At the University of Southern California the list of great running backs for the Trojan football team is legendary: John Arnett, Frank Gifford, Mike Garret, OJ Simpson, Anthony Davis, Ricky Bell, Charles White, Marcus Allen, Sam Cunningham, LenDale White, Reggie Bush. No other college comes close to such running-back excellence. Why? Listen to the answer given by Marcus Allen, arguably the best of them all, as he described to a reporter what he said in a motivational speech to a later generation of USC players: "As I look back I was telling them that I won the Comeback Player of the Year in the NFL, won the league (NFL) MVP, Super Bowl MVP, Rookie of the Year; and I told them, ‘guys, I won that in practice at USC’...The coaching of John Jackson and John Robinson helped me understand football and what it is all about. It is a physical game. I tell people that the running position is not about just yards. It is the only aspect of the game where you can physically dominate and impose your will on an opponent.”
Now switch scenes with me for a moment. This one is fiction in content, but maybe too close to reality for comfort. A young man earns a certain level of notoriety as a great high school running back. He gets the call from USC. The head coach even visits with he and his parents in his home. The coach asks, "How would you like to become the next great USC running back?" The boy answers, "I would just so long as I don’t have to go to practice or study the play book." A moment of silence passes. As Dad watches the back of the USC coach exiting, he hangs his head and breathes out a deep sigh of sorrow.
There it is. Before victory comes know how. Before doing comes knowledge. However, in church circles, haven’t you heard folks say, “Don’t give me theology, I just need something practical?"
"I get bored reading. I just want something to do."
"Don’t bother me with biblical references. I am who I am."
One might wonder...does our heavenly Father sometimes respond like the boys Dad.
Far too often in the Christian community we hear believers offer this sentiment as though the great foundational truths of our faith have little to do with our lives beyond our initial salvation…but, (please excuse the poor English) this just ain’t so. What we believe has everything to do with how we act and how deeply we believe determines how much our actions will be shaped by our belief. For example, if we simply pay lip-service to the doctrines of God’s omniscience (all-knowing) and omnipresence (everywhere present), we will probably never give much thought to what God is thinking about us when we’re about to engage in sin. However, if these doctrines are paramount not only in our minds, but our hearts as well, then being keenly aware of God’s presence and all-knowing awareness of our actions will more than likely cause us to hesitate and even refrain from engaging in the sin.
Thus sound biblical theology is basic to sound Christian living. It may be true that we will not always act with integrity regarding our biblical foundations, but it is even more true that we will always fail to live up to biblical expectations if we are not biblically informed. This is really true in our relationships…and really, really true regarding our most special relationships. We’ll see this as we study the Apostle Paul’s instructions on the family as he penned them to the Church of Colosse (Colossians 3:18-21).
Here’s what he wote
18 "Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord."
19 "Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them."
20 "Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord."
21 "Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged."
Now, at first glance, that all seems really straight forward. However, to jump into Paul’s explanation of a Christ-centered home, in Col. 3:18-21, without first considering the overall intent of his letter causes us to miss crucial theology concerning the Lord Jesus Christ that reflects directly on a believer’s ability to follow through on the commands found in Colossians 3:18-21. So, let’s back up a little…
The Colossians had come under a set of false teachings that taught, among other things, Jesus was not sufficient for the complete work of redemption. Much like present day Christians, the Colossians were being lured into a "Jesus plus something" mentality. In chapter two of Colossians (2:16-19) some of those things were mentioned:
eating rituals
religious festivals
false humility
worshipping angels
special knowledge
The Apostle would have none of it. It is why he went to great lengths (Colossians 1:15 – 2:15, 20-23) to demonstrate that Jesus was not only sufficient to save them from their sins, but to save them from their old habits and to transform them into that for which God had redeemed them. Therefore, the great theme of his letter to them was simple:
Christian maturity (the full work of salvation) is based solely upon the sufficiency of Jesus Christ.
So how does this kind of doctrine concerning the person and work of Jesus Christ impact our abilities to be submissive wives, loving husbands, obedient children, and instructive parents? Or, if we want to get personal we might ask, “When was the last time your knowledge about Jesus changed your behavior?” Most people would answer, “Uhhhhh, well, ummmm, I don’t really remember.” In the end, we cannot hope to be godly spouses, parents, or children if we cannot connect the foundational truths necessary for following our Savior to the transformational attitudes necessary to produce right action. Therefore, by necessity, the first part of Colossians (the theological foundation) informs and empowers the second part of Colossians (the theological practice).
Consider the following salient features in Paul’s Letter to the Colossians that illustrate the point:
Christ Centered Theology (or certain presuppositions assumed for Christians): Mature and effective Christians depend upon the sufficiency, presence, and strength of Christ
A. Depending upon the sufficiency of Christ requires that we know who he really is. 1:15-20
B. Depending upon the sufficiency of Christ requires that we fully appreciate his work. 1:21-23
C. Depending upon the sufficiency of Christ requires that we understand his indwelling of every believer. 1:24-29
Christ Centered Living (or certain mandates assumed in Christian homes): Developing an ideal home requires depending upon the sufficiency, presence, and strength of Christ.
A. The wife who would accommodate herself to her husband must depend upon the sufficiency of Christ. 3:18
B. The husband who would give himself completely to the fulfillment of his wife must depend upon the sufficiency of Christ. 3:19
C. The child who would please God by obeying his or her parents must begin to learn about the sufficiency of Christ. 3:20
D. The parents who would lovingly equip their children rather than breaking their spirits must depend upon the sufficiency of Christ. 3:21
