“. . . giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.” (Colossians 1:12)
Most of the people who manage the contemporary media delight in praising individuals and groups who conform to their definitions of goodness and greatness. They revel in glorifying those with great talents in the entertainment and sports fields. They exalt those whom they consider heroes, who take pride in who they are, who stand up for their beliefs and champion their values, unless those beliefs and values are based upon the Word of God, upon faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.
We see what Christians value or should value here in Paul’s letter to the church in Colossi. His words of praise are for believers because of their faith in Christ and zeal for God’s Word. At that time, the Church at Colossi was troubled by syncretism which watered down the Gospel of faith in Jesus through the adoption of human philosophic principles as well as pagan ideals and practices to explain reality and define godliness.
Paul reminded the Colossians believers of the truth by which they stand: Jesus is not a lesser deity, not one among many gods or gurus. He is Almighty God. He is our savior. Denial of these truths destroys our whole faith for it contradicts the atonement. In order for the death of Christ to be efficacious He had to be both fully God and man. In addition, this work of atonement is all of Christ. He has qualified us for eternal life through the sacrifice of Himself on the cross of Calvary. We add nothing to His work by following the Law or by good works. Therefore we cannot boast or exalt our pride by enumerating or reveling in our achievements of talents. We glory in what Jesus and Jesus alone has done and continues to do in and through us.
Our God is unique. He dwells apart from mankind and yet He lives with His people in the church by His Holy Spirit. He is God incarnate who gave His life as an atonement for the sins of man. This assertion of the divinity of Christ and his reality as a human being counteract false teachings that take Jesus away from the central part of the faith and put the individual human being there.
The syncretism that assaulted Colossi has infiltrated the church. We cannot compromise our faith by adopting secular humanist and atheistic teachings or the teachings of pagan religions and claiming they are Biblical. Ideals from such sources assail us through the media, academia, our families, our social institutions, and our neighbors. All religions except for true Christianity, no matter how good or noble they claim to be, harm and destroy those who profess them. They lead only to eternal separation from God. If we love the people in the world, we must tell them that truth and eternal life are granted only by faith in Jesus Christ our Savior.