Questions About the Body

Sometimes as I read texts I don’t walk away with answers as much as I walk away with questions–good, provocative questions that drive me to think well about truth, about life, about Jesus. This seems to happen a lot when I read Paul. He thinks so well, so deep, about this life we share in Jesus that I have to simmer and stew on his words (the words the Spirit gave him) to get more of what he is saying.

I’ve been working my way through Colossians (and posting some of the thoughts on this blog). And I am still marinating in what he wrote about the life we share as the body of Christ.

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. (Colossians 3:15-16)

This morning, looking at this passage again, I have some questions.

Do I grasp that the “call” Jesus extends to me is a call to be part of his body? Or do I think of myself, fundamentally, on my own with him?

Do I allow the gift of peace Jesus gives to rule the way I relate to others in the body? Or do I settle for a benign tolerance of others with little longing or desire for real peace?

Am I thankful that I have been called into this one body? Or is most of my reflection on the body of Christ flavored by my complaining of what it’s not, how they all disappoint me, how easily I could get along without their interference in my life?

Does the richness of Christ’s word to me spill over through me into the lives of others? Or am I content to read Scripture for myself, appropriate truth for my benefit, and leave others to do the same for themselves?

Do I long for the wisdom and truth that comes from Scripture to shape my thinking and, thus, radically influence the way I think and relate and speak to others? Or am I content to share “good thoughts” and my own opinions when in interaction with others?

Do I live with others with the mindset that our voices, joined in a choir of thankfulness, is what God is longing for? Or have I settled for my own voice, alone, raised in thanks to the living God?

What questions do Paul’s Spirit-given words raise for you?