Deuteronomy 30:9-14, Psalm 25:1-10, and Colossians 1:1-14
Last week, while visiting with our church member, I talked with her about life and faith. And speaking of the church, she said that our Knox meant a lot to her. I was so touched by that story that I couldn’t help but think about her for the past few days.
What is the Christian life? Is there a difference between life in church and life outside church? Many people find it difficult to talk about faith. As Canadian society becomes more secular, conversations about God outside of church become increasingly restricted. Even with very close friends, we often do not know their religion or church. Of course, traditional values and different views on the gospel can sometimes make conversation challenging even among people of the same religion. However, as I begin my sermon, what I would like to share is that for us Christians, there is no separation between religion and life. Faith is life, and life is faith.
As I have often shared with you, there are not many Koreans in Red Deer. Half of them can be met by going to church on Sunday, going to a sushi restaurant, or going to a Korean restaurant. Sometimes, without me knowing it, some recognize that I am a pastor at Knox Church. So, I became cautious wherever I went. Also, if someone drives threateningly on the road, I no longer protest. Especially when I wear a clergy shirt on Sunday mornings.
So then, what kind of life does the Lord consider worthy? First, it is an attitude in which faith and life are not separated. Most of us feel that faith and life are not different. The reason is as follows. Because we know that God sent us here. We are disciples sent to Red Deer. So, we must make this place beautiful by meditating on God’s will and thoughts. God has given us this responsibility and mission. Of course, fundamentalist Christians may think that the world is too secular and evil. They even think that Satan and capital rule the world. Some people believe that only the church is good and safe. But we know that God created this world, and as stewards, we must preserve it well for future generations. So, as Christians, we must fulfill our roles at home and live exemplary lives at work every day. It is not easy, but it’s our responsibility.
The Colossae church was started by Epaphras, a disciple of Paul. The more I hear that story, the happier I become. So the Apostle Paul confesses: “3 We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, 4 because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all God’s people—” I also look at your photos and pray every time I start work. Then I feel happy. You mean so much to me and are a joy to me. So I’m grateful for my life here, and I feel happy whenever I think of the members. Although we sometimes encounter differences of opinion, I am thankful. Because it’s proof that we are open and diverse in our opinions, it is also evidence of that much trust and stability. The members of the Colossae church lived with the hope of heaven. They had a strong faith based on the gospel. However, their knowledge was weak, and some members were influenced by heresy at the time. So the apostle Paul was concerned about this and wanted to convey to them the principles of faith. So he wrote a letter to help the members gain the correct knowledge of faith.
In specific terms, some members of the Colossae church at that time were influenced by Gnostics, so they claimed that the teachings of Epaphras, who taught the gospel, were incomplete. They denied that Jesus Christ came in human form. So, because He came as a spirit, they insisted that our bodies are not valuable, but only our souls are. So they tried to teach by adding some other things. The reason Paul explains the origin of his apostolic ministry from the beginning is that he had this situation in the Colossae church in mind. He supported Epaphras, emphasizing that the gospel they received was the only authentic gospel preached by Paul and Epaphras, the apostles, by the will of God.
Likewise, various heresies are infiltrating North America today. Sometimes heretics from Asia came. Sometimes they come from South America. The important thing is to live a right life through a proper understanding of God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit in whom we believe.
Jesus Christ is the Redeemer in whom we have redemption. Furthermore, Christ, as the Head of the Church, has an organic and vital relationship with the body of the Church, and the Church can never maintain life apart from Him. And Christ, as the Reconciler, is the only mediator who reconciles God and humans. Christ is also the Secret of God and is a man of all treasures of wisdom and knowledge. That is, Christ is a perfect and excellent being who cannot be compared to anything else in His existence and work. Therefore, God will highly value the life of a disciple who completely believes in and follows Jesus Christ.
Next, we have to obey the Lord our God and keep his commands and decrees. The author of Deuteronomy says in verses 9 and 10: “The Lord will again delight in you and make you prosperous, just as he delighted in your ancestors, 10 if you obey the Lord your God and keep his commands and decrees that are written in this Book of the Law and turn to the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul.” Of course, it is difficult for us, like the Jews, to remember and keep the provisions of the various laws established in the Old Testament. So God gave us a very simple law of faith through Jesus Christ. It is to love God and love your neighbor. When we do our best in this work, God promises to bless our workplace and peace for our children and descendants. Therefore, I boldly ask you to approach the Word, serve God well, and live the gospel itself to your neighbors. Then, I believe that the blessings promised by the author of Deuteronomy will be yours. Amen.