different but one
A wealthy businessman was horrified to see a fisherman sitting beside his boat, playing with a small child. "Why aren't you out fishing?" asked the businessman.
"Because I caught enough fish for one day, "replied the fisherman.
"Why don't you catch some more?"
"What would I do with them?"
"You could earn more money," said the businessman. "Then with the extra money, you could buy a bigger boat, go into deeper waters, and catch more fish. Then you would make enough money to buy nylon nets. With the nets, you could catch even more fish and make more money. With that money you could own two boats, maybe three boats. Eventually you could have a whole fleet of boats and be rich like me."
"Then what would I do?" asked the fisherman.
"Then," said the businessman, "you could really enjoy life."
The fisherman looked at the businessman quizzically and asked, "What do you think I am doing now?"
The passage from Paul’s letter to the Colossians (3:1-17) is the very well known plea to the Church at
And the first plea he makes is to concentrate on things that are above not on the things of earth… Perhaps the fisherman referred to in the story was not concentrating on God, but perhaps he was – whatever he was doing though, he was recognising that there was something more to life than just earning money.
And as Paul continues his teaching we recognise that we are called as diverse and different people, with many different attitudes and likes and dislikes, but in that calling we are also called to unity.
Paul recognises that differences will be present in all Churches – there will be differences over styles of worship, music, types of services, stewardship, and other things as well. These are part of all congregations, but Paul suggests that these things are not actually that important – because people are expected to be different, and respect one another’s differences.
Many of us from time to time are inclined to judge other people on something about their faith – I think it’s probably just one of those bits of humanity that really fails to give glory to anything or anyone, especially God. And so Paul reminds his readers that in God’s eyes, all are one – Greeks and Jews, Barbarians and Scythians, slaves and free, circumcised and uncircumcised…
This passage is sometimes used to corrupt all kinds of things – whilst the over riding command of Christ to love applies in every case, it does not mean that Christians should tolerate everything. Certain judgements have to be made on the basis of our beliefs, and sometimes those judgements have to be worth fighting for. An example of this has been seen recently with the issues over the Catholic adoption agencies, and their request for a sympathetic dispensation under the discrimination law – a law which once again seems to be pushing traditional Church teaching almost underground. Similar issues surround prayers in school, the celebration of Christmas, and so on…
But even in those cases, where we must take a stand, we are also guided by Paul, who says that as God’s chosen ones, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness and patience. Bear with each other, be forgiving, and above all remember that command to love. Those are the qualities of God. Those are the qualities that we, his people, must strive to achieve.
In diversity we must be seen to praise God. We will all have different ways of doing things, because God, whilst he has created us all in his image, he has also made us with many differences. Those differences don’t make one person right and another wrong. The Christian body, the Church, is made up of many different members with different qualities, but all must be valued for all are created in that image of God, and all are important in his Church… And that is where the call to unity is essential, because whilst we live with differences, we are called to one faith, one Lord, one Saviour.
Jesus has done the same for every person – for the traditionalist and the modernist, the guitarist and the organist, the young and the old, the good and the bad… Paul says, ‘above everything else we do, we must clothe ourselves with love…’
And so we are challenged to live out a new life for Christ, a new life that is continually changing, as we grow in the faith and love of Christ, and face new experiences in our lives. I read an introduction to this passage in a Bible commentary, and it began like this, ‘There's a line from a film where two African Americans are walking past a "whites only" church in America, and one of them said, "I've been trying to get into that church since I was a boy". The other man responded by saying, "That's nothing, Jesus has been trying to get in there for a lot longer and he hasn't got in yet."
The introduction continues, “The church is a bit sick. We're suffering from lack of care. We don't love, and we're not loved. The church is hurting. Most believers have witnessed a congregation brawling over some trivial issue like the colour of the church carpet. Divisions and party spirit are ever increasing problems with new ministries. Hurt, grief, anger, dashed expectations, frustration, fear.... a mass of emotions. Hurting churches, hurting people, hurting each other.”
I hope that you don’t recognise this Parish in that introduction, but it does, perhaps in an exaggerated way, highlight the need to look at the teaching Paul offers here, and respect… respect God and his command to love one another, and respect each other…
I’ll finish with some words of Paul, words upon which we can examine ourselves, but words which remind us of where our hope, our joy, our comfort and our peace are to be found… ‘Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; teach and admonish one another in all wisdom; and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God. And whatever you do in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.’ AMEN
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