Thrive Church Az

Colossians 4: 5-6

"Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity.
Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone".

Lets be honest; many who see themselves as Christian have in reality signed on to the theology, a packet of ideals and religious systems of a church as opposed to embracing daily surrender and humility. You can tell these people by their fears, fear of LGBTQ, fear of society, fear of different ideas and perspectives, fear of growth, change or progress. And how those fears and insecurites are manifest by control and judgment of others. Because they are fear based, they have little faith in their God. They believe they have to follow rules, make their children follow rules and manage themselves an others in a way that appears 'clean". They are still the "old man" as Paul warned about, but buy into the delusion that apearing clean on the outside means they are different. They use Colossians 3 and 4 as a club to beat another person with. They are awesome at quoting the words of Jesus when He said "they will know you by your love." Yet this is alien to them, not real, not American, not manly and just not doable (as long as they cling to their theology, ideals and religion)They only know the psuedo peace of control.
The humble, surrendered person shows little fear, they exercise faith. In their faith they have little concern for theology or precepts. They have little concern over how they appear to others. They only want to know that they are clean in their heart. The allow the grace and hope of the Perfect Love reign over their fears. They may be uncomfortable, repeatedly allow themselves to be in the unfamiliar and appear to what the former would call inconvienced. They worry little about the status or sins of others, they only want to know how to better follow Jesus, reflect his compassion and take action for another person to in a way that reflects their worth. They wear Colossians 3 and 4 in the hearts and live it in their actions toward others. They know real peace, because they have no shame or worry of others. They are the description of the Fruit of the Spirit Paul described in Galatians. They take to heart, mind and action that Jesus' words are a perfect vlaue to own and exhibit, the humility of which is not weak but wise.

Colossians 3: 11 - 15

"Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful."