hymns and religious songs with grateful hearts.
This may seem to present a picture of the Colossian congregation that is too idealistic to be actual. However, the rules of a Christian household found in 3:18-25 are very realistic. The patriarchal culture of first-century Christianity is evident in the instruction to the wives to be subject to their husbands. The husbands are commanded to love their wives and to refrain from treating them harshly. Children must obey their parents, but fathers are not to provoke their children. Household servants should perform their duties as if they were working for God and not their earthly masters.
This section of the epistle concludes with a basic principle of Christian ethics: Everything a follower of Jesus does, in word or in deed, should honor Jesus Christ.
For discussion: How would you describe the ways your life has been shaped by your faith in Jesus Christ? What does it mean to have the peace of Christ rule in your heart? What are the modern corollaries of the ancient dichotomies of Greek/Jew, circumcised/uncircumcised, slave/free? Does enthusiastic congregational singing of “psalms, hymns and spiritual songs” as Colossians 3 urges characterize your church? If not, what could be done to change that?
