Colossians #9: Undeniable Privilege
We prayed this week in our merger prayer about the difficulty of this merger process. What makes this process difficult is our love for what we have always known. While the church is to point us to Jesus and we all know that He’s the reason we gather… here or there… there’s something about the way we do it there or here that we really don’t want to change. ---There are somethings we want to change… but it’s usually back to the older ways.
I’ve heard all about how full your church “used” to be… and how you would want it to be like that again.
I’ve heard about how you like to worship… your style as it were. How you remember when it used to be more liturgical… your pastor taught from the pulpit in his or her robe… You haven’t asked me to do that… but I hear your remembering how great it used to be as how I ought to do it that way too.
I’ve heard stories about all the ministry you “used” to do and we ought to go back to doing that.
I’ve heard how you miss being in the building… and some refuse to worship with us anywhere else.
I get it. I love old memories too.
Sure the sparkliness… of new is fun, but there is just something about old stuff.
The other night, Michelle and I were playing our guitars and she asked what I was playing and I told her… “I cross my heart and promise to give all I've got to give to make all your dreams come true, in all the world you’ll never find, a love that’s true as mine”
Old George Strait song… I cross my heart… Love classic country music… Garth Brooks, Alan Jackson… even older - Hank Williams, Waylon Jennings, Johnny Cash, Patsy Cline,Charlie Pride,
But I also like finding Old bottles… milk jugs, medicine bottles, It’s sort of fun to imagine what they were used for and how they found there way out in the woods where I might find them.
There are old tools, saws, hammers. It’s pretty interesting to see how far we have come in terms of technology and design.
That’s the funny thing - all that old music we were playing was available because it was stored on my iPad.
New can be exciting.. .sparkly… but it’s the old that holds me.
There was a time when I wanted everything new… but that was because I didn’t have any life behind me.
But there are some old things that just aren’t as good as the new things. I might not like that I can’t work on a new car… but I sure like the way it runs
I may not like being “available” all the time b/c of a cell phone, but I sure love that you are.
I may not like that I can’t find anything to watch on 60 channels, but it’s sure better than only having 3
I’ve found, and granted my time on this earth is somewhat limited. For most things, the new is an improvement on the old… technology has improved, the way its made has improved, the way its stored or preserved, what ever.
And that means, in order to enjoy the benefits of the new, we have to clear out the old in order for their to be room for the new. We have to make room for the new.
That’s what we talked about last week, How Jesus clears out our old loves in order to make room for his love to grow in us. We referred to it as a spiritual detox…removing the spiritual impurities - sin - from our lives.
When Jesus comes into our lives we let go of the old way of living… actually let go of our old lives… the way of the world. Paul gave us a list of these sins of our eyes, our mouth, and heart.
He said when Jesus comes we take off that old way nature.. purging them from our way of living… and be renewed as we become like our savior… taking on his nature… putting in or taking on a new way of life.
I left you last week with a challenge to invite someone in to your life. You invited Jesus in your heart and when you did, you repented of your sin and in that moment you were forgiven. But for many of us, we continue to struggle with our sin. And the key to finding healing scripture says is to confess your sin to one another. That was the last thing I left you with last week. To tell someone your struggles, to invite them to pray with and for you, to hold you accountable.
Scripture promises this will bring healing from sin and put us in a place where the character of Christ can begin to grow.
Paul goes on to explain how this spiritual growth process works in the next portion of his letter, where he lays out an order for how this new life, our being in Christ, is to be experienced: be… have… do.
Be - Have - Do
Today we are going to be talking about how we know these are in order and how to fix it if we have them a bit mixed up. Getting them mixed up happens pretty easy… for example
When we talk about the Christian life, we usually tend to go straight to the DO… the things a person does or should be doing - and They aren’t necessarily the same things right. We are quick to qualify people based on behavior.
But we wouldn’t say that everyone who comes to Church is a Christian would we?
No, many come to check it out, MY DRUG PROBLEM.
But it’s not just matters of faith that we do this.
We use the same rationale when we think of a person who is successful, we think of what they do or the things they have.
If you have a fancy house, a particular career, booshie clothes, a German or Italian made car, vacation in beautiful places, or have county club hobbies… we all know what success looks like don’t we?
Like wise when we describe someone wears old clothes, is in jail, asks for money, drives an old hooptie - anything we can use anything a person has or does to assign identity.
Not because that is actually who they are… but because that’s how we judge ourselves...
But Jesus and the Gospels teach us that there is a new way of recognizing a Christian, and it doesn’t begin with what they do or what they have… but instead it begins with God. Their position… your identity is established by God… not what you do or don’t do or what you have or don’t have.
In vs 12 Paul starts us off…
Paul’s talking to the church here. People who have put their faith in Jesus. People who have said Jesus is the Lord of their life and they were going to live for him.
Paul says, remember who you are... God’s chosen… holy and dearly loved.
Holy means set apart… Remember Jesus is the chosen one… God’s beloved… and we are in him.
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In the news lately, there is a lot being said about privilege.
The conversation has been in the context of race these last weeks, saying that because people are treated differently because of their race, they are privileged.
It’s been used to say that some folks have a positional advantage over others.
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I know this is a hot topic, so today I want us to take this idea that I realize many in our nation - probably in our pews - disagree on and move it to a spiritual conversation, one where I don’t think any of us can disagree… but biblical privilege is a reality. We can trace it back to Genesis where God told Abraham:
Paul is making a similar claim in out text today.
Paul says yes Christians are privileged over others. You are in Christ, everyone can’t say that. As a Christian, YOU have a positional advantage over others, and its the folks who by grace through faith are with Christ hidden in God.
Position of Privilege: BE
Yes you are privileged… more than others… You - because you are in Christ, you are holy and dearly loved.
You may not feel like it, but that probably has more to do with what you have or or don’t have… or what you are doing or not doing… or at least the way you see it… But the fact is WHO God says you ARE when you become a Christian… HOLY AND DEARLY LOVED.
That’s where we have to start… not measuring ourselves or one another by what they have or do… but accepting that when a person surrenders to Christ, When we accept Jesus as the Lord of our lives, we become a Christian… in that moment you are holy and dearly loved… not because of what you have done, but because of what God has done through Christ for you.
God says, because of what Jesus has done, you are positionally ----- privileged----- you are given possessions that show your privilege.
A uniform as it were.
Now, this privilege isn’t about you… so don’t get too prideful about it…
I remember the first time I got a tailored suit. It was quite a production to go downtown and get measured. and then you had to wait for them to make it or alter it. By the time I got the call to come pick it up, I couldn’t wait to go see how it fit. I was excited to wear it. This suit was unquestionably MINE. - Until - I gained too much weight for them to be altered an more… that was my favorite suit… I was proud of it!
Because of who you have BEcome in Christ, you HAVE these things to put on. Actually because of who you have BEcome, you Put these on… You gladly wear these. And pride doesn’t make the list.
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In sports we get a uniform because our coach decided you made the cut… in the military you earn a the uniform in bootcamp...
With God it’s given because someone else made the cut for you. You are given the uniform because of what Jesus has done.
This uniform is your privileged possession. You aren’t privileged because you have them… even though they do make you different… but no you are privileged TO have them.
Possessions of Privilege: BE - HAVE
That’s right, you would be just like everyone else without these, so yes they are special… But remember, what did you do to deserve them?
Nothing… God’s grace and forgiveness have set you on a path where you get to "put on” the character of Christ.
It’s part of our spiritual development, to become like Christ.
So notice something about these characteristics:
Compassion,
Kindness,
Humility,
Gentleness,
Patience,
Forgiveness,
Love
What do you notice about them?
Do you see it?
They are all relational characteristics. Each one of these are empowered in our lives by the Holy Spirit - given to us so that we can live in healthy relationships with others.
Each one of these are realized with other people.
You see, when we claim our identity to be a christian but fail to show be compassionate to one another, fail to be kind to one another, fail to be gentle, or patient with one another, when we refuse to forgive… the whole thing breaks down.
When we claim to BE a follower of Jesus, but refuse to put on his Character… then who are we really following? Not Jesus that’s for sure. It’s a false claim.
That’s the sort of privilege that our world is used to… when we Lord our identity, our authority, our holiness, over others.
Maybe you have known Christians who were “holier than thou”. Always pointing out the faults and mistakes of others, refusing to extend grace to people who were struggling with sin.
Look back at those characteristics of Christ we are to put on:
Compassion,
Kindness,
Humility,
Gentleness,
Patience,
Forgiveness,
Love
In our culture today, possessions of privilege are those things that our position get us access too that others don’t have access to.... and just to be clear that is exactly what this says… because we are positionally privileged IN CHRIST, we have the possessions of privilege… The CHARACTER OF CHRIST.
But that’s not the end… remember Paul is trying to help people get their privilege in order here.... so we don’t stop here.
There is a purpose for our identity and our possessions. Paul explains in vs 16-17
Did you hear that…
Paul said, because of your identity, you have access to things that others don’t… and now he says… here’s what you do with it.
Share it with one another. It’s relational remember… it’s not made for just you. You are privileged FOR the benefit of others.
Performance of Privilege: BE - HAVE - DO
For the benefit of others, as a representative of Jesus.
The problem with the worlds experience of privilege is that when we have an advantage, it is usually used for themselves or their family.
We hear about a good old boys club… or cronyism… or nepotism.
Towns and Governments are always accused of doing using privilege like this.. and so are Churches.
That’s why Paul reminds the church that the only real privilege you have been given is designed for the use of OTHERS.
He says everything you do or say is done as a representative of Jesus.
Now if that’s the case, if what we have and what we do don’t make us who we are, but are a result of who we are… what does your character and your actions say about you? Do you have your privilege in order?
Is your biblical privilege in order?
Is your life shaped by earthly privilege or under the umbrella of biblical privilege.
You remember the Abrahamic covenant we read earlier, Where God said he would do this and that… in order for his people to be blessed and be a blessing. You remember that?
So let me close by asking you three questions.
First:
Do you have the privilege of being in Christ? Have you put your faith in Jesus as your Lord of your life… the one you decide to live for? That’s where it starts.
Second.
I outlined several that Paul says are ours… he has lists of others in other places known as the fruit of the spirit… The character of Christ in you. Do you need ot develop these characteristics? How are you going to do that? Do you need help?
and Third-
Are you using it to show the world, your coworkers, your neighbors what Jesus is like? Is your privilege a blessing to others?
Life is much more than an accident. Where ever you go, believe God needs you there. Where ever you are, trust God has put you there. He has a purpose for you being there; Christ, alive in you, wants to do something through you, no matter where you are Believe this and go in His grace and His love and His power. Amen.