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Follow God’s Leading
This is an candid and authentic interview that inspires me to follow God’s calling daily. Trinity is not only a US Missionary and church planter in Utah, but he is also my friend. Trinity and I went to school at Evangel together and I am proud of what God is doing in his life.
Marks of Christian Maturity
One of the most common discussions in Christianity relates to the judging of another. When someone begins to make a passing comment about another’s spiritual walk, red flags go up and the discussion turns negative. Nevertheless, is there not a measure of teaching in the New Testament that allows the community of faith to correct and admonish? If yes, then what are the “marks of spiritual maturity” that demonstrative growth in the life of a believer?
I believe that Paul expresses some of these marks of maturity in his letter to the Colosse church. Although this is not an extensive or exhaustive list, it is one that is worth beginning with as one studies spiritual formation. Therefore, by using Colossians 3:12-17, one can discern three marks of maturity – compassion, love, and peace – and how they apply to the overall spiritual development of the believer and the church.
Scripture Focus
12 So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. 14 Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. 15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father. Colossians 3:12-17 (NASB)
Introduction
Paul opens this section of teaching with one of his typical transitions, “therefore.” Not only does Paul use this as a transition indicator but to signify that he is about to make a point. This point is directly related to what Paul had explained previously, “Since you have taken off your old self and practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in the knowledge of the image its creator.” (3:9-10) Coming of a list of vices in Colossians 3:5 and 8, Paul explains in detail what the “new cloths” a Christians should be wearing. In the words of this essay, he is explaining what one could call, “marks of maturity.” This is how to live in the new reality of Christ.
Mark One – Compassion
In verse 12, Paul explains that the believer should “put on” a heart of compassion. He has already asked the believer to take off the old ways of life that were immoral and impure. These vices are what destroy the bonds of Christian unity and community. The virtue that should now be put on is compassion. This is how one should live as God’s new humanity (3:10). Anglican scholar, N.T. Wright explains, “Having taken off the shabby ‘cloths’ appropriate for the old age, the Colossians are to be fitted out with beautiful new robes, appropriate for their new position.” (N.T. Wright, Colossians and Philemon in The Tyndale New Testament Commentary, page 141).
Instead of being selfish and greedy and speaking ill and profanely about others, Paul explains that the new life involves clothing oneself with compassion. Compassion deals with a deep and heartfelt condition one believer has for another. The believer needs to move from sympathy to empathy, i.e. to be effected in one’s inner most being. How one can do this practically is found in the final part of the verse.
Clothing one’s self with compassion involves a life style develops kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. All of these virtues are proven marks of a compassionate heart. Instead of speaking slander, put on kindness. Instead of being selfish, put on humility. Instead of crude and slanderous, put on gentleness. Paul ends the list with patience. Putting on and practicing this new way of life will take patience as the believer learns his new found trust in Jesus and the new community he is building.
Paul ties this truth nicely into verse 13 as he emphatically calls the believers to, “bear with one another.” In other words, believers will make mistakes and more than likely have already made mistakes. So begin now forgiving those that have hurt you in the past and those that are hurting you now and those who will hurt you in the future. All of this is to be done not to allow others to get away with wrongs but to emulate the example of Jesus Christ. Jesus has forgiven the believer therefore the believer must forgive others. Wright explains,
“Paul here makes two points, echoing (perhaps intentionally) the parable of the Unforgiving Servant in Matthew 18:23-25. First, it is utterly inappropriate for one who knows the joy and release of being forgiven to refuse to share the blessing with another. Second, it is highly presumptuous to refuse to forgive one whom Christ himself has already forgiven.” (Wright, page 142)
Thus, it is imperative that a believer demonstrates the mark of maturity in respect to putting on a heart of compassion. This embodied by a kind, gentle, and forgiving lifestyle lived out among the new community of Christ.
Mark Two – Love
In verse 14, Paul finalizes the analogy of clothing by explains that over all the other pieces of clothing, the believer need to put on love. Here again may be an echo of Paul’s teaching at the end of 1 Corinthian 12. Just as a believer should manifest spiritual gifts for the common good, all of the uses and manifestation must be done in a loving way with a loving heart. Without love what would be a spiritual blessing simply become a resounding gong, i.e. an annoyance.
N.T. Wright teaches, “The final garment to be put on is love itself, which will hold the rest in place….possibly carrying the metaphorical meaning of an outer garment holding the others together, or simply a brooch or clasp which does the same job.” (Wright, 142) The outfit is not complete unless love is places over all else that is done. Like a soldier without boots marching out to war, a Christian without love will not last long because he is miss-dressed.
When applying love as a mark of maturity, the believer must recognize again the teachings of Jesus himself. In John 13:35, Jesus explains that the defining feature of a true follower will be manifest in the love they have for one another. As Paul focuses on Christ being all and all, expressing his humility in becoming a man and in his teachings and lifestyle of love, he continues to call the new creation to the highest standard of living – to love one another. Love literally binds all things together in a more perfect unity. The believer who does not function within and live out love is stunting his spiritual development at the very core. Wright adds, “The other virtues, pursued without love, become distorted and unbalanced.” (Wright, page 143)
Mark Three – Peace
As mentioned above, Paul has closed out his teaching on what to put on after taking off the vices of the old self. With that in mind, he moves to the idea of peace. Although Paul could be speaking of inner peace that a believer experiences in Christ, he is more than likely speaking to a peace that operates in the new community – the church. The reality is that these virtues are not put on selfishly, but like spiritual gifts they are for the common good as much as they are for the personal development of the believer. One cannot function without the other.
“[I]t is hard to imagine that Paul is not alluding to the idea of the church as Christ’s body, as (e.g.) in 1:18; 2:19.” (Wright, 142) Peace must be the unmistakable mark of not only a believer who is spiritually maturing but of the church that is maturing in Christ-likeness together. This is a communal mark of maturity that is manifest in a healthy, growing body of believers. Paul concludes this verse with the outcome of such health and growth – thankfulness. The believer and the new community should be grateful to see this type of maturity among its members.
Conclusion
Paul finalizes this section with the manner in which these marks are to be understood, taught, and even judged. This is to be done within the new community establish in Christ. The Word of God that finds it’s dwelling in the believer is what is used to not only teach but to admonish (v16). Yet, notice that as one teaches and admonishes it is to be done in a heart of gratitude that worships not only in wisdom teaching but also in songs, hymns, and spiritual songs. If a believer admonishes another in a heart that has not put on love and is grateful for the work Christ has done in them, the admonishment will come off as unforgiving and harsh and peace and unity will be broken. All of these work together to form a healthy, growing, biblical community.
Finally, the discussion comes full circle. In verse 17, Paul explains that all of this should be done, “in the name of the Lord.” Wright explains, “Acting ‘in someone’s name’ means both representing him and being empowered to do so.” (Wright, 145) All things have been created through Christ and must also be done through Christ, in us.
This is a powerful thought to reflect on. It moves the believer from the contemporary Christian tag line, ‘What would Jesus do?’ to a more fitting understanding, ‘What is Jesus doing.’ What Jesus is doing is working through the marks of maturity that are manifesting in the life of someone who is being spiritual formed. When the believer is doing homework, being a parent, working a job, or testifying to others, they are doing so unto the Lord and with the backing of the Lord. As the believer matures and understands the truths Paul is teaching on here, they must end as Paul ended this section, “giving thanks to God the Father through him [Jesus].”
