Friday 17 October 2014

Background

One person I would love to have met was FredPratt Green, hymn writer, poet, and a well-respected Methodistminister. His words have influenced my writing and the clarity oftheir message has spoken, at times, as if he was sitting with meand counselling me on a personal level. Paul's words in thispassage must have had the same effect on the Colossian church.

At the time of writing, Paul was in prison in Rome and facingpossible execution. Yet he still had such a care for people he hadnever met that his words were of advice, compassion andencouragement. His concern was that they should be following andlearning from the true gospel, and his encouragement was for themto live courageously, faithfully, in unity and with hearts full ofthankfulness.

There is also a word for the church in Laodicaea, one of theneighbouring towns to Colosse, and another church that Paul hadnever visited, yet is picturing in his mind's eye. He talks ofstruggling for these and other unknown Christians; and part of thatstruggle could well have been involved with his own mortality. Hewas anxious that these churches should grow in unity and purpose,but did he have the thought at the back of his mind that if he wasexecuted for his faith, what effect would that have on theseuntested Christians?

He was also concerned that the Colossian church would not be ledastray by false teaching and doctrine. The Gnostic influence on thechurch seems to be the one he was anxious about, as he writes aboutthe treasures of wisdom hidden in Christ. The Gnostics believedthat only specialist knowledge could bring reconciliation with Godand that was a secret that only they held. Paul makes it clear thatChrist is the true source of that wisdom and anyone can find theirway to God through Christ.

Paul may never have visited the church in Colosse, but he didwhat he could to counsel and encourage them, and his words stillleave their mark today.

To Ponder

• Is there a writer you would like to have met - and why?

• How did you feel when you had that experience of words 'leapingoff the page' because they were so relevant to you, or heard a songor a speaker and believed their words were for you?

• Why do you think the ancient scriptures are still relevanttoday?