It Just Doesn't Matter

Colossians 2:6-19

The author of Colossians makes a definite statement against allowing yourself to be oppressed because of biased judgment. It's right there, go read it.

A lot of times we, and by "we" I mean the polite Progressive Christians, don't say anything in our defense as people put us down for our beliefs. We believe deep in our hearts that God loves and unconditionally accepts all people regardless of race, religion, gender identity, socio-economic status, and mental or physical abilities. Yet, as much as we believe these things as deeply as we do we stand by as other christians (the lower-case "c" is on purpose) promote hate and division in the name of God and Christ.

It's time to say enough.

This passage in Colossians reminds us that through the death of Christ we are reconciled with God. For many years the people of Israel have been living under the oppression of others as predicted by the prophets of old. If we remember Hosea's words, the people of Israel are no longer being protected by the God of war, God is no longer literally fighting on their behalf.

We also have to remember that Hosea reminds the people of Israel that God will some day return. So, in taking the words of the prophet(s) literally the leaders of the Jewish community tightened their laws and made stricter the adherence to these laws. As a result the people became complacent, happy enough to follow those rules until God's return in the form of a messiah who would once again lead them by force into greatness.

What might have been misunderstood is God's promise to never, that was never, again lead them by force and to instead lead them through God's word. What, then, is God's word? It's the teachings of Christ. What, then, are the teachings of Christ? It's to love and unconditionally accept all people regardless of race, religion, gender identity, socio-economic status, and mental or physical abilities.

It's time the quiet, polite, timid Christian speaks up and speaks out about who our Christ is, remembering that this can be done without force and through understanding.