At a recent conference one of the speakers was speaking about community. Not surprisingly he shared as he started to survey scripture he saw just how connected God & his people are vs. his ministry. I didn't think much of it because its obvious to anyone who actually has a strong community that the vast majority of churches are gathered strangers. Did I say vast majority?
Our culture has so shaped our theology in this sense. Our theology is based upon me; our church is about me; Jesus is about me; ministry is about me; my office is about...me, etc. However, God is in community (The trinity) & scripture is really about how a group of people work out their relationship to this very relational God.
As the speaker was, you guessed it, speaking, he said something else: "Paul was the greatest apostle." I totally disagree. Our American cowboy theology makes him the greatest, but neither he, or scripture, describe him as such. Now Paul's calling put him in a place of prominence within the church, but to say he's the greatest Apostle is like saying Buster Posey won the World Series single-handed. Paul doesn't view himself as an individual; he's one person within the church being faithful to who God called him to be within it.
As the speaker was speaking I had two pictures of Paul, one from an American cultural perspective & one from, what I believe, a biblical perspective. When I thought about what Paul looked like I had these two pictures in mind. The first one is how I believe most Westerners theologically picture Paul. The second one is what I believe he really looks like & how I believe he portrays himself in Scripture.
(Colossians 4)
7 Tychicus will give you a full report about how I am getting along. He is a beloved brother and faithful helper who serves with me in the Lord’s work. 8 I have sent him to you for this very purpose—to let you know how we are doing and to encourage you. 9 I am also sending Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother, one of your own people. He and Tychicus will tell you everything that’s happening here.
10 Aristarchus, who is in prison with me, sends you his greetings, and so does Mark, Barnabas’s cousin. As you were instructed before, make Mark welcome if he comes your way. 11 Jesus (the one we call Justus) also sends his greetings. These are the only Jewish believers among my co-workers; they are working with me here for the Kingdom of God. And what a comfort they have been!
12 Epaphras, a member of your own fellowship and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends you his greetings. He always prays earnestly for you, asking God to make you strong and perfect, fully confident that you are following the whole will of God. 13 I can assure you that he prays hard for you and also for the believers in Laodicea and Hierapolis.
14 Luke, the beloved doctor, sends his greetings, and so does Demas. 15 Please give my greetings to our brothers and sisters at Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church that meets in her house.
16 After you have read this letter, pass it on to the church at Laodicea so they can read it, too. And you should read the letter I wrote to them.
17 And say to Archippus, “Be sure to carry out the ministry the Lord gave you.”
18 Here is my greeting in my own handwriting—Paul.
Remember my chains.
May God’s grace be with you.
