COLOSSIANS 3
5 Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 On account of these the wrath of God is coming. 7 In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. 8 But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old selfwith its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. 11 Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all. – Colossians 3:5-11
COLOSSIANS 3 PUT OFF IDOLATRY & PUT ON CHRIST
A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses
As we are elected by God to be his people
We ought to give up all kinds of idols
No longer should we engage in impurities
Including practices of sexual immoralities
Let us let go of foul talk and all forms of greed
Instead, let us speak only what edifies others
Put off all forms of idolatry and put on Christ
Let us step away from our old life & into our new life.
What is an idol? If you ask these to younger people, they’d answer you with someone they look up to or “idolize”. They’d likely mention a popular singer or band or actor that they love to become or is fond of. These idols usually represent power, wealth, prestige, status, great skill or gift. Interestingly, most of the laws of the Lord are themed on not engaging in idols. It is also of great interest why these idols are named small letter gods in comparison to the capital letter God. In other words, they are counterfeits. They symbolize power in a different form. They are not the same divine power and sovereignty that God possesses because they are created by humans themselves and not by the One true God. In the Old Testament, we have heard of idols made out of gold or wood or any other kinds of stones which people put on a hill so that they could be seen and bowed down to. They also have household idols that they bring with them and keep them in their homes so they can worship them. An idol according to the bible is anything that counterfeits God and steals the praise and worship that is only due him. So, anything that would replace God’s hierarchy in your life could be an idol.
In this account, Paul writes to the Colossian church about another form of idolatry not mentioned in the Old Testament. He listed them here as sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth and lies. They are not visually carved in an image, but they are imprinted in the hearts of those who do not believe in God. Paul challenges the believers to let go of all these idols that we all used to have before we became a follower of Christ. A true Christian would let go of these idols. Instead, they’ll put on Christ.
REFLECTION
· What does it mean to give up idolatry and to put on Christ?
