Introduction
Some four or five years ago, two men, Bill Hines and Mark Shaw, I had the privilege to mentor, edited a book and honored me by dedicating the work to me. That book was Paul the Counselor.
As I reread Colossians chapter one this morning I was reminded why the editors of the book, decided to put this volume together. Reading the NIV Study Bible introduction to the book gives the reader context. Colosse was a cross-cultural community where various philosophies and religions of the day mixed and clashed with one another—sounds rather contemporary, does it not?
Colossians Makes a Great Grid Tool
Hence, the book of Colossians is a great place for the Biblical Counselor, every believer, to meditate in preparation to encounter in the lives of counselees and friends who present the latest and newest invented narratives whether psychological, religious, philosophical or political. In II Timothy Paul dubs them fables or myths, depending on the translation you read, that produce confusion and sinful patterns of living. What Paul has in view is this confluence of philosophies which up until the end of the 19th century included psychologies, by which the natural man attempts to understand and explain the nature of the universe and man without reference to the Judeo-Christian God.
This Grid Tool Fosters the New Perspective
Paul’s greeting, in the first six verses of this book, summarizes for the Colossians what has transpired in their lives through the ministry of Paul’s agent, Epaphras. As you meditate on this passage here is what emerges. The gospel (Paul defines it here as “the word of truth”) dispels the invented narratives by which they have been held captive. The gospel immediately gives them hope as they now see the temporal through eternal perspective. This produces faith (the content of which Paul develops throughout the chapter). Faith produces love and love produces sanctification and a heart for evangelism, setting others free.
The Grid Tool Unleashing the Power of the Gospel
I often encourage trainees to be thoughtful about how they use the word gospel. All too often the word is used carelessly. Here is a good example for us. Paul defines the gospel as the word of truth. And it is evident as he develops its content in this chapter that gospel here is more than the kernel as it is in the Four Spiritual Laws, but rather, the whole counsel of God—the crushing stone of Daniel’s vision. This gospel of truth demolishes the invented narratives, frees the soul, gives eternal life, insights sanctification, provides meaning and purpose and a logical understanding of the natural and the spiritual and engenders the desire to introduce others to it.
Illustration
At this point in writing this piece, my wife called me to lunch. While we were eating, she shared a true story that she had read earlier. Two men were being escorted via a private aircraft to the Anchorage airport. In flight the pilot passed out. Neither of the men was a pilot, but one did manage to contact a tower and declare their emergency. The radio operator told them, look straight ahead and listen to my voice, I will guide you and transition you to an Anchorage operator. When the transition occurred, this operator indicated the same instructions. Listen to my voice, no voices in your head, and I will bring you home. He did.
This is a perfect illustration of what Paul writes to the Colossians. Listen to the voice of God, listen to no other voices, and He will bring you home.
Implementation
So, fellow believers and counselors, sit and soak a bit in the Apostle’s intellectual hot tub of Colossians. Be refreshed, be prepared, be refueled, and focus on the voice of God. Then take on the invented narratives that hold your friends and counselees captive. Call them to listen to His voice, the word of truth, the gospel of the whole counsel of God, to bring them home.