Colossians 2:2-10
Regaining Our Message

My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments. For though I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit and delight to see how orderly you are and how firm your faith in Christ is.

So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ. For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority.

New International Version

From reading the press coverage analyzing the U.S. presidential race of 2004, it would seem apparent that Christianity swayed the election in favor of George W. Bush. The Washington Post, and many others, identified the key elements of the President's platform that made the difference as the issues of homosexuality, abortion, and stem-cell research. As a result, many unchurched people now consider us a powerful political special interest group with a narrow agenda euphemistically labeled "family values." Many of them already consider the message of salvation as nothing more than a right-wing political advertisement.

To the extent this is true, we, like Esau, have sold our birthright for a bowl of stew.

Before you think I'm overreacting, think back to the 1950s and 1960s, when to be a Baptist was widely misunderstood as nothing more than opposing drinking and dancing. The belief was common enough to be the element of conflict in several popular movies. Evangelical Christians were viewed as one-dimensional caricatures and discounted as bearers of the Good News.

We are allowing this marginalization to happen to our generation of Christians, this time through politics. I know my Christian testimony has already prompted others to associate me with "gay-bashing" politicians. Satan must be thrilled when the message of Love is mistaken for hate.

So what do we do now?

In the same passage where Paul warns us not to be deceived "by fine-sounding arguments," he also gives us the answer as he points us over and again to Jesus Christ, "in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge." The gospels show that our Master loved people with a holy intensity. When his enemies tried to get Jesus to take a political stand against adultery, he instead warned all present about the dangers of sin, and instructed a forgiven woman to "sin no more." When his enemies wanted him to align with Jerusalem against Rome, Jesus instead called all to give to God the things that are God's. When confronted man-made rules to enforce the Commandment about the Sabbath, Jesus reminded them that God made the Day of Rest for man, not the other way around. What were presented to Jesus as philosophical issues were turned back at his opponents as opportunities to love.

We can, and we must, overcome today's misunderstandings living the same way Jesus Christ lived. We are called to live in God's Love, to reach out to others in love, and respond in love no matter what opposition we face:

"Gay-bashing" dehumanizes a segment of the population; love affirms the divine worth of every individual, though each is a sinner, simply because they are God's creation.

Political movements, even with the best intentions, reduce individuals to statistics; love ignores the crowd for the individual.

Labels try to simplify the world; love celebrates the unique complexity and beauty God created in every person.

Political campaigns reduce our Christianity to "hot button" issues; Jesus simplified the entirety of the Commandments to loving God and loving others.

Love crosses over political lines. Love ignores special interest groups. Love refuses to classify people, except as made in the image of God. Love doesn't waver when another disagrees with our opinions, our values, or even our beliefs. Love always points others to God.

It is now more urgent than ever for us to live out that message of Love boldly, drowning out all other messages, so that we can point unbelieving individuals away from philosophies and issues, and point them to God.