“Let every student be plainly instructed, and earnestly pressed to consider well, the maine end of his life and studies is, to know God and Jesus Christ.” Harvard University started in 1636 with the high aim of training pastors as America expanded West. “Truth for Christ and the Church” was engraved throughout the campus and printed on every diploma. The original Coat of Arms even depicted the limits of human reason and the necessity of Holy Scripture.
Within a century, however, Harvard drifted from its original mission. Students still studied the Bible, and it was fine to be a Christian. Yet, the “maine end” was no longer “to know God and Jesus Christ.” Rather than letting God’s Word judge the man, men were now trained to sit in judgment of the Word. Human reason overthrew divine revelation in the early 18th century.
Disappointed by Harvard’s drift, a group of pastors assembled to start another school: Yale University, 1701. They had high hopes, but within a generation, Yale followed Harvard. Presbyterians responded by founding their own school: The College of New Jersey (Princeton University), 1746. Princeton produced some of the greatest stalwarts of the Christian faith for more than 150 years. Yet, the university eventually succumbed to the spirit of the age. By the 1920’s many faculty resigned to form Westminster Theological Seminary, 1929.
The schools I mentioned are paragons of academic excellence, but also a story of mission drift. Each started with a philosophy of teaching students to use their minds in submission to God’s Word, reason aided by revelation. At some point they drifted from this foundation. Their mission or purpose for education changed. A similar kind of drift happens to organizations and churches as well.
We could say that mission drift concerned Paul when he wrote to the Galatians. He believed they might turn to a different gospel (Gal 1:8-9). Mission drift was also in the apostle’s mind as he wrote to the Colossians. The city had a good church filled with faith, hope, and love (Col 1:3-5), but outside religious influences were strong. Rather than proclaiming Jesus to the world, this church may have been absorbing new ideas from the world about Jesus.
This is the final chapter of the letter to the Colossians. Paul urged this small church to be alert in prayer and to be wise. Be in the world, but don’t lose yourself in it. You belong to Christ.
Watch and Pray (Colossians 4:2-4)
Religious teachers with different beliefs intimidated the Colossian church (Col 2:16). According to chapter 2 of this letter, teachers all around town looked spiritual. Some seemed to live on a higher plane, as if they were other-worldly. They kept the Old Testament Law, fasted, forfeited pleasures, and claimed to receive special revelations. These men were very serious about their faith, but their faith wasn’t built on anything Jesus had ever said or taught. Nothing they taught was “according to Christ” (Col 2:8). They may have viewed Jesus as a good teacher in ways, but not God—and that’s a problem.
Paul’s argument in Colossians 2 and 3 is that whatever these religious teachers have to offer, they don’t know Jesus. He wants his readers to realize that leaders without Christ aren’t brothers and sisters on a similar path to God. They may be sincere and even impressive, but they don’t have Christ. Don’t absorb anything they’re teaching, but take a step back and pray for them. Pray for their salvation!
Colossians 4:2—“Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.”
Jesus didn’t pray His people would remove themselves from the world (Jn 17:15). And Paul didn’t encourage the Colossians to avoid the world, either. He did want them to see it matters what you believe. Chapters 1-3 of this letter show the importance of right beliefs. On the heels of this, chapter 4 says to keep praying with alertness. Be “watchful” in prayer. Stay awake!
We tend to think we’re too smart to be deceived by anyone. Paul didn’t see it that way. He urged the Colossians not to lose sight of the fact that error is a real thing. Those teaching a different Jesus need to know the real Jesus. So, pray with alertness and out of a heart filled with gratitude that God has saved you.
Colossians 4:3—“At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ…”
We have a personal request from Paul in verses 3-4. He just asks this church to pray he would have opportunities to tell others about Christ. The mission was clear to Paul, and the message of salvation wasn’t negotiable. He only hope those in Colossae would hold fast.
Christians aren’t called to avoid the world or to isolate themselves—that’s not how to avoid mission drift. Be engaged with the world, but be alert in prayer. What else? Be wise (v. 5-6).
Walking in Wisdom (Colossians 4:5-6)
Christians knew they didn’t fit with the culture. They believed that a man condemned on a cross had risen to life, was seated in Heaven, and would return for them in glory. They even believed this man to be God—what could have been more radical in the first-century? As Paul said to the Corinthians, “For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing” (1 Cor 1:18). In other words, what we view as good news, the world views as folly.
Folly? Not too many people say it’s folly to love your neighbor or to pray for your enemies. Jesus’ moral teachings aren’t “folly” to most people, nor is Jesus’ compassion. And the world applauds a man who will care for the poor and needy, right?
But Jesus also said He’s the only way to God (Jn 14:6). He called people to believe in Him (Jn 6:29), even to love Him above life itself (Lk 14:26). He said love for God is more than sentiment but shows itself in obedience to God (Jn 14:15). Jesus viewed every person as a lost sinner in need of Him, and He called people to repent of their sins (Lk 13:3). Jesus’ wasn’t crucified for His good works. People loved the good things that Jesus did. The Lord was crucified for His hard words. People rejected the things Jesus said… they still do.
Colossians 4:5-6—“Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.”
In a culture like ancient Colossae, Christians felt the shame of believing in Jesus. It would have been easy to give ground on a few
doctrines, inch by inch, until there’s no shame left in being a Christian. Paul didn’t want that to happen. To keep from drifting, to be distinctly Christian, to remain pure and different from the world around: Paul urged believers to be alert in prayer and to “walk in wisdom toward outsiders” (v. 5). Be wise by “making the best use of the time” with those outside of the church (v. 5).
I think it’s hard for us to grasp what Paul said here. The local church community and fellowship, relationships built around God and His Word, aren’t really central to American Christianity. The church is like an appendix for church-goers today—it’s part of life, but hardly necessary. Yet, to first-century believers, the church was everything. They were devoted to it (Acts 2:42). Persecution drove these men and women together and invigorated their churches.
It’s much easier to go with the flow than to stand strong for any length of time. This was the danger that confronted the church in Colossae. Would the church stand firm? Well, be alert in prayer, and be wise with outsiders. Don’t squander your opportunities.
Paul doesn’t tell us what was said against Christians in Colossae. We know they were looked down upon (Col 2:16). Historically, we know believers were maligned and falsely accused to the authorities. Hard to say exactly what was happening in this town, but verse 6 gives some insight: “Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt.” Those outside the church may reject everything you say about Jesus. Don’t expect them to be gracious to you. You, however, be gracious to them. Don’t return insult with insult.
Matthew 5:13—“You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste… it is no longer good for anything.”
Salt enhances food, doesn’t it? That’s the picture Jesus had in mind and that Paul uses here. Christians should be as salt scattered all over the earth. We shouldn’t be like vinegar. Jesus’ teachings and the gospel will offend people, but may that be the only reason someone is offended by you.
I would like to bring this study to a close with a quote by Francis Schaeffer. He was sadly correct when he said, “tell me what the world is saying today, and I’ll tell you what the church will be saying in seven years.” Churches drift more often than not. They lose their saltiness to blend better with the world. What’s Paul’s admonition to us? To hold firm to the faith. But how? By being alert in prayer and wise, yet gracious.