Colossians 3:1-17

TEXT The Lord of Outbursts If that title makes you nervous, skip this blog. Colossians 3 describes two ways of living: 1. under control of the parts of us that belong to the earth, or 2. submission to the spiritual reality of our citizenship above. Paul asks us to seek and think about the things above. Then he orders the execution of the parts of us that belong to the earth. In verses 8-13 he expands a clothing metaphor. The key phrase in verse 8: put off all such things (NET). We imagine taking off our anger-pants, slander-shirts, and lie-ties. Then we pull on compassion-slacks, humility-shirts, and patience-hats. Unhappily, many seem to want to dress without first undressing. We feel good about a God who wants to dress us up. But only a politically-incorrect God would criticize someone's old clothes. Verse six disquiets us. We avoid sermons about the "wrath of God." Next time you do a study on the "names of God" notice the one in 2 Samuel 5:21. David describes God as Baal Perazim. The Hebrew translates to Lord of outbursts. David uses that description again in the very next story. Here's my thought. Do we want a "kind" God who is tolerant of evil? When a malicious man slaps around his children, do we want God to look the other way? Or, do we want God's holy anger to burn against injury of the innocent, lies that lead to injustice, and slander that starts wars. Hitler's vilification of the Jews began as ethnic jokes in the pubs. Perhaps when we understand that, we will be ready look in the mirror ask the Holy Spirit to help us kill off whatever belongs to our earthly nature. Then we can dress in the all the clothing we can't leave behind.