Defending Our Faith

April 2, 2008

Colossians 1:24-2:5

“I am now rejoicing in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am completing what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church. I became its servant according to God’s commission that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, the mystery that has been hidden throughout the ages and generations but has now been revealed to his saints. To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. It is he whom we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone in all wisdom, so that we may present everyone mature in Christ. For this I toil and struggle with all the energy that he powerfully inspires within me. For I want you to know how much I am struggling for you, and for those in Laodicea, and for all who have not seen me face to face. I want their hearts to be encouraged and united in love, so that they may have all the riches of assured understanding and have the knowledge of God’s mystery, that is, Christ himself, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. I am saying this so that no one may deceive you with plausible arguments. For though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit, and I rejoice to see your morale and the firmness of your faith in Christ.”

In public speaking there are all sorts of forms of speeches. Some speeches are informational, some persuasive and they each require different elements to accomplish their goal. What we have here is a speech of sorts—one that seeks to speak a defense to someone else’s accusations. This is what is called an “apology.” Not an apology in the common vernacular but one that makes clear why Christianity is important to the one speaking.

The word was getting around Colossae that Paul wasn’t a real leader and the fact that he was suffering was proof in their eyes. They thought a true leader doesn’t suffer or show their suffering. What little they understood! From Paul’s perspective, how frustrating this must have been! Anyone that has ever suffered, for God’s sake and for the sake of a calling understands how difficult it can be when others don’t have the same frame of reference to understand why you do what you do.

It becomes necessary for Paul to outline for them and explain to them his defense of his situation. He first has to rationalize the sufferings. He has been called out to be a servant of the church and to help people understand who God is. That, in and of itself, is not an easy task. He, then, must help them understand that his purpose is to work toward unity and to embrace even the non-Jews so that everyone has the opportunity to understand the mysteries of God. Then he must exhort them that even though he wasn’t the one who founded their church, he is concerned to be able to embrace them as pastor and as one who reveals the love of God to them. He wants to have a relationship with them. In order for that to happen, they have to trust him and they have to develop a strong understanding of their own faith perspective. They must understand their calling in the faith and when they do they will move away from accusatory and prosecutorial perspectives to those that are focused on standing in the shoes of the other. It is so easy to judge others when we don’t know them or understand from whence they come. Paul is thus asking to not be judged until they understand his experience and what it means to him to be a Christian and to live life for God’s sake.

What about us? If we were put on the stand and asked to make a speech in defense of our faith, what would it sound like? What would our arguments be? Would we honor God? Ultimately, it seems that Paul wanted his life and the lives of others to do just that—honor God. So what does it look like to live a life that honors God? Whatever that looks like, may we find it for ourselves! Amen.