If-Then

It is said by some that faith and reason are opposed. This is manifest foolishness, of course -- a failure to comprehend the nature of faith. The Bible, instead, embraces reason. For example, when the Pharisees demanded a sign from Jesus, He told them, "When it is evening, you say, 'It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.' And in the morning, 'It will be stormy today, for the sky is red and threatening.' You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times. An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah" (Matt 16:2-4). His point? "You guys are fully capable of reasoning through the signs when you see them, but now you're demanding a sign after all I've done? You're not getting any more." The Bible embraces reasoning along with -- or rather, as part of -- faith.

I ran across this interesting "if-then" in Colossians the other day. You know what an "if-then" is, right? "If A, then B." It is a logic statement. If the premise is correct, the conclusion must follow. Here's what Paul says:

If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth (Col 3:1-2).

The first question: Is the premise correct? Are you raised with Christ? The assumption is "Yes!" So, now what? What should naturally follow? What else ought to be true? If you are raised with Christ, what should the result be? "Seek the things that are above ... Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth."

Now, you have to admit, that is not a typical mindset of your everyday Christian. We are muddling about trying to figure out how to make ends meet, how to pass better laws, how to elect better politicians, how to make a more moral world, how to defend ourselves, a host of concerns that are, perhaps, the moral high ground, but are not based primarily on "things that are above", but, rather, "on things that are on earth."

This is not to say that we shouldn't make ends meet, concern ourselves with the society in which we find ourselves, or any such thing. What does it mean?

Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful (Col 3:12-15).

According to this text (connected to the former), setting our minds on things that are above looks like this. It is compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. It is bearing with each other (rather than against) and it is forgiving. Mostly, it is wearing the mantle of love. It is ruled by the peace of God and it is grateful.

Now, remember, this is all with the premise in mind: "If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above." Frankly, none of this is reasonable with any other premise. We all know that you have to look out for #1, that the greatest love of all is loving yourself. In a worldview centered on earthly concerns, "compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience" and so on all make no sense. In a worldview centered on Christ -- "on things that are above" -- it makes perfect sense. Thus, a logical "if-then". If you have been raised with Christ, then seek the things that are above. Makes sense.