Wednesday, June 27, 2007

Proclamation for Presentation

Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ.
(Colossians 1:28 – ESV)

Emphasis is important. Our distinctives, whether they are church polity, worship style, etc., are not to be our main focus. What people should find first and foremost is Christ and everything ancillary to that had better be pointing to Him or it is pointing the wrong way. We need to seriously consider that as we heap on programs and policies and such. It sounds so obvious, but upon further inspection, you might be surprised at how much of our lives and church functions have either drifted or not had Him as the center at all.

It seems like everyone is trying to lure people to church with what they offer, be it great music, great social programs, great networking opportunities, great benefits of one sort or the other. Whatever happened to Our Great God? That is the only thing we have to offer that the rest of the world cannot. What are we supposed to be trying to do with our people, getting them to climb the social ladder, as if upward mobility is the upward call? No sir, God won’t be interested in our presenting members of the faith as mature in health, wealth, or mature in emotions. Paul said he proclaimed Christ and he did that so he could present people as mature in Jesus. If you are proclaiming a better life you are not proclaiming Christ. If you are presenting maturity as stability, success, and significance, you are not presenting Christ.

Him we proclaim – Jesus is who is to be proclaimed, not anything or anyone else. Other things must point to Him as God, as preeminent, as supreme and as sufficient. Ultimately, whatever our ministry is, it is to the Lord first, we are to bring people to Him.

Warning and teaching everyone with all wisdom – Paul has to declare and defend, and he does this for all, and he does this with the whole counsel of God. He doesn’t hold back (Acts 20:20-32). We can see what Paul does with this knowledge and this stewardship of the mystery, and he wants other people to grow up in it (Ephesians 1:15-23, 3:14-21). He warns and teaches everyone in a wise fashion, and in so doing teaches them to be wise themselves. Everyone matters, and not all will bear the same amount of fruit, but all count in the kingdom.

That we may present everyone mature in Christ – if there is one area in which your doctrine, devotion, and demonstration ought to be robust, it is in the knowledge and grace of Christ. It is Him who we worship, and the degree we grow in that is the degree we are maturing.

For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me (Colossians 1:29 – ESV). Paul knows it is God’s power. However, that doesn’t mean he relaxes, but that he is encouraged to use all his might as God is giving Paul His (Philippians 2:12-13 / Ephesians 3:7, 20). In his ministry Paul faced many struggles, being pressed beyond measure, which is why he can confidently say it must be Christ in him that is working. If we give God all our might to preach Christ and live for Christ we will find that He is giving us His might. Your life is a proclamation; make sure Christ is the presentation.


9 comments:

Gojira said...

You know, JD, you give the amen corner a workout and a half!

Excellent post!

donsands said...

"If we give God all our might to preach Christ and live for Christ we will find that He is giving us His might.'

You're good my brother. Thanks for the good teaching.

Even So... said...

It is all Jesus...Him we proclaim...Him we present...Him we point to in praise when others see Him in us...

Even So... said...

God is worthy, and He does do some wonderful things in His children, so that their lives may show off the radiance of Christ...may it be so for all of us, and one day, it most certainly will be, to the fullest extent...

Anonymous said...

That we may present everyone mature in Christ – if there is one area in which your doctrine, devotion, and demonstration ought to be robust, it is in the knowledge and grace of Christ. It is Him who we worship, and the degree we grow in that is the degree we are maturing.

AMEN!

Anonymous said...

I'm reminded of the warning given to the church of Ephesus--"Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have lost your first love. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place--unless you repent." Rev. 2

We get sooo busy doing good things "for" Him, that we lose sight "of" Him.

Keep at us JD--For you to write the same things to us is not tedious, but for us it is safe. :)

Craver Vii said...

I love that word--proclaim. In fact, I would rather be called a proclaimer than evangelist or witness, because I think these other words are glibly used by people who don't fully understand them, and so they carry extra baggage and theological misconceptions. But a person who is passionate about proclaiming Jesus... that is straightforward and simple.

Even So... said...

Susan, Chris, Craver...thank you...and yes, we must endeavor to help others in the fold to remember these truths...

Baptist Girl said...

A big AMen!

Cristina