Today, Selwyn looks at the following verse (Colossians 1:28, NIV): “We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ.”
Notice the word ‘admonish(ing)’, something we don’t hear much about these days. Selwyn explains it this way:“To admonish individuals is to warn them or correct them; to teach is to educate – to lead people into deeper truths and a richer understanding of he things of God.”
On another small point – I don’t think Selwyn meant: ‘Paul had no time for … those Christians who are more committed than others and more ready to respond to profound truths’, in the negative way these words came across to me. I do agree that Christian maturity is for everyone and not just the spiritual elite; but what I think that Selwyn was pointing out, is that there is no place in the Church for spiritual, hierarchical structures – that is, levels within the Church based on prerequisits of ‘special’ knowledge. There will always be members of the Church who are at different places on the spiritual road, towards ‘home’. We need to recognise that ‘everyone’ is not ‘at the same place’ and we need to be aware of these differences.
In summary, everyone is called to admonish and teach each other (with all wisdom); it’s basically one aspect of our love for our neighbour – to help each other, so that each of us can to do our very best for our Lord. Do you agree?
Beyond ‘small talk’
Today, Selwyn looks at the following verse (Colossians 1:28, NIV): “We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ.”
Notice the word ‘admonish(ing)’, something we don’t hear much about these days. Selwyn explains it this way:“To admonish individuals is to warn them or correct them; to teach is to educate – to lead people into deeper truths and a richer understanding of he things of God.”
On another small point – I don’t think Selwyn meant: ‘Paul had no time for … those Christians who are more committed than others and more ready to respond to profound truths’, in the negative way these words came across to me. I do agree that Christian maturity is for everyone and not just the spiritual elite; but what I think that Selwyn was pointing out, is that there is no place in the Church for spiritual, hierarchical structures – that is, levels within the Church based on prerequisits of ‘special’ knowledge. There will always be members of the Church who are at different places on the spiritual road, towards ‘home’. We need to recognise that ‘everyone’ is not ‘at the same place’ and we need to be aware of these differences.
In summary, everyone is called to admonish and teach each other (with all wisdom); it’s basically one aspect of our love for our neighbour – to help each other, so that each of us can to do our very best for our Lord. Do you agree?