Colossians 4:7-18

Colossians 4:7-18

For the supposed good, if there is any, that has come from the mega-church, non denominational, highly independent churches, the greatest loss may be the isolation of congregations. An attitude of “us alone” and “focus on our ministry" has crept from mega-churches into even the smallest of congregations. In a bygone era, churches cooperated on camps, youth programs, Bible colleges, and church planting, just to name a few co-op efforts. Today many mega churches will not participate in co-op efforts; rather, they have their own camps, etc., or contract with vendors in what were once co-op programs. Whatever advantage is gained in terms of economy or perceived quality control, the negative of the loss of cooperation has made this trend a net loss of massive proportion.

At the conclusion of this letter, we see a series of greetings and personal references. These are not superfluous verses but a picture into how the church shared life. Some of these people were well known to the church at Colossia, and some were strangers. Some were beloved and honored servants; at least one was an awkward relational challenge. These close relations were Jews and Gentiles, men and women, a prisoner and those who volunteered to help the prisoner; they were a radically diverse group. But this radical diversity was not the goal; it was a by-product of unity born of a common faith, goal, and effort. 

 Perhaps this is one of the reasons why our churches are weak, why we are fractured into a multitude of isolated towers of petty control rather than united in the kingdom of God. We have focused on what will make our congregation, our dynasty, and our serfdom grow rather than the big picture of kingdom advantage and advance. This idea, this approach to ministry, would have been completely foreign to the people mentioned in and to whom this final passage was addressed. This is not a mega church problem, nor is it a little church problem. It is a problem with our hearts. In the same way I believe in One God the Father Almighty, and in One Son Jesus Christ, and in One Holy Spirit, I also believe in One Church. And as my belief in the One Triune God requires certain behavior, so my belief in One Church demands I think, live, and work in certain ways. 

“Lord, bring holy unity to the church on earth. AMEN”