Colossians 3:14
And above all these thigns put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.
In the previous two verses, Paul admonishes the reader to "put on" mercy, kindness, humility and many other fine qualities. In fact, the verse before this one is about forgiveness and forebearance. But then, there is a better way. Charity - not the giving of alms, though maybe that too - love. Forebearance is fine if it is all you have to give to your fellow man. The alternative, of course, is a smash to the head with a heavy stick.
Forgiveness is also fine. It improves both the person who recieves and the person who gives. But in both these activities there is or at least can be something alienating. That is, when you forebear or forgive, you say to the other person "yes, all right, now go your way and I'll go mine." This is Abraham and Lot choosing to part ways for the sake of peace. It is Esau and Jacob doing the same so they don't kill each other. Better than war. Still, not best of all. For that you need to go a step further.
Charity or love is the bond of perfectness. first the word bond - it holds things together, but what? Well, the previous sentences let you know - you and all those people you've been forbearing and forgiving. The community. The church. Ah, but you might think "that's troublesome, no? These are the very people who've been pestering me..." Yes, well, first let us consider how they feel about us a moment...Done? See? Perhaps you need to be forborn and forgiven as well. Still, the issue isn't whether these people are pests. It isabotu you. Can you love this person? Remember, in the previous verse, when you're told to forgive, Paul doesn't say this for the benefit of the hypothetical offender. (well, not just for his or her benefit)Paul is tell ing YOU what to do, not what someone else needs. Does that make sense?
Now the perfectness...this is hard. That won't prevent me from taking a stab. First, I think I can safely say that perfectness is what we strive for in our lives. No one gets out of bed in the morning saying they'd like a less than perfect day or a less than perfect life. Pitchers don't throw the first pitch of the game saying, well, I hope I only give up three or four runs..." Now, assume that perfectness can be made up from different parts (not sure where Plato would stand on this issue, but I'd wager he'd frown...). Or, assume that our lives are already in several parts - we're taxpayers, workers, lovers, parents, etc - we have our several emotions (remember, Paul has asked us to exchange malice for meekness, etc). Well, what brings those different parts of us together? What composes us and glues us into one piece? It is love.
The same way Jesus preached that love fulfilled all the law and the prophets as well, Paul tells us that love is the key to our struggle toward perfection. It brings our disparate feelings together - unites us like the super glue that holds the cracked vase together. Not sure this satisfies, but it's what I've got at the moment.
In the previous two verses, Paul admonishes the reader to "put on" mercy, kindness, humility and many other fine qualities. In fact, the verse before this one is about forgiveness and forebearance. But then, there is a better way. Charity - not the giving of alms, though maybe that too - love. Forebearance is fine if it is all you have to give to your fellow man. The alternative, of course, is a smash to the head with a heavy stick.
Forgiveness is also fine. It improves both the person who recieves and the person who gives. But in both these activities there is or at least can be something alienating. That is, when you forebear or forgive, you say to the other person "yes, all right, now go your way and I'll go mine." This is Abraham and Lot choosing to part ways for the sake of peace. It is Esau and Jacob doing the same so they don't kill each other. Better than war. Still, not best of all. For that you need to go a step further.
Charity or love is the bond of perfectness. first the word bond - it holds things together, but what? Well, the previous sentences let you know - you and all those people you've been forbearing and forgiving. The community. The church. Ah, but you might think "that's troublesome, no? These are the very people who've been pestering me..." Yes, well, first let us consider how they feel about us a moment...Done? See? Perhaps you need to be forborn and forgiven as well. Still, the issue isn't whether these people are pests. It isabotu you. Can you love this person? Remember, in the previous verse, when you're told to forgive, Paul doesn't say this for the benefit of the hypothetical offender. (well, not just for his or her benefit)Paul is tell ing YOU what to do, not what someone else needs. Does that make sense?
Now the perfectness...this is hard. That won't prevent me from taking a stab. First, I think I can safely say that perfectness is what we strive for in our lives. No one gets out of bed in the morning saying they'd like a less than perfect day or a less than perfect life. Pitchers don't throw the first pitch of the game saying, well, I hope I only give up three or four runs..." Now, assume that perfectness can be made up from different parts (not sure where Plato would stand on this issue, but I'd wager he'd frown...). Or, assume that our lives are already in several parts - we're taxpayers, workers, lovers, parents, etc - we have our several emotions (remember, Paul has asked us to exchange malice for meekness, etc). Well, what brings those different parts of us together? What composes us and glues us into one piece? It is love.
The same way Jesus preached that love fulfilled all the law and the prophets as well, Paul tells us that love is the key to our struggle toward perfection. It brings our disparate feelings together - unites us like the super glue that holds the cracked vase together. Not sure this satisfies, but it's what I've got at the moment.
posted by Steven at 5:58 PM
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