Week 9, Day 5: Do All In the Name of the Lord

Today’s Reading:  Mark 1:1-2:28

Some thoughts from yesterday’s reading…

In churches of Christ, there are two drastically different attitudes toward Bible Authority.  One school of thought believes that God has given us His word for a reason, and the reason is that He expects us to be obedient to it.  Based on this, one would understand the Bible to be laying forth a pattern of works that are necessary to follow so that one could be pleasing to God.  To accomplish this, God has revealed His mind through the revelation of examples, and commands, so that we can know what He wants us to do.  The second school of thought is that God has given us the Bible as a general guide for what He wants us to do.  He has given us some examples of things that are acceptable to Him, but they are certainly not limiting.  We can use God’s examples as ideas for what we would like to do.

Practices between these two schools of thought are drastically different.  The first school will only do those things that are found in the New Testament, either found in a command or an approved example.  The second will have many newer, and “progressive” practices that they believe are loosely based on the general examples of the New Testament.  Let me provide an example of this idea.  In 1 Corinthians 16:1, Paul gave instructions for how the church in Corinth were to provide funds for themselves to meet a need.  The first school of thought would say that we have an example of how the church is to take up a collection to provide for financial needs.  We can take up a collection on the first day of the week (Sunday) to provide for these needs.  The second school of thought says that this is only one example of how we can gain such funds.  They often argue that the first day of the week was just a convenient time for the first century church, but only incidental to the example.  Therefore, the collection can be taken up at any time that is convenient for the church.

What does all of this have to do with our reading from yesterday?  We have a key in the midst of our reading, that tells us which of these two schools of thought is correct.  If we look at Colossians 3:17, we see that God, through inspiration, has told us that we are supposed to do all things (whether in word or deed) “in the name of the Lord Jesus.”  This phrase means that we are to do all that we do by the authority of Christ.  The only way that we can know what is authorized is by being told by God!  How else can we know what He authorizes (or what He is happy with)?  If we enact practices that we cannot find in God’s revelation, then we are not doing that practice “in the name of Jesus Christ.”  We may claim that we are acting by His authority, but if He has not spoken, we are not!

Some try to limit this passage, claiming that it only really applies to the verse immediately preceding it.  Many don’t even want to apply it there, as doing so means that the practices of having bands, choirs, and such are prohibited.  But, this verse is not limited in scope.  It applies to all that is in this context.  We have aspects of personal responsibility, family responsibilities, and work responsibilities all addressed in this passage.  Colossians 3:17 is very far reaching, just based on the wording of the verse itself.  Paul said, “Whatever you do in word or deed…”  What aspect of life is not covered by that?

We need to commit ourselves to following the will of God in every thing.  Our actions should be constantly fashioned by what we find revealed in His word.  If we find that our practices are not authorized in His revelation, then we need to abandon them.

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Week 9, Day 4: Bearing Fruit

Today’s Reading:  Colossians 3:1-4:18

Some thoughts from yesterday’s reading…

In Paul’s opening remarks to the brethren at Colossae, he states that he gives thanks to God for them because he had heard of the faith that they possessed and because of the love that they had for the saints.  We may wonder how Paul could possibly have heard about their situation, let alone their characteristics.  But, it seems that word of the great faith found in Colossae traveled to him, most likely by other Christians who had been in their area.  In Colossians 1:5, Paul connects the faith and love of these Christians to the hope that they had, which they had heard in the word of truth, the gospel message.  In verse 6, he said that the gospel had come to them as it had to the rest of the world, and that it was bearing fruit in them.  I want you to consider part of what Paul has to say in this verse:

which has come to you, as it has also in all the world, and is bringing forth fruit, as it is also among you since the day you heard and knew the grace of God in truth;
–Colossians 1:6

The gospel had gone forth to this region, and as a result several had become Christians.  They continued to use the word of God to “bring forth fruit” in their area.  There are many ways that one can bring forth fruit.  One way is to teach others the gospel.  The fruit that is produced is more souls added to the Lord’s kingdom.  Another way to produce fruit is to strengthen those who are already Christians.  We can help others to grow in the faith, perhaps bringing them to the point that they have the ability and confidence to go forth teaching the gospel message to others.  Perhaps we can bear fruit by developing the characteristics in ourselves or others that reflect the nature that God wants us to have.  All of these (and many others) represent growth and the production of “fruit” for the Kingdom of Heaven.

For the Colossian brethren to “bear fruit” they had to be active.  They were not going to be able to bear fruit if they were not doing anything at all.  Notice that Paul said that the gospel had been bearing fruit and increasing in all the world, as it had been in Colossae.  It is interesting to note that Jesus, as He was giving His disciples their final instructions before going back to His throne in Heaven, told them that they were to “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature (Mark 16:15).”  Paul could write to this church that the gospel “was preached to every creature under heaven (Colossians 1:23).”  The only way that could be accomplished by the hard work of all the first century Christians!  The message went out from the apostles, but those who were converted took the message and shared it with others, thus bearing fruit and increasing!

We have the same responsibility today that the church in Colossae had.  We must continue to grow and develop ourselves, and share the gospel with others so that they can have the same hope that we have (which is found in the message of the gospel, Colossians 1:5).  If Paul were to write a letter to us, could he write with the same enthusiasm?  Could he be thankful for our efforts of spreading the gospel?  Would he even have heard of our efforts?  Let’s be active in our work so that we can be “bearing fruit and increasing” in both spirit and number!

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