Rooted in Christ

April 9, 2008

Colossians 2:6-9

“As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the universe, and not according to Christ. For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily . . .”

One of the great joys of being Baptist is being able to interpret scripture for ourselves. Other traditions might snub us for that and maybe the Apostle Paul would have too. Who knows!

What I do know is that Paul was proud of what the Colossians had learned from Epaphras about Christ. They had developed a root system, a foundation, a contract that had served to guide them. Paul has given them encouragement in that living. Now, he must also give a bit of advice.

We know that the Colossians heard other philosophical teachings. Paul uses the phrase “elemental spirits of the universe” to make reference to the--earth, wind, fire, water, etc.-- elements that were often used by people as means to give meaning to life. Paul wants them to understand these other teachings as misguided and not to be redirected in their own faith by what others say. Scholar Ralph Martin notes three metaphors used by Paul—being rooted as a tree finds its solidity in the earth so that when storms come, it cannot be uprooted; built up as a house from its foundation so that it stands solidly; and established referring to a legal term in which a contract is established to be binding and therefore upheld. Paul wants the Colossians to understand that they have been rooted in one kind of soil—a healthy kind. If they abandon the teachings that have been their foundation, they contaminate their spiritual soil, as it were, and are less able to flourish in their faith. They have to be careful about what they choose to believe and they can know the truth by always referring to the basic tenets of their faith foundation. Christ is that basic tenet. He is the one human form who has demonstrated God’s spirit fully. Christ should always be their model.

In our day and age, it is still easy to be swayed in our faith by things that don’t point to God. But if we are careful about pouring ourselves into relationship with God, if we have the tools of discernment that come from that relationship with God, then we will know in our spirits what the truth is. This is Paul’s message to us. This is Paul’s challenge to us—that we thirst for God and so find God’s Truth.

I leave you with questions for reflection and hopefully spiritual growth: What is God’s truth for you? How do you live that out? How do you discern that truth in the face of elements of life that attempt to sway you? How do you hold fast to the truth that you know?

Whatever our answers may be, may God’s truth be our foundation! Amen.