Living with the mind of Christ, demonstrating the reality of our faith
By Dean Collins
Unbelievers often criticize us Christians because they think we advocate a narrow or unrealistic way of living. Unfortunately, sometimes our actions support their misunderstanding.
Too often we have more in common with the church in Colossians than we would like to admit. Some believers in that church wanted it both ways. They chose baptism as a confirmation that Jesus was a gift from God that brought eternal life and some much-needed forgiveness and assurance. They were pleased to have a guaranteed eternal address in the next life. But they didn’t want to give up some of the practices and norms of their former life and in the culture of Rome. They lived a mix of everything from mythology to sexual freedom along with ‘most any wisdom they believed the world had to offer. Some leaned toward demonology. Much of their thinking was connected to the highbrowed philosophers of the day.
Paul countered with a Christian worldview. In chapter 3 of his letter to this church, he began with a question that in Greek grammatical structure implied the answer: “If you have been raised with Christ (and you have), then seek the things above...the things of Christ.” Paul states that you cannot have a Christian worldview and continue to live in a way that demonstrates the common view of those around you who don’t know who Jesus is and what he has accomplished on the cross and initiated in the world.
You cannot have a Christian worldview and continue to live in a way that demonstrates the common view of those around you who don’t know Jesus.
Paul, in a very Romans-chapter-6 sort of way, uses the imagery of baptism as a burial of the old self and a resurrection of the new self. This is a wonderful connection to Jesus who went through death yet rose to live again forever. The act of burying our old self and clothing ourselves in the person of Christ includes the mind. It would make no sense to choose to follow Jesus in everything and every way and to exclude how we think. It matters both what we think and the how we think. To follow Jesus includes considering all things through the mind of Christ.
Paul tells us to put to death what is earthly. Then he clarifies his point (and indicates he was aware of the problems in the Colossian church) by making a list of items that belong in this category.
Actually he makes two lists. Here is the first: “Sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.”
Paul is not speaking against sexuality. In the whole of Scripture we understand that sexual pleasure is to be enjoyed in the context of marriage. Unfortunately, in both ancient and current times we have turned sexuality into an idol we worship and insist on protecting at all costs. Whatever we want, whenever we want, with whomever we choose is the default of the world’s thinking. Paul is calling believers not to think or act in this pattern. Instead, we must put it away; we must bury it.
But before you celebrate that you agree with Paul and that you have no struggle with a Christian worldview consider his next list: “Put away...anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. Do not lie to one another....”
One need only to listen to us talking and see our social media posts to realize this list may be a bigger challenge for many in the church. Whether prompted by frustration with Covid-19, politics, election results, or the many conspiracy theories concerning the election, we sadly sound very similar to and often worse than those who haven’t chosen the mind of Christ.
We sadly sound very similar to and often worse than those who haven’t chosen the mind of Christ.
Paul states clearly that in Christ there is neither Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarians, Scythian, slave, free. In other words, no matter what your status before you surrendered to Christ , now in the church you are on equal footing and collectively called to a new worldview and to redeemed behaviors.
Paul lists these for us as well: compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, patience, bearing with one another, and even if one has a complaint against us, forgiving one another. And the standard of forgiveness is to be the same measure of how Christ forgave us.
How in the world can we live this way? It isn’t possible except by allowing the new life of Christ to be visible and insisting that the old self stay buried. As the peace of Christ our ruler settles into our hearts, gratitude wells up. When we are centered in Christ, the uncertainties of politics, of the pandemic, of personal challenges, and work frustrations loosen their grip. We fall into the joy of our shared life in God’s Kingdom.
We fall into the joy of our shared life in God’s Kingdom.
Instead of anger at what is happening, we speak life and truth to each other. We raise our voices in praise to the King of kings. And we continue to live doing the big things and the little things all for the glory of God.
Your time with God’s Word
Colossians 3:1-17 ESV
