WHAT DO YOU WANT THE CHURCH TO BE?

 

For though I am absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ.  (Colossians 2:5)

What do you want the church to be?  That is a question that can bring many answers.  There is no shortage of opinion, or of people willing to express it.  The reality is that those opinions will vary so greatly, that it would be impossible to shape the local church to suit such diverse expectations.  Sadly, much of this is rooted in self-interest and personal preference that leads to a tug of war in the membership.  The pastor may feel like the rope being yanked!  Might I make a radical suggestion?  The church needs to be what Jesus wants it to be!  The pastor hopefully is being led by Him as he seeks to communicate that word to the church.  The people we trust are in tune with faith and obedience in following Christ’s agenda.  What Paul says in Colossians 2 would be a wonderful starting point for the church God wants.

IT WOULD BE A CHURCH THAT EXPRESSES SACRIFICIAL LOVE (v.1-2a).  Paul speaks of his conflict for the church—not with the church!  That’s a big difference!  He was a fighter, but he knew who the enemy was.  He was fighting a spiritual battle for the sake of the church.  Love will do all it can to protect those in their care.  I know I would fight to the death to protect my loved ones from harm.  If we love the church we are willing to pour out our lives to preserve her.  Not only do we face the Devil as an enemy, but discouragement.  So the Apostle goes on to exhort them to encourage each other.  Then, there is the problem of division.  God wants our hearts knit together in love.  Without that, the fabric of our fellowship unravels.

IT WOULD BE A CHURCH THAT EXPERIENCES SPIRITUAL LEARNING (v.2b-4).  The early church had a breadth of fellowship, but also a depth of doctrine.  The church today is plagued by Biblical illiteracy.  Spiritual learning is marked by embracing the truth (v.2b-3).  The Greek language suggests becoming progressively more acquainted with God.  Some people think being spoon fed for an hour on Sunday will give them all the Bible they need.  Such brings an impoverished soul.  We must get into the Word day by day so our lives will be enriched with truth.  People will say, “I need practical teaching,” and by that they want therapeutic moralism—which is what pulpits and devotional books are churning out in evangelicalism today.  Your soul will shrivel.  There is nothing more relevant than the Word of God taught in depth and power.  Paul says this is the way to understanding and wisdom.  Spiritual learning also is marked by exposing the false (v.4).  Think of it as promoting a spiritual immune system that guards the church from false teaching.  Error acts like a deadly virus invading the body.

IT WOULD BE A CHURCH THAT EXHIBITS STEADFAST LOYALTY (v.5).  The “good order” Paul calls for is a military term of soldiers standing shoulder to shoulder in battle formation.  The church needs to stand together like the 300 Spartans who resisted a far larger force and though perishing turned the tide against the Persian invaders.  This requires, “steadfastness.”  We will not desert the church.  We will dig in our heels.  The church is a band of brothers.  May we be loyal to the end!

HOLDING HANDS

These are my only fellow workers for the kingdom of God who are of the circumcision; they have proved to be a comfort to me.  (Colossians 4:11b)

In 1987 a busload of Baptist youth plunged into the rain-swollen Guadalupe River in central Texas.  Although some perished, many survived.  The teens formed a human chain, and as a result were able to struggle to safety, holding each others hands.  The reality is that all of us need help at times.  The genius of the church is that it offers those who will link up with us and we can help each other in this struggle against the current of a culture under the curse that is sweeping many away.  Even a spiritual champion like Paul needed a team of people to assist him.  He mentions them in Colossians 4:7-18.

There are FAITHFUL HELPERS in the church.  The word, “faithful” jumps out at us.  It is used to describe Tychichus (v.7) and Onesimus (v.9).  Although the term is not repeated, the theme is present in some other fellow-laborers named here: Aristarchus (v.10a), Mark (v.10b), Jesus Justus (v.11), Luke (v.14a), Nymphas (v.15), and Archippus (v.17).  We will provide a quick thumbnail sketch of each.

Tychichus accompanied Paul on his third missionary journey.  He stuck with Paul, even in his imprisonment.  He showed the greatest ability—dependability!

Onesimus was the runaway slave of Philemon.  He ran from his master, but couldn’t run away from God.  He was likely converted when sharing the same jail cell with the Apostle.  Church history tells us he became the pastor of the Colossian church.

Aristarchus was another member of Paul’s “cell group.”  He shared in Paul’s suffering.  That is the nature of loyalty.  We should all have friends like that—and be one!

Mark had deserted Paul and Barnabas in their first missionary journey.  When his kinsman, Barnabas, wanted to give him another chance on the second trip, the two missionaries split up over Mark.  It is good to see the relationship was  later restored.

Jesus Justus was a Jew like Paul, and effective in showing concern and extending comfort.  He had a proven record of sympathy and support of God’s servant.

Luke was Paul’s personal physician.  He was a careful historian who documented the life of Christ and the work of the Spirit in the early church.  Luke was loyal to the finish.

Nymphas hosted the church in his home.  He had the gift of hospitality.

Archippus may have been a discouraged pastor.  As he had held up the hands of others, now he could reap what he had sown.  We get by with a little help from our friends!

There are FERVENT INTERCESSORS like Epaphras (v.12-13).  One of the best ways people help hold our hands is by praying for us.  He had walked in their shoes.  Identifying with others helps us pray compassionately.  It is noted that he also prayed consistently—agonizing in prayer—for the word used here is the same one that describes Christ’s passionate prayer in Gethsemane.  His consuming plea was for the saints to mature in their faith.  That doesn’t happen without someone praying for us.

There are FALTERING WORKERS like Demas (v.14b).  I hate to end on a sour note—but the reality is that just as some of those teens in the Texas flood did not make it, there will be those despite our best efforts to hold their hand, pull away—and drown in sin.  Demas would be one (see 2 Tim.4:10).  His life is a warning to us: “Hold on to Christ!”