Introduction
This is almost always a necessary question. The house is burning. Who’s in charge? The policeman, the fire chief, or the owner? It depends. If you watch the owner pointing and screaming, “My child’s upstairs!” The owner is in charge. If you are looking at the fireman scurrying, the chief is the man in charge. If you are a neighbor trying to get to the owner to calm him down, the policeman is in charge.
So, what about the counselor for the discipler when the counselee or the disciple is in emotional or behavioral turmoil? Who’s in charge? It depends on several things. Are you asking who is in control of the counseling session or the disciple group? Are you asking who is responsible (who is in charge) of the emotions or behavior? If the former, hopefully it is the counselor or the disciple maker. If it is the latter, it is the counselee or disciple, whether they know it or not.
Case Study-Counselee Sandy Be Fumbled
Her counselor or discipler reports that she is looking at the medication as a tool to manage her feelings. Sandy acknowledged that her emotions and actions were sinful and observed that she needed to repent. She gave an example of how she has mixed feelings (emotions) about her sister-in -law and has been judgmental (behavioral) toward her. However, she recently went to a new doctor who suggested a hormone deficiency may be the culprit. So, who’s in charge?
Does the Bible Provide an Answer?
The answer for Sandy is yes, but before we answer it, there is a caveat. There are times when physiological factors contribute to emotional and behavioral issues. Here are three:
Sleep deprivation: often caused by late-day caffeine or alcohol use, intense high stress, a hot or noisy bedroom, practicing an inconsistent sleep schedule, or it could be the medical issue of sleep apnea.
Thyroid imbalances: may trigger the following troublesome factors. Alternating hormone levels, unexplainable sadness, heightened anxiety, and lethargy/low energy.
Chronic pain: constant drain on energy to handle the pain, trying patience, easily frustrated, and may generate defensiveness.
So, counselor/discipler do the necessary data gathering to determine if there is a contributing factor(s).
What does Paul have to say in Colossians 3?
Grammar Lesson
While a knowledge of Greek is not essential, it does provide some color to the understanding. The most important grammar lesson here is this: What tense are the verbs, who is the subject of the verbs, and what actions are to be implemented to change the trajectory of one’s life?
What tense are the verbs? Paul uses the imperative mood. The Greek adds this color. They are aorist active imperatives. As an imperative (just like the English), the verb gives a simple direct command. The aorist tense adds the idea of a single action (do it!) and the active means do it (now). When it comes to tackling the things that Paul is addressing in this passage, this action will be needed with reference to each of the members’ actions that need to change.
So, here is the grammar lesson summarized: YOU take the responsibility NOW to disempower your mouth, facial expressions, and other bodily actions that are displeasing to God.
First Major Command (3:2)
Set your mind or set your affections. Replace the word set with choose; it may communicate more effectively to you. Either way, it is YOU who are to SET or choose to refocus your inner self.
Second Major Command (Implied) (3-4)
To use Paul’s term from Ephesians, having your mind renewed, which describes the content of verses three and four of Colossians. Or, to look at a third way he puts it, see Romans 6:
Third Major Command (3:5)
You put to death (modify, treat as dead to temptation) your members (any part of your body by which you express sinful emotions or behavior).
Here is Why We Should Listen to Paul (3:6-7)
First, because of the wrath of God. We are not playing games. There are eternal consequences of living by our old emotions and our old thinking (6).
Second, you don’t want to be guilty of looking like you have not become a child of God, which you will do if you keep living the way you are (7).
Extreme Make Over (3:8-15)
Do you remember the old TV show, Extreme Makeover? Pretty much this is what God expects as laid out by Paul (2 Peter 1 sings the same message to a bit different tune). You are responsible, drawing upon God’s resources to clean up the past in your heart (see Eph 4:31-32) that drives a lot of your sinful behavior and emotions, and choose to systematically disempower your members to do ungodliness and empower them to be godly.
Medicating sin may mitigate the symptomology of your sin, but it will never exterminate it. In many cases, it will end up prolonging the battle even as illicit drugs do.
Tapping the Power Source to Choose and Act (3:15-17)
Here Peter complements Paul (see 2 Peter 1) when remind us what we get when we let the peace of Christ and the Word of Christ dwell in our souls, and we do this by, as Peter emphasizes, diligently employing our energies and DOING THE WORD (2 Peter 1:5 and 7).
Conclusion (Back to Sandy)
Remember, her counselor or discipler reports that she is looking at the medication as a tool to manage her feelings. She acknowledges that her emotions and actions are sinful. So, what does the counselor/discipler do? Pressure her to get off the medication, right? Wrong. We have no authority to do so, and furthermore, getting off the medication does not resolve her issues. No, we work her through these Colossians and accompanying passage, coaching her to come to grips with the implications of Paul’s instructions. Then we help her practically tackle the various issues with guidance, homework, coaching, and walking beside her, encouraging her. Then celebrate with her each victory. As we process with her, we encourage her to talk with her doctor, indicating she is in counseling and aggressively addressing the issues driving her anger.
