Today I will substitute teach an adult Bible class. The assigned text is Colossians. Deciphering the message of the New Testament letters is a lot like hearing one side of a telephone conversation. One can generally understand some of what may be said on the other side of the conversation, but details are lacking. This is certainly the case in Colossians.
A problem existed at Colossae that caused people to lose their focus on Christ. There were either alternative religious concepts or perhaps a temptation to syncretism so that various practices and teachings were added to the Christian message. We can identify various philosophical, Jewish, and possibly Gnostic concepts as we read Paul’s instructions. It is likely that the church at Colossae was developing a “Christ-plus” religion. The problem was religious “add-ons.” While identifying the specific nature of the problem is interesting, it is more helpful in the study of Colossians to understand how firm is Paul’s message that Christ is the answer.
A partial list of Paul’s descriptions of Christ would include at least the following: Christ is the reigning Son of God, the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation, Creator, sustainer, redeemer, our peace (reconciler), head of the church, fulness of Deity, hope within us, the message proclaimed, source of all treasures and wisdom, Lord. Christ is our life, is all and in all.
These same affirmations about Christ are the solution to the problems that surround the contemporary church. Let us be diligent to proclaim Him, to proclaim that Christ is the answer. Let us focus on Christ as God’s solution, as our hope, and as our life. Details of Christian living have their place, but the church today suffers from overanalysis of the details and underfocus on Jesus. We cannot assume Jesus in today’s secular society. Christ is the answer.