Please Write Us A Letter, Paul

Paul, we have read your letters to churches which you evangelized and where you were personally known. As we read your letter to the Colossians, we noticed that you had never been there and did not know them personally, nor the church in Laodicea, yet you wrote them letters. Since you have a wide and deep concern for churches everywhere (Col. 2:1), we ask you to write to us here in eastern Connecticut. We promise to read it when we assemble at our meetinghouse (Col 4:16).

Dear brothers and sisters at Storrs. Be assured that though absent in body, I am with you in spirit (Col. 2:5). But as you read in my letter to Colossae, many people had told me a lot about them – their faith and love, their personal relationships, the culture in which they were living, and some dangerous teaching they were hearing. Could someone in your church fill me in on what is going on there? Give me some specifics.

That may be difficult Paul. No one seems to know what is really going on or wants to admit it. We seem content to keep on keeping on. We could have a congregational meeting to discuss it. But who would come and be open about our personal lives and our community life. Besides, our history suggests that even if you wrote us a letter, less than half of our members would gather to really study it. What do you suggest?

Tom, you need to get your act together. I often thought that my work was in vain (Gal. 4:11). Then I realized that it is God who begins a work and brings it to completion (Phil. 1:6). Churches will always have problems. That is why I wrote my letters. When I wrote, I had no idea that you would still be there 2000 years later, nor that my letters would be preserved and read. I am pleased but not surprised. What I spoke and wrote was a revelation from God good for all time (Col. 1:25-26; I Thess. 2:13). I wrote to the Colossian church but also for you.

Since I cannot write a letter to you, I do have some practical recommendations. Work with what you have. You have dedicated and loyal brothers and sisters (Col. 1:2). You have the word of truth, my gospel (1:5). You have men and women of spiritual wisdom and understanding (1:10). Come together to read and apply God’s word. If you choose one of my letters, try to understand it in its setting. Then apply it to yourselves. Take it very seriously (2:6-7). See to it (2:8a)!

—Paulos, albeit Tom Yoakum