What's on your mind?

I've been thinking a lot recently about what it is that we think about, day dream about, get anxious about. What is it that our minds are fixed upon? As Christians, it is easy to know that there are things that are unhelpful, things that distract us from the truth, yet it is not as simple as not thinking about them. Instead, we need to put something else in their place.

I was reminded of this as I looked at Colossians this past week. I love Chapter 3 and the picture of Christians putting off the things of the world and putting on godliness. And how can we do this? The opening verses of the chapter set it up: 'If then 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 things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.'

Notice that we are not just told to stop doing the things of this world FULL STOP and nothing else. Rather, we are told to replace these filthy rags with the clothing of Christ, the righteousness found in him and behaviour fitting of him. And it is by filling ourself with God's words that we can do this.

I'll ask of you the questions I've been asking of myself:
So what's on your mind? Are you fixing your eyes on Jesus or the things of this world? Are you feeding on God's word so that the cares and concerns of this world can be placed into proper perspective?

Some emerging thoughts

I haven't spent much time engaging with the Emerging Church Movement (or conversation) but in a training session I've organised tomorrow for the Student Ministers at the Cathedral they will be talking about it so I've been doing a little bit of reading.

Scot McKnight in a Christianity today article describes one emphasis of the emerging church movement as orthopraxy (right living). Here's what he says:

A notable emphasis of the emerging movement is orthopraxy, that is, right living. The contention is that how a person lives is more important than what he or she believes. Many will immediately claim that we need both or that orthopraxy flows from orthodoxy. Most in the emerging movement agree we need both, but they contest the second claim: Experience does not prove that those who believe the right things live the right way. No matter how much sense the traditional connection makes, it does not necessarily work itself out in practice. Public scandals in the church—along with those not made public—prove this point time and again.

Here is an emerging, provocative way of saying it: "By their fruits [not their theology] you will know them." As Jesus' brother James said, "Faith without works is dead." Rhetorical exaggerations aside, I know of no one in the emerging movement who believes that one's relationship with God is established by how one lives. Nor do I know anyone who thinks that it doesn't matter what one believes about Jesus Christ. But the focus is shifted. Gibbs and Bolger define emerging churches as those who practice "the way of Jesus" in the postmodern era.

Jesus declared that we will be judged according to how we treat the least of these (Matt. 25:31-46) and that the wise man is the one who practices the words of Jesus (Matt. 7:24-27). In addition, every judgment scene in the Bible is portrayed as a judgment based on works; no judgment scene looks like a theological articulation test.

I found myself really disagreeing with this. While I'll agree that Christians should live differently, I'm convinced that our living flows out of our knowledge. It's been a favourite saying of mine for the last month or so - 'preach at the heart and changed behaviour will follow'. Like most things clever - it's not mine, I borrowed it from a friend (thanks Amelia!).

Throughout the Bible we see ethical commands couched in terms of theological understanding - Col 3:1-17 is just one example.

I'm convinced that it is because of who we are that we live a certain way - not living a certain way that makes us who we are. What do you think?

The supremacy of Christ

One of the joy's of my week is Tuesday mornings where I meet with Emma to read Colossians from the Greek. It's our attempt to use what we learnt at college and doing it together is an encouragement to make it happen. We've discovered that we are getting quite good at looking things up in the dictionary!

Yesterday we looked at Col 1:15-23 a great passage that tells of the supremacy of Christ and his sufficiency for our salvation. It was great to be reminded that all things were created by him, through him and for him (v16). And why did the firstborn over all creation take on human flesh? To reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross (v19).

I was really struck by the movement in verses 21-23. The key words in this section are: 'once', 'but now' and 'if'

Once you were dead
But now you have been made alive in Christ
If you continue to hold on to the hope that you have

A great reminder that Jesus has indeed rescued me from a helpless state and won forgiveness for me on the cross, so that the only appropriate response is to continue to hold on to him in all that I do.

Maybe this Greek caper is not so bad after all ...