Refusing to Be Touched by the Pain of Others

I’m wrapping up our Reluctant Prophet series this Sunday as we explore Paul’s “prison letter,” Colossians 1:15–28. The section begins with a “hymn” (vv. 15–20) that the writer includes to clarify the centrality of Christ and his sacrifice for everyone and everything in heaven and on earth. It may be the most grand and poetic Christological statement in all of the New Testament.

Getting our minds and hearts around it can be a huge challenge because we naturally—and sinfully—categorize the world and all that’s in it: better/worse, higher/lower, richer/poorer, smarter/dumber, deserving/undeserving. We almost always place ourselves in the better-regarded category. This is our ego and our sin. By demeaning others so that we can feel better about ourselves, we distance ourselves from them emotionally. Their “worth” is less, and therefore less deserving of our care and regard. We cease to be touched by the pain of others. This is our sin—but this cannot be our way, says our New Testament prophet.

Instead, Paul states, we are to regard Christ as the “head of the body (the church),” “the firstborn from the dead,” and therefore, having “first place in EVERYTHING” (emphasis mine). Christ rose from the dead out of a love for all of creation that could not be killed. This is a love that commands our attention and our hearts—if we are open to it. It is a love that changes our orientation toward the world and all our categories within it. If we are indeed a people who are “going on to perfection in love” (Wesley), then we will find ourselves caring for and loving more and more people and things around us—even those that pain and disgust us—because Christ loves and cares for them every bit as much as Christ loves and cares for us.

When we realize that our hearts are softening toward this or that person or group, we can thank God that the Spirit is working within us. When we find ourselves being touched by the pain of others, we can be sure that God is healing pain within us—and that Christ is gaining a deeper foothold, placing God first in our hearts in ALL THINGS.

This Sunday, we will be graced by the Wesley Ramblers from the Wesley Foundation at Texas A&M as they help lead us in worship. Their “hymns,” like Paul’s, will lift Christ up as first place in everything. I look forward to seeing you in the healing place.

Connecting God and Grace to Self and Community,

Matt Gaston
Lead Pastor