Pathways To Peace Series

Pathway to Peace

Colossians Series

CCCAG 6-25-23

Scripture- Colossians 3:11-4:1

Today we are going to be closing our series on the book of Colossians with a message about seeking peace in our lives.

Peace is one of those things that really sells today. Whole industries exist to promote the idea of peace-

Psychiatrists and psychologists

Pharmaceuticals

Music

Seminars

All exist to help people find peace.

Peace is important to us on a deep level. None of us want to live in a constant state of conflict and war either externally or internally.

Today we are going to be exploring a pathway to peace on both sides- the world the exists on the outside and how we walk toward peace on the inside.

Let’s start with the outside.

When I went through basic training the first time, I had a senior drill sergeant named SFC Monk. Sergeant Monk was about 6’5, 250 pounds of muscle. The other thing that distinguished him was that he was very black.

After they did the whole shark attack thing when we got off the bus, and then told us to get into something resembling a formation. An interesting thing happened- the black soldiers all formed into one squad, the Hispanics in another, and the Caucasian soldiers into the other two squads. Drill Sergeant Monk saw how we had formed up, and we learned what the term “being smoked” was all about. Basically, it’s calisthenics, usually pushups, leg raises, sit-ups until you want to die. It’s done for two reasons- the first is you have to pass a PT test at the end of basic training so this helps you get into shape. The second reason is to teach you the consequences of not living up to an Army value. Once the third person threw up, Drill Sergeant Monk told us to stand back up and listen to him.

He asked, how many people here consider themselves southerners?

About half of the people raised their hands.

He then said, if you are a southern white man, I want you to turn around and find the nearest black man. He is your battle buddy. You will bunk with him, you will eat with him, you will pull guard with him. If he goes somewhere, you go somewhere and vice versa. If I ever find you without your battle buddy, I will smoke you until you beg me for death.

Everyone else, I want you to find a fellow soldier of a different race. If you can’t find that, then someone from the north is with someone from the south. Someone from a city is teamed with a someone from the country. I want everyone to be paired with someone who you have nothing in common with, and you will learn the Army values of loyalty to each other and respect for your fellow soldiers. You are no longer white, black, brown, Latinos or anything else other than Army Green.

It was my first adult experience idea of unity through diversity.

However, it’s not just an Army value- it has its roots in the church.

When we talk about unity through diversity, the first organization that dealt with this is the church.

Initially in the church, there was a lot of drama-

What do we do with the Gentiles?

Do they need to become Jews before the can be Christians?

When Jesus died and rose again, he gave specific instructions that this Gospel was to go out into the entire world. Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.

Jesus then gave Peter a special vision that told him that all people that come to Christ are cleansed and purified in His sight and should not be treated any differently than his Jewish brethren. At the same time, Jesus then saved Saul of Tarsus, gave him the name Paul, and sent him specifically to the Gentiles world, all while writing much of the New Testament.

This was a huge culture shock to the early church, and they had several theological scuffles over it that threatened to destroy the peace that Jesus had just died to give them.

That’s part of the reason that Paul, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, wrote to the church at Colossae.

Paul wanted them to experience God’s peace in every part of their private and their church life.

We are going to go through this section of scripture a few verses at a time. We will see first how Jesus wants us to think about those inside and outside the church, so that his church can be part of the pathway toward having peace that we all desire.

Colossians 3:11

11 Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all. 12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.