The New You in Christ—Lectionary (RCL) Reflection for Pentecost 8C/Proper 13 (Colossians 3)



Colossians 3:1-11 New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition

So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on the things that are above, not on the things that are on earth, for you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life is revealed, then you also will be revealed with him in glory.

Put to death, therefore, whatever in you is earthly: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed (which is idolatry). On account of these the wrath of God is coming on those who are disobedient. These are the ways you also once followed, when you were living that life. But now you must get rid of all such things: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive language from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have stripped off the old self with its practices 10 and have clothed yourselves with the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge according to the image of its creator. 11 In that renewal there is no longer Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, enslaved and free, but Christ is all and in all!

 

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                We have been working our way through the letter to the Colossians. Though attributed to Paul, there are questions about Pauline authorship. As with my earlier reflections, I’m putting aside the questions of authorship. For our purposes, and the ease of writing, I will assume Pauline authorship in what follows. One of the central messages of this letter concerns the identity of Jesus, who is revealed to be the “image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; for in him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers—all things have been created through him and for him.” And “in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell (Col. 1:15-16, 19). This revealing statement that permeates the letter gives rise to the vision of the Cosmic Christ. This is no ordinary human being. In what we read here, we find a parallel to the vision offered in John’s prologue, which declares that the Word of God has become flesh and dwelt among us (Jn 1:1-14).

                This week’s lectionary selection is the final reading from Colossians for Year C. The message here is a continuation of one we encountered last week, as Paul spoke of baptism being that moment where we die with Christ to the old life and are raised to new life in Christ. Here Paul speaks of the aftermath of being raised with Christ. He speaks of putting on new clothes and “seeking the things that are above.” The imagery here assumes that the heavenly realm lies above, and therefore we’re charged with looking up so we might see Jesus sitting at the right hand of God. Having taken on human flesh and dwelling among us, in the resurrection Jesus has resumed his rightful place at the right hand of God. The message here can be summed up in a reminder that “if Jesus is Lord, then Caesar is not.” This word reminds us that Christ may have been crucified by the Roman authorities, but in his resurrection, he has taken up his throne. Whatever authority Rome or any other governing authority might have over our lives, it stands under that of Christ who reigns in the heavenly realm.  

So, if Jesus now resides in the heavenly realm, then those who follow him should keep their eyes focused on the things above. That is, we are called to live according to the ways of God and not on the ways of the world. Remember, to be in Christ, to be baptized, is to die to that old life. It’s been buried in the waters of baptism. Now, that you have been raised to new life, live accordingly, and you will experience the glory that has been revealed in Jesus.

                So, what is it that we are to put to death now that we have baptized into Christ? What are the ways of the world? Paul mentions several items in two lists: fornication, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed. Regarding greed, Paul identifies it with idolatry. In other words, what do you worship? He expands the list even more in verse 8, adding anger, wrath, malice, slander, abusive language, and lying to one another. All of these “qualities” mark the old life. This is the way of the Gentile world out of which these Colossian believers emerged, but they shouldn’t mark the new life in Christ.

Paul writes this word to the Colossian church (and any other churches if this is in fact a circular letter) because he’s concerned that they could easily fall back into that life. After all, they still live in a world that is marked by the characteristics noted above. They may have taken on a new life in Christ, but the context in which they live hadn’t changed. Not only does Paul note the ways that mark their former life, but he encourages them to let that old life go because those who persist in that life face God’s wrath. Instead, embrace the new life that reflects one’s relationship with Christ.

As you looked at that list, does anything stand out? Do you see any items that might be part of your life? The Augustinian part of me, suggests that the old life still has a hold on me. Part of the problem is that all of these qualities are rampant in our culture. Think of the political culture where we see the presence everywhere of anger, slander, abusive language, and lying. Consider how large the number of Christians who not only embrace the “Big Lie” about the 2020 election but eagerly spread the word, apparently forgetting that we are to be people of the truth (and not alternative truths that fit our agendas). So, maybe we need to watch ourselves a bit more, lest we face God’s wrath!

We are new creatures, who are clothed with Christ. We are being renewed in the knowledge shared with us by the one who is the image of the creator. As we are being renewed, we are no longer divided according to our status as Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised. Whether we’re barbarian or Scythian (according to Scot McKnight, this would be the stereotypical equivalent of hillbilly or ruffian, Connections, p. 208) doesn’t matter. In fact, one’s status as slave or free no longer defines one. That is because Christ is all in all. In the body of Christ none of these statuses matter, though we know that they continue to define one’s status outside the body. That’s the challenge. When this letter was written, the church was small and hardly influential. The church wasn’t in the position to influence the larger society, except through the way it lived. But that’s not true today, at least not in the United States or many other countries where Christianity is at least the largest religious community. How the church lives out our faith in Christ does speak loudly. As you may have noticed; that witness has been damaged by many of the characteristics mentioned above!

So, let us live into our new situation in life, such that we can participate in the life of Christ. That leads to moral and ethical transformation. We see that noted in Romans 12 and again here in Colossians 3. We don’t lose our individual identities as we live in the body of Christ, but our social identities do not define our place in the body of Christ. So, as Joshua Jipp notes, regarding the realities of our own age, “when our social identities are valued above our shared identity in Christ, then inevitably those with less power—usually ethnic minorities, women, the poor, or marginalized—are relegated to a position of subservience within the church” [Connections, p. 211]. That was a concern in the first century and again in ours. So, as we live in Jesus, let us look toward the heavenly rather than the earthly/human. Thankfully, we live out this calling by God’s grace, but grace is no excuse for letting the old life dominate. So, since we're a new creation in Christ, let us dress accordingly! As we do, let us sing praise to God in the words of a Brian Wren Easter hymn:

Christ is alive, and comes to bring

good news to this and every age,

till earth and sky and ocean ring

with joy, with justice, love and praise.

      “Christ is Alive,” vs. 4 (Hope Publishing, 1995)

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