July 17, 2016 Sunday School Lesson

12 As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. 13Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord* has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 15And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful. 16Let the word of Christ* dwell in you richly; teach and admonish one another in all wisdom; and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God.* 17And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Colossians 3:12-17

Commentary on the Text:

Today's epistle reading contains an appeal to the members of the church at Colossae to allow the love of Christ to flow through and in them to forge them into the one body of Christ -- as they have been called to be. This unit -- while containing words of wisdom that even today's Christian can readily understand -- is a charge to a church in danger of being ripped apart by false teaching.

There is not space here to take up the issue of defining the heresy present at Colossae. (Proposals for this heresy include a wide range of possibilities -- from a pagan mystery cult to Jewish-Christian mysticism and even to no formal "heresy" at all.) What can be stated is that the Pauline mission must counter false teachings that are threatening the church's understanding of Christ and, thus, the body of Christ. Our text comes after an argument countering this teaching.

The letter refers to this teaching as a "philosophy" linked with "human tradition" and "the elemental spirits of the universe" (2:8). This philosophy is most explicitly not from Christ (2:8). Since Christ is the "head of every ruler and authority" (2:10), and since God has triumphed over the "rulers and authorities" through Christ (2:15), it stands to reason that God has triumphed over the "elemental spirits of the universe," the very ones held responsible for a teaching that has endangered the church. Moreover, since believers have died with Christ to "the elemental spirits of the universe," then they are no longer bound by these spirits of the world (2:20). Yet, those held sway by this heresy are apparently passing judgments concerning "food and drink" or "a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath" (2:16; cf. 2:21). Furthermore, the letter warns, "Do not let anyone disqualify you, insisting on self-abasement and worship of angels, dwelling on visions, puffed up without cause by a human way of thinking, and not holding fast to the head, from whom the whole body, nourished and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows with a growth that is from God" (2:18-19). From this exhortation, it is apparent that leanings toward such teaching threaten the unity of the body, but they also threaten the attachment of the body to the head, that is, Christ. This body imagery is an especially poignant metaphor since one of the characteristics of the false teaching is an ascetic practice, the "severe treatment of the body" (2:23). The audience receives a reminder that they have died with Christ (and thus participate in God's victory over the spirits of the universe that threaten the church's existence).

Thus, in the immediate context of 3:12-17, the Colossians hear a command to put to death "whatever in you is earthly" (v. 5), warnings to purge themselves of vices (vv. 5, 8, 9), and a reminder that the body of Christ is one that does not recognize divisions between "Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and free" (v. 11). This body without division was an especially pertinent message to a cosmopolitan city full of a variety of peoples and religions. What distinguishes the Colossians now is their place in the body of Christ. The believers are reminded that, instead of being the chosen ones of those "elemental spirits of the universe," they are the elect of God, "holy and beloved" (v. 12). Therefore, they must act like it.

The sequence of virtues in verse 12 is made possible only because of their status in Christ, but their status in Christ also demands such behavior to keep the body of Christ intact. They are told to "clothe yourselves" (literally, "to put on" or "to don") with "compassion, kindness, humility, meekness and patience" (v. 12). The OT attributes "compassion" to God (for example, Psalm 51:1; 103:4). Furthermore, this virtue continues the anthropomorphic imagery of the body (see 2:19). The phrase rendered "compassion" in the NRSV is literally, "bowels of compassion" or the "inward parts of compassion," and could be translated as "heartfelt compassion." Just as God is known for his compassion, he is also known for his "kindness" (also translated "goodness" or "generosity"; see, for example, Psalm 25:7; 31:19; Jeremiah 33:11). Though the false teachers appear to have humility (2:23), the author exhorts the Colossians to don it. Elsewhere in the Pauline letters, Christ's actions are the epitome of humility (consider the Philippian hymn, Philippians 2:6-11). Furthermore, in contrast to being "puffed up" by false teaching and passing judgments on others (2:16, 18), "meekness," which was attributed to Christ in 2 Corinthians 10:1, should mark those in the body of Christ. The exhortation to exhibit "patience" or "long-suffering" is further elaborated by the instructions in verse 13 to bear with one another, and to forgive each one as Christ has forgiven. Finally, above all these virtues, they must clothe themselves with love (v. 14; see also 1 Corinthians 13:4, 13). Love is the "bond of perfection" (NRSV "love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony"). To play with the metaphor, love is the last garment that holds the whole outfit together (the , , , tie, , etc.). Love is not optional. Love is "the bond."

Verse 15 reiterates the body metaphor and reminds the Colossians that they, as God's chosen ones, were chosen to be one body in Christ. This is possible if the "peace of Christ" rules in their hearts. Talk of the ruling "peace of Christ" runs counter to the Roman peace that in fact ruled Colossae. Pax Romana came at the expense of war, but the peace of Christ exhibits love and forgiveness. Only when the believers have put on all these virtues and have allowed the peace of Christ to unite them will they be able to teach and admonish one another in all wisdom (v. 16). In contrast, the false teachers only appear to have wisdom (2:23).

Therefore, the Colossians should be thankful for their status in Christ (v. 15b). Instead of spouting out traditions that are not from God, they are able to sing "psalms, hymns and spiritual songs to God" (v. 16). Instead of having the appearance of wisdom by following false teachings (2:23), they are called to exhibit virtues characteristic of God and modeled by Christ (vv. 12-14). They are no longer enslaved to any human traditions or teachings from the "elemental spirits of the universe." Christ's death and resurrection freed them from such chains. Now, they must exhibit their status in a new bond, a bond of love. This bond courses throughout the body and keeps the body connected. Only by remembering their position in Christ will the body stay connected to the Head and avoid the real threats posed by the false teachings endangering the Colossian church. If believers will remember the Lord Jesus in everything that they do (v. 17), they will not fall prey to false notions of wisdom and deceitful philosophy.

Lesson To Consider:

We Americans are used to dressing casual, or "," for just about any occasion. If circumstances warrant, we can even down -- to tank tops, straw and flip-flops. Generally, we don't like dress codes. But airlines do. They reserve the right to us off a flight if our attire is deemed offensive. This brings us to Colossians 3. The apostle Paul talks about his tastes in .

Let's begin by jumping in the "way-back-when" machine for a moment.

Imagine it's Christmas week in 1955 and you're getting ready to board an airplane to head back home to grandma's for the holidays. If you're getting on the plane at all it means that you're probably having a very merry Christmas given that your bank account must be fatter than Santa's. Commercial air travel is still a fairly new concept in 1955, and the tickets are outrageously expensive. A flight from Phoenix to Chicago could cost up to $138 round trip, which equates to $1,168 in today's money.

Of course, you might not mind, given that you're served a meal of lobster on real china and glassware, and all your drinks (alcohol included) are free and unlimited. You stretch out in your seat with the extra three to six inches of legroom and relax.

And, of course, you are properly attired for the occasion. Flying on an airplane is a sophisticated adventure in 1955, which means "dressing to the nines": and tie for men, appropriate for women. The passengers look so good that they often line up for a group picture before getting on the plane. Everyone dresses like movie stars because it took a movie star's salary to fly in the first place!

Fast forward now some 60 years, and it's an understatement to say that things have changed. At the airport, you have to get through security, do the TSA striptease and produce ID, something our air-traveling ancestors never had to do. You fight for space in the overhead compartment, you wedge yourself into a seat with less legroom than prisoners get in solitary confinement, and you eat your six mini pretzels and wash them down with a half ounce of ginger ale.

Then you look around at your fellow passengers and notice that, while a few may be dressed for a business meeting, others look like they're headed to a punk rock concert. And 85 percent of the passengers are wearing flip-flops. The relaxed standards notwithstanding, if you're dressed inappropriately, you could get tossed off the plane.

Getting thrown off a plane for wardrobe infractions was virtually unheard of in the 1950s, but today it's becoming more common. One woman is reprimanded for showing too much cleavage. A man with a four-letter expletive on his T- is told to put something over it or get off the plane. Another man is barred from a flight because his shirt says, "Terrists gonna kill us all" -- an intentionally misspelled message that he says is a protest against racial profiling.

Air travel wasn't an option in Paul's day -- of course -- but that doesn't mean he wasn't concerned about a for those who would be traveling with the good news of Jesus Christ.

If it's true that you are what you wear, Paul is concerned that those who represent Christ "put on" clothes that never go out of style and are always worn with others in mind.

Character clothing

Paul begins by reminding the Colossian church that it's never been about marking ourselves as different and claiming our individual rights regardless of how they affect others. If you are in Christ, he reminds the church, then you are a new person with a new wardrobe. "There is no longer Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and free, but Christ is all and in all" (v. 11). All who love Christ are "God's chosen ones" who are "holy and beloved" (v. 12). Our dress, our demeanor, our posture and our attitudes are to reflect the one who chose us in Christ, which means we have to "put to death" the "earthly" and self-serving desires that are so common in this world (vv. 5-8). We "strip off the old self with its practices" and clothe ourselves with "the new self, which is being renewed according to the image of its creator" (vv. 9-10). It's not about calling attention to ourselves, in other words, but rather seeing our whole lives as pointing to the one in whose image we are made.

Paul goes on to outline the dress code for those who would board Air Jesus. The five pieces of clothing listed in verse 12 are all designed to communicate Christ to others and pay attention to their interests and needs. Compassion, kindness, humility, meekness and patience are virtues that we should have on us at all times, whether we're boarding a plane or walking through the neighborhood. Wearing this kind of character clothing demonstrates to the world that we're not pushing our own personal agendas, but that our agenda is always about reflecting Christ.

Compassion is sympathy for the situations of others. That guy who is struggling to find a seat on the plane or who is giving you a hard time at work is likely dealing with things you have no idea about. When someone is acting out, the issue is usually not the issue, be it lack of space in the overhead or a perceived slight from another person. Most of the time our bad behavior is the result of something going on in our lives that has us stuck. Compassion looks for the opportunity to care for people where they are, to love them in spite of their situation.

Kindness is the active consideration for others and their needs. Think of it as compassion taking action. Rather than categorize people by their dress and demeanor, we look for ways to care for them where they are. We represent Jesus, whose kindness drew people to him rather than pushing them away.

Humility helps us to see others as more important than ourselves. This is an important theme for the apostle Paul:

- With all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love (Ephesians 4:2);

- Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves (Philippians 2:3);

- [Do] not to think of yourself more highly than you ought to think. (Romans 12:3).

And the apostle James adds, "Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom" (James 3:13).

Saint Augustine said, "It was pride that changed angels into devils; it is humility that makes humans as angels." Yet, sometimes it would appear that not many of us are interested in being "as angels," for the garment of humility is so infrequently worn these days. It's perhaps -- of all the items in the Christian's wardrobe -- the one garment we're likely to keep in the closet.

The irony is that this garment of humility is also a garment that goes with anything! It never clashes with whatever else you're wearing.

Meekness or gentleness involves courtesy and consideration for others, waiving our rights to personal gain in order to lift up the other. This piece of Christian clothing is sometimes mysterious to us. We're not sure just what it's about. It's like looking at some clothing -- a scarf, for example -- and thinking, "How in the world do I wear this thing?" Ever had that thought?

Pastor Rick Warren writes, "We've lost the true meaning of meekness. Meek doesn't mean weak. Jesus and Moses were described as meek, and they certainly were anything but weak. Meekness really means strength under control. The Greek word referred to a wild horse tamed or medicine that could tame a fever."

Patience is the ability to not become frustrated and angry when others intrude on us, but, instead, offer forgiveness for their shortcomings. After all, Paul says, we ourselves have tested the patience of God with our own sin. So, "just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you must also forgive" (v. 13).

And then there's love. All of these virtuous pieces of character clothing are vitally important for the Christian traveler, but the one piece of clothing that goes over them all like a warm overcoat is love, "which binds everything together in perfect harmony" (v. 14). Paul writes about this outer garment elsewhere in 1 Corinthians 13: It is patient, kind, not self-seeking, keeps no record of wrongs and always rejoices with the truth. In short, love is the goal of the disciple's dress code. It's fashionable everywhere, and is always welcome when boarding a plane or anywhere else people gather!

In fact, it's love that puts the Christian on the journey in the first place. Interestingly, the word for "binds" in verse 14 is the same Greek word for "ligaments." In the human body, ligaments keep the bones connected and enable the body to move. If the ligaments of love are healthy in the ChristBody, then the church will always be on the move. Without love, on the other hand, we stay buckled in place, unable and unwilling to go anywhere for Christ. Building a wardrobe of love is thus one of the key tasks of the church.

How to keep the wardrobe fresh

But how do we do that? How do we maintain this wardrobe in a world where people tend to dress their lives in ways that are hostile or tempting or offensive?

We take our wardrobe to the cleaners, that's how. Paul says we should take our character clothing to the cleaners, i.e., the church. Worship and community are crucial. Paul calls the church to worship and practice love within the fellowship so that when the members are apart from one another, they are still uniformly dressed to take the gospel to the world.

A style that is always fresh: peace. "Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which you were indeed called in the one body, and be thankful," says Paul (v. 16). We gather as the people of God to our wardrobe, insuring that it communicates peace.

Cleaning agents: teaching and "admonition." "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; teach and admonish one another in all wisdom" (v. 16a). We gather to hear the word of Christ, to teach one another, so that we can be equipped with the wisdom to wear and communicate Christlike character to those we meet.

Accessories: praise and gratitude. And last, we express praise and gratitude. We worship "with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs to God" (v. 16b). An old Latin proverb says that as we worship, so we believe, and so we live. We may (or may not) put on our Sunday best to come and worship, but the character we wear on Monday as a result of that worship is even more noticeable to the people we will meet on airplanes, in our workplaces, in our schools and in our neighborhoods.

"And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him" (v. 17, emphasis added). If you're going to wear any sort of message on your shirt or, better yet, on your heart, it's gratitude. We may not put on a suit to get on the plane to go home for the holidays, but we must always put on Christ, reflecting his influence in every word, deed and act of love.

That's a dress code that will never go out of style!