There’s a spiritual danger when our faith is only inward, private, and focused on personal benefit. We will miss Christ’s calling in our lives if we’re not actively engaged in the community of Christ. In Colossians 4:7-18 Paul taught through his words and modelled through his actions the importance of community. Through community we can fulfill our calling to be God’s representatives to the world around us and to impact our families, our workplaces, our neighbourhoods and our church community.
- In community we are known and encouraged (vs. 7-9).
Paul had a community in which he was invested. He knew Tychicus as a dear brother and trusted friend, as a faithful minister, and as a fellow servant in the Lord. Onesimus, a slave, was no longer seen as a slave but as a brother in Christ. These people were spiritual family to Paul. He knew them, their character, and their stories.
Paul also wanted to be known. He asked Tychicus and Onesimus to deliver his letter (the book of Colossians) to the Colossian church to encourage them and to tell them about Paul’s circumstances.
- Community keeps us grounded in our faith (vs.10-14). False teaching was creeping into the church at Colossae, trying to get them to follow strict, harsh rules and to give undue attention to angels (v.18). So Paul introduced them to his community, people like Mark and Luke, authors of the books of Mark, Luke and Acts, as though saying, “If you don’t believe me, talk to Mark, talk to Luke.” These two men had faithfully recorded their eyewitness accounts of Jesus’ words, works, life, death and resurrection, ascension, the coming of the Holy Spirit and the movement of the early church.
For those who needed prayer, Paul introduced them to his prayer warrior friend Epaphras (v.12), who was “always wrestling in prayer.” When faced with doubts and temptations and false teaching, we need people in our life who will pray for us and point us back to the foundations of our faith.
Community at times is messy and painful. Mark and Barnabas had a severe disagreement with Paul and went their separate ways for a time. Demas, a few years later, deserted Paul. Paul knew what it was like to be in genuine, raw, imperfect community. So does Jesus. He experienced betrayal, denial, and abandonment at the hands of his closest community. Yet He still calls us to not give up on it.
- In community we find our calling.
Our calling in Christ springs from being in community. Paul encouraged the Colossians to lift up their eyes, to get the bigger picture. God was actively at work in other churches and in cities around them like Laodicea and Hierapolis. Nymphas (v. 15) found his role by hosting a church in his home. Paul admonished Archippus, “See to it that you complete the ministry you have received in the Lord.” In other words, “Stop messing around and get it done!” -Love Paul (v.17)
Community spurs us on to find and fulfill the calling that God has for us in each season.
When we see the bigger picture of the kingdom of God on earth, we can then ask, what’s my role in that picture? Community doesn’t happen by accident. Be intentional, take initiative. Explore the opportunities that are available. Start with prayer, have courageous conversations to explore the possibilities. It’s in community that we become mature in the faith. In community we are better able to step out and accomplish what God is calling us to. God didn’t create us to do life alone.