If you are new to this blog this is a piece i wrote in 2009... There is one more in this series... so read the last two and come back for the last one.... All Biblical references are from the NIV.
How can I work for God when I have this in my life? Whether it is sin or just something socially unacceptable you feel unworthy. That feeling of unworthiness keeps us bound and not spreading the gospel. The truth my friends, will set you free. When you are no longer living in fear you are free to live for Christ as YOU. Not as the person you want everyone to see you as, not as who you are expected to be…. YOU! The you that God made. As Episcopal Priest, Elizabeth Canham once said: “There is no freedom like seeing myself as I am and not losing heart. Or as Popeye once said “I am what I am and that’s all that I am”
These feelings are universal and timeless, in Colossians Paul’s writes about this very issue let’s start in chapter 1 in verse 21 -
“Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation – if you continue in your faith established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel.”
Paul is reminding the Colossians that the faith they had established was the Gospel message, Jesus had died, was buried, on the third day he rose again, and he would return to take them with Him. It was not the book of the law (they only had the old testament at this time)… and all gazillion laws written in it; simply faith in Jesus as their savior, redeemer, and Lord. He says you were alienated in your “minds” because of your evil behavior. They must have been feeling somewhat unworthy, like their sin and past lives were too unbearable or I don’t think Paul would have addressed it like this. He told them just how God sees them now that they are reconciled by Jesus, not the world or what their minds were telling them.
Christians were considered rebels at this time.
The world was telling them they were wrong but Jesus was telling them they were holy and without blemish, free from accusation. This does not mean they were free from sin or sinless… it meant they believed in Jesus and that was enough.
Later on in the letter to the Colossians he addresses the fact that there were false prophets, and many worldly traditions that men wanted them to follow. Lets pick up in Colossians 2:6
Ch 2 vs 6-8
“So then just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.
Again, Paul is warning them against looking to the world for their standards. He warns them to not become a prisoner to the worlds philosophy but instead listen to Christ and depend on him. These worldly philosophies are as common in today’s western culture as they were nearly 2000 years ago when this book was written. Many of us never question things that are taught to us. We take what is told to us in school, on tv, and in church as truth when many times there are multiple sides to the story and we are only hearing parts or even falsehoods. Paul is warning us not to do this. He is encouraging us to question what we are taught. He is telling us to use the strength given us and hold to the truth of the Gospel of Jesus. That truth being that Jesus died, was buried, and on the third day resurrected all to bring us into relationship with God; to cover our sins.
V 9-15
“For in Christ all fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and you have been given fullness in Christ who is the head over every power and authority. In him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of the sinful nature, not with the circumcision done by the hands of men but with the circumcision done by Christ, having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God who raised Him from the dead.
When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the written code with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.”
Jesus died and took all our sins away. We were unclean, uncircumcised and he bought us with that huge price; His life. He did not say get clean first or now never sin again or even try to be good. No he took all our sins, past, present, and future and threw them to the bottom of the ocean. He reconciled us to himself once for all times. And we have been given the fullness of Christ. The same power that raised Christ from the dead is in us. We are more than worthy to work for God no matter our “sin” state.
Paul again warns us against listening to culture… vs.16 -17
“Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ.”
The culture of this time put much emphasis on tradition and ritual. Our western culture does as well. Although many of us say that we do not hold to tradition or ritual when we find ourselves in a different type of church it is odd and hard to worship. I recently changed churches. I had come from a contemporary, small town church, with a loud band and a particular order to service on which you could count each week. While church hunting I went to many different churches but was drawn to look for a church with a similar structure as the previous. You can imagine my surprise when I felt like God was calling me to attend a church that sang two songs, one at the beginning and one at the end of service, from a hymnal that I am very unfamiliar with, and a much different order of service than I was used to. It was uncomfortable. I realized at that time that part of my experience in church was based on tradition and culture. I was tempted to say, well that church isn’t for me because it doesn’t have what I need. It does this or it doesn’t do that… but I listened to God and he said… That is where I want you.
The man in the video clip (posted in part 2) was charged with treason for removing his mask. Much the same happens with us when we decide to “rebel” against the tradition. We are looked upon with accusing eyes, there are snickers behind our backs. We feel more and more unworthy because we are not accepted by the whole, the majority. How many of us are afraid to lift our hands in worship until we peek out to see if anyone else is lifting theirs? Someone had to lift first, someone had to rebel against all those who were not lifting their hands. It is much the same when we reveal our lives to each other and become real, take off our mask, we are in defiance to the traditions of this world and we are judged, but it is somewhat of a chain reaction. One person has to start the revolution.
