Colossians 2:6-15
6 As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, continue to live your lives in him, 7 rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.
8 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. 9 For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, 10 and you have come to fullness in him, who is the head of every ruler and authority. 11 In him also you were circumcised with a spiritual circumcision, by putting off the body of the flesh in the circumcision of Christ; 12 when you were buried with him in baptism, you were also raised with him through faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead. 13 And when you were dead in trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive together with him, when he forgave us all our trespasses, 14 erasing the record that stood against us with its legal demands. He set this aside, nailing it to the cross. 15 He disarmed the rulers and authorities and made a public example of them, triumphing over them in it
6 As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, continue to live your lives in him…
We’re living in confusing and trying times. When it’s possible to find a congregation, or faith tradition, that validates everything you want to believe, how do we ever know what God truly wants us to believe? How can any of our belief systems have integrity when so many of them directly contradict each other?
Even though it seems like things are getting worse all the time, history tells a different story. During the time of Jesus, there were people claiming to be the Messiah all over the place. Each of them had their own disciples, and most of them contradicted each other about what God wants from us. The more things change, the more they stay the same…
When folks ask me which leaders to follow, or whether something that claims to be “Christian” really is, I refer them to Jesus. St. Paul tells us to “continue to live our lives in [Jesus]”. Is what we’re hearing – reading – doing – consistent with Jesus’ teaching and example? Does this reflect Jesus as I know him?
No one faith tradition, congregation, or leader, has it all right or all wrong. It’s not that simple. That’s why each of us must stay grounded in our faith, continually seeking God’s guidance as we live our lives grounded in Jesus.
Prayer: Lord Jesus: You are the head and cornerstone of the Church. Guide us as we stumble along trying to follow you in all things. AMEN