You’ve probably heard phrases such as, “We’re better together” or “Two is better than one.” In fact, I’ve preached those exact ideas. The problem is the world tells us something different. Typically, the world celebrates independence and individual accomplishment. The world tends to emphasize divisions and to draw lines between people.
The Church, by its very nature offers a different model than the world. Rather than celebrating independence, the Church talks about our need for one another. Rather than emphasizing division, the Church calls us to be one in Christ.
But what’s that mean?
My pastor (because yes, even pastors have pastors) once wrote a letter to his congregation using the analogy of a sandbox. He wrote about three ways we tend to relate others:
Head in the sand: “this is something like the ostrich style of relationships that simply wants the world’s difficulties to go away, and by becoming blind, deaf, and dumb to them, we hope to make it so.”
Line in the sand: “this involves making bold proclamations and taking a firm, confident position…putting people on either side of an issue, separating people from one another.”
Play in the sand: “[imagines] an expansive sandbox in which there is plenty of room for plenty of people, along with plenty of similarities and differences to play together…it suggests a container that holds a wildly diverse group of people together.”
While there are occasions when each of those options might be appropriate, and even needed, I’ve found myself wondering what it would mean for us, as the family called First Presbyterian Church of Lewistown, to be those who most often choose to play in the sand. I found myself wondering what character traits and practical actions might be required to be known as those who choose to play in the sand.
Turns out, the apostle Paul had an answer to my wonderings.
In Colossians 3:12-14. Paul writes, “Therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.”
On Sunday, we’ll begin a new sermon series, which will carry us through the fall, called “Together,” based on Paul’s words in Colossians 3:12-14. We’ll explore the traits and practices that Paul challenges the church in Colossae to be shaped by. And I hope, we’ll be challenged not only in our relationships with one another, but also as we find ourselves sent into the community and world bearing the light Christ.
I hope you’ll join us this Sunday as we kick off our program year, and throughout the fall as we explore what it means to be together!
Grace and peace, Kimmy
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