Thursday 16 October 2014
- Bible Book:
- Colossians
] whom we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone in all wisdom, so that we may present everyone mature in Christ. For this I toil and struggle with all the energy that he powerfully inspires within me.” (vv. 28-29)
Background
If you are a member of a church reading this, you may (or maynot) find it difficult to believe that there are many people in theworld who think of churches as being only for the chosen few. Theybelieve faith is outdated; hymns and preaching are irrelevant; andGod may exist, but doesn't have anything to do with them. Twothousand years ago things were not much different. As far as theJews were concerned God belonged to them. All 'outsiders', except afew converts, were Gentiles (non Jews), excluded from the truefaith - until Jesus came and showed that in God's sight there wasan equal welcome for Jew and Gentile: one factor that contributedto his persecution and death.
This is the good news that Paul rejoices in preaching, here tothe Colossians and in every place he could reach on his journeys.It may not have been good news to the Jews in Colosse, who stillwanted to retain their exclusive rights to God. Neither would itplease the
What is more, Paul recognises that the problems he faces as hepreaches that gospel are clearly linked to the sufferings ofChrist. So no matter how much of a struggle it is and how muchenergy he uses, he is carrying on the work that God has called himto do to build up the body of the Church. To Paul, the mostimportant thing is that the glorious good news of the word of Godis passed on to as many people as possible. It has been a mysteryfor far too long and the vital task of the Church is to reach outto everyone, but particularly to those who have never had thechance to understand it before. A word in time?
To Ponder
- How do you react when someone asks you why you believe in God?And what do you say to them?
- If the Church is viewed as being 'only for the chosen few', howdo you think that view could be changed?