August 20, 2015 | New Life vs. Baby Laughs-A-Lot

 

“Put to death what belongs to your worldly nature … Put on the new self. You are being renewed in knowledge according to the image of your Creator.” (Colossians 3:5, 10 HCSB)
Put on the new self
In Colossians 3, Paul calls Christians to live by our new true identity in Jesus, putting to death the old life of our natural flesh nature. The image he uses is the “new self” versus the “old self.” The old self once seemed completely appropriate and attractive, but the believer in Christ has new eyes to see the inherent creepiness in that old way of life.
When I recently taught the text, I used a cultural example – something called Baby Laughs-a-Lot. It was a doll advertised [and actually purchased!] in the 1970s. You can see a clip of the old television commercial here:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5kvenmWEhFE. So creepy! That is what people used to think was a good toy. Paul calls us to leave that disturbing stuff behind. Sure, that used to seem right you, but it’s actually demented and evil. It’s not funny.
A friend later sent me this link from the Toy Channel. It’s Baby Laughs-a-Lot with low batteries: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGb03PO8B1U. That may be an ever better picture of the Christian putting on the old self.
Jesus – all I need and in all I do
I was blessed to spend some formative years working for Pine Cove Camps. The philosophy of programming there was built on the last clause of Colossians 3:11, “Christ is all and in all.” As Bill McKenzie explains in his delightful history of Pine Cove, this is not a statement of pantheism. Rather:
“Don Anderson established the programming philosophy at Pine Cove in 1968, and we’ve used what he put in place ever since. He and I agreed that there is no distinction between sacred and secular for Christians. He often pointed to Colossians 3:11 “Christ is all and in all,” explaining that Christ is “all that a man needs and He is in all that a man does.” – Bill McKenzie, Live For What Outlives You, 59.
Mailbag
I haven’t shared letters in a while. Thought you might also be encouraged by the shared wisdom of the saints regarding Colossians 3.
“Wayne, purposeful living according to the word and the power of The Spirit has been very much on my heart lately as I have struggled with that which is worldly in opposition to the word of God. I started down this path almost 30 years ago and it is still a struggle. Putting off the old self and putting on the new sounds so easy and yet it is not. I think you have nailed it with habit forming. And forming a new habit, especially this habit when the world the flesh and the devil are constantly undermining our efforts, always requires perseverance, patient endurance, humility and the power of The Holy Spirit and The Word.”
“Wayne, when I think about Paul’s analogy of changing our dress of the old self to the new self, my mind jumps back to what he wrote in 1:13, that the Father “has delivered us from the domain and darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved son.” In the first-century mind, it is likely that those words conjured up the ancient experience and practice of mass relocation of conquered peoples to new lands. Paul has stated that God has relocated us spiritually – for good in this case, not as a bad thing. So if that’s true, why would we still sport the dress and customs of our old country? We should be acting like we live in a new place, and we should be conforming our lives to the customs and culture of our new kingdom!”
 
More study

In case you are not aware, there is an incredibly well-done resource available for free that will help you and your Bible study group get the most out of Colossians. My partners in ministry have designed a series of frankly fantastic Bible studies based on our study of Colossians. You can access them at: friscobible.com/studyguides.
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July 23, 2015 | Self-Made Religion

“These are matters which have, to be sure, the appearance of wisdom in self-made religion and self-abasement and severe treatment of the body, but are of no value against fleshly indulgence.” (Colossians 2:23 NASB)
 

The Greek ἐθελοθρησκία ethelotreskia [eth ell o tray ski’ ah] is what we translate “self-made religion.” Paul is describing the typical human practice where people make up the religion they want out of bits and pieces they select from various sources. Truth doesn’t matter as long as the person feels good about themselves and their personal religion.

Much of theological liberalism is driven by ethelotreskia. The liberal enjoys the smug feeling of self-satisfaction contained in his religion. As the personal arbiter of what is and is not sin, this person needs no atonement from Christ. He comforts himself instead with the practices he has deemed worthy for worship of the god he has made in his own image.

In Colossians 2, Paul shows us how to spot these foolish heresies in our society, churches, and our own soul. Once identified, we can then lovingly combat them with scripture. God says to watch for:

  • Practices that are legalistic, mystical, or ascetic.
  • Biblical disciplines and spirituality twisted into self-serving formulas.
  • Praxes defined by what they are against.
  • Systems that diminish Jesus and/or His scripture.
  • Philosophies that appear humble or nobly sacrificial but actually inflame the human sin nature.
  • Leaders who exacerbate fear or practices that contribute to a state of fear.

Wherever we find ethelotreskia, we must respond by exalting the glory and grace of Jesus. As Paul reminds us in Colossians 2:

The substance is the Messiah. (Colossians 2:17b HCSB)
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July 16, 2015 | No Ear Tickling

“Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.” (2 Timothy 4:2-5 ESV)
Hot topics

I just finished working through the text in Colossians 2 that I will be teaching this coming weekend. All I could think was, “Oh boy, will this ruffle some feathers!” It’s a difficult thing to love people enough to speak truth to them when you know it will really hurt their feelings. Yet that is what we are called to do. It’s one way we each fulfill our ministry.

So when you think of it this week, please pray for me. I am poised to really tick off a bunch of people whom I love – people influenced by a culture of fear that sees Jesus as less than enough. I need courage to lovingly step on those toes. Thanks.
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July 9, 2015 | The Power of an Encouraging Word

 “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up as you are already doing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:11 HCSB)
 

Apples of gold

The worship service had just ended and I was talking with a friend when I noticed a young lady waiting patiently to speak with me. Knowing that waiting is a chore for third grade girls, I motioned for her to come on over. [Note: I am convinced that time moves at about 5x normal adult speed for them. Thus a 3 minute delay is for a child the equivalent of 15 minutes of agony.]

She hugged my waist and said, “I just wanted to say you did a great job teaching.” I hugged her back, commented on her cool new braces, and smiled as she skipped down the aisle. When I turned back to my friend, she exclaimed, “I may cry. That was precious.”

Such is the power wielded by all children of God when we encourage others. It is precious indeed.
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July 2, 2015 | Lift Your Eyes

And He said, “Come!” And Peter got out of the boat, and walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But seeing the wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!”

(Matthew 14:29-30 NASB)
 

Sinking feeling

For millennia, Bible students have noted the purposeful phraseology – Peter sank when he took his eyes off of Jesus and looked at the wind. Of course, one can’t really see wind, so Peter was likely noticing its effect on the waves. In your world, the wind may seem very high right now, blinding you with spume and whitecaps. The walk of faith may be threatened by legitimate storms. Peter would understand. I do as well.

Yet Peter would remind us that the only solution is to fix our eyes upon Jesus. The wind may be howling, yet Jesus is more formidable. The waves may be tossing, yet Christ has power over them. As Peter’s fellow apostle Paul wrote from prison:

 

For everything was created by Him,

in heaven and on earth,

the visible and the invisible,

whether thrones or dominions

or rulers or authorities-

all things have been created through Him and for Him.

(Colossians 1:16 HCSB)

When we look to Him, we can walk through all the storms with confidence. Paul wrote the above while watching horrible persecution take shape against Christians. Augustine quoted it as barbarians destroy his beloved country. Ethan the Ezrahite said the same in Psalm 89 – specifically noting that even through storms, happiness is found in walking “in the light of YHWH’s presence.”

I pray that you and I will lift our eyes to Jesus and walk in light of His presence. Anything less will merely contribute to that sinking feeling.
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June 25, 2015 | Fear Is Not the Answer

“And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds, yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach- if indeed you continue in the faith firmly established and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel that you have heard, which was proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, was made a minister.“

(Colossians 1:21-23 NASB)
 

After being bombarded with an unusually large spate of bad news this morning, I took a break to enjoy the weekly racquetball game with my sweetheart. As we walked through the parking lot, I was ruminating on all the junk that takes center stage in this world and how that has led to an inevitable reaction of apocalyptic fears. I had just thought, “From movies to books to music, everyone seemed consumed with fear and fixated on the end of western civilization.”

At that moment I noticed the music blaring through the rec center loudspeakers, “It’s the end of the world as we know it,” by R.E.M. I laughed aloud. [Note: considering the multiple stares that ensued, laughter is apparently frowned upon in those hallowed halls.]

A few seconds later I laughed louder, because the Lord brought a welcome thought to my mind: fear is not the answer. Neither is escape or nihilism. The preeminent Jesus is the answer. He is in charge and directing things far beyond what any of us can see. He is the firstborn who reconciles. He promises to set all straight.

This weekend I encourage you to do what I did – talk to the Lord and read His word in Colossians 1:15-23. If you wish, study with me as I teach that passage this Sunday. [If Frisco Bible Church is far for you or you already have a church home, the video should be available by next Monday at www.friscobible.com.] If you are beaten down by weirdness as well, 80s apocalyptic music, ice cream, and racquetball can certainly soothe. But nothing makes a difference like focusing on the wholly bright Jesus.
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