Sean Major-Campbell | Colossian heresy may be Caribbean heresy, too

IS THE Western Church at risk of carrying on the Colossian heresy? What happens when we compartmentalise our views on spiritual versus material matters? Do you see signs of this in the Caribbean, Latin America, and North American Christianity?

In the Church at Colossae, there was the strongly held view that there was no need to reconcile our minds with our bodies. Since bodies are evil due to being material (so they taught), it also followed that minds would be good due to not being material.

So you can therefore get why a cult leader may be easily excused for being the epitome of evil, while being affirmed as a pure agent in the hand of God. However, in orthodox Christianity, sin is not confined to the material. Sin may originate in the mind, since the mind makes choices. The mind may therefore require transformation by God in Jesus Christ. Paul addressed this in 2:13, noting, “When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins.”

CONTRAST TO LIFE IN CHRIST

Interestingly, being dead in one’s sins and the uncircumcision of the flesh is presented as a contrast to life in Christ, which Christian theology equates with circumcision in Christ through baptism. Christian theology affirms reconciliation of the flesh with the spirit. And this reconciliation is important.

Still, there were those who maintained that spirituality, if authentic, is limited to the mind, or one’s inner life. The notion is that what is offered to God in worship is mental and not physical. If this is true, then it would not matter to God what is done physically. Blowing up some innocent children is no big deal, since it only frees them to be with God.

In Christ, the material and the spiritual are reconciled. “For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority. In Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not performed by human hands. Your whole self, ruled by the flesh, was put off when you were circumcised by Christ, having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised with Him through your faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.”

Paul uses the physical image of circumcision to present the spiritual image of new life in Jesus Christ. Neither being physically cut nor uncut matters. Baptism and life in Christ is what matters for the Christian.

A CARIBBEAN PASTIME

If there is one quarrel enjoyed by many across Jamaica and other Caribbean nations, it is that over who eats what and who observes Sabbath or Sunday, and so on! Some people are so invested in fighting that they dedicate even prejudices and condemnation based on who does not observe their fav doctrine. Hear what Paul tells the Church in Colossae: “Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day” (2:16). I will understand if you are also puzzled as to whether many are reading St Paul.

We are not short of takers who enjoy judging others for any number of reasons. Paul encourages us not to put up with this nonsense. Let me share a little secret. The deeper you walk in your faith, the less you have a need to judge others.

Today’s lections provide an excerpt from an epistle that may trigger disappointment for those Christians who spend their days judging and condemning others. Jesus, on the other hand, brings good news that proclaims the kingdom of God. A kingdom where the will of God is feeding the hungry and forgiving the penitent and the forgiving. Jesus teaches his disciples to pray not in terms of bringing attention to themselves, but in terms of adoration to God; the will and purpose of God; and yes, the coming of God’s kingdom.

PEARLY BEACH

By the way, Pearly Beach was great last Sunday. There was much time for rest, relaxation, and refreshment. However, the spiritual was also affirmed in all of this. The Reverend Desreen Thomas of St Martin’s Bull Bay, while noting our interest in food and fun, also affirmed fellowship in Christ. The Rt Rev Leon Golding, Bishop-elect for the Diocese of Jamaica and the Cayman Islands, presided at the Holy Eucharist. Host church, St Boniface Harbour View, did another wonderful job facilitating the gathering of believers in a year when the focus continues to be ‘New wineskins: Conveyors of hope and channels of healing’.

The Colossian heresy, Gnosticism, is making a comeback in geopolitical dynamics. Many Christians hold their noses as they ignore the stench of selfishness, greed, immorality, and wickedness, while they vote for and support the agents of evil. The heresy never really disappeared. The difference is that many are now so comfortable with the anti-Christ that they ignore the oppression of the poor, the genocide in Gaza, the colonial enterprise of Israel, and right here in Jamaica – the false sense of sovereignty as we pay obeisance through King Charles’ loyal prime minister and His Majesty’s loyal leader of the parliamentary Opposition.

If the Church were more Christ-focused and kingdom-centred, the pharaohs and Herods of this world would not get away with the rape and murder of the innocent, the voiceless, and the marginalised.

Fr Sean Major-Campbell is an Anglican priest and advocate for human rights and dignity. Please send feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com and seanmajorcampbell@yahoo.com.