How to Thrive Spiritually; Colbert, Colossians, and Chrisitan Commitments

Did you see the recent clip from the Late Show?  It’s the one where British singer Dua Lipa asked Stephen Colbert about his faith?  She asked how his faith influenced his comedy.  Colbert said as a Christian he believed that God is with us in suffering and that death is not the end.  He then applied this to making people laugh.  It was a great answer and a really fun clip.  What was interesting to me though was the question itself.  Of all the things she could have asked; politics, satire, fame she asked about faith.  

Did you know that 85% of adults in NYC believe in God?  That’s according to the Pew Research Center’s study.  The same study found that 75% of us value spirituality.  This is interesting to me because… I live here… and it doesn’t always feel true.  For example, I have two daughters who are in high school.  Both would say that there are no students interested in God.  The Pew Research Center and Dua Lipa say differently.  

The Late Show clip and the Pew Research report point to something.  Both tell us that spiritual life and vitality are important. Most of us believe in and want to have a life with God.  What we believe about God might differ, but the desire for God is strong.  

So, here’s some good news.  If you feel isolated and alone in faith in school or work.  You’re not alone.  If you wonder if anyone else cares about God, you’re not alone.  Life with God is more important to your neighbors than you think.  Statistically speaking 8 out of 10 of your peers believe in God.  Spirituality is important to 7 out of 10 of them.  

Now for some bad news.  It’s harder than ever to talk about God.  Jonathan Merritt wrote an article in the New York Times in 2018 describing the shrinking percentage of Christians willing to talk about faith.  As I reflect on this trend, it seems to me American Christianity has a credibility problem.  Unhealthy political alignments have been exposed.  The American Church’s history of compromise with racism, sexism, and militarism has been exposed.  Scandals of ministry leaders have filled our media.  

Years of declining credibility has contributed to a loss of confidence.  Most of us believe in God.  Most of us want a spiritual life that is healthy and vibrant.  But, maybe, we’ve lost confidence that our church community can help.  Disillusionment with church and with God are real and painful.  

I care about this pretty deeply.  I want to know if there really is life and vitality in the way of Jesus.  And I want to know how to get it.  I want to know what’s essential to life with God and what’s not.  I want to know how to thrive spiritually as a Christian.  And I want to help others to thrive spiritually as well.  

I notice some relevant ideas in here in Colossians 3.  Paul clearly believes the way of Jesus is full of life and vitality.  In these next few minutes, I’d like to tease out these ideas with you.  I think, embracing and practicing these ideas will help us thrive spiritually.  Here’s what Paul writes, 

So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth, 3 for you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is your life is revealed, then you also will be revealed with him in glory.

The first big idea has to do with allegiance.  
The passage starts with the phrase, “If you have been raised with Christ.”  What does it mean to be raised with Christ?  Paul is clearly speaking metaphorically, but what does the metaphor mean?  

The key phrase here is ‘with Christ’.  At the end of Colossians 2 Paul writes about dying with Christ.  Here he talks about being risen with Christ.  So, Paul sees Jesus’ death and resurrection as something we participate in.  The invitation is to be “with Jesus,” somehow, in his death and resurrection.  

For centuries theologians have tried to express it means to be “with Jesus.”  You’re probably familiar with them.  I want to highlight one that I don’t think gets enough attention.  We are with Jesus when we are in solidarity with him.  Some of us went to Times Square after Michelle Go’s death to protest.  In that moment the community was standing “with” Michelle, in solidarity.  This week there are calls to stand “with” the Asian American community as we lament Christina Yuna Lee’s murder.  To be “with” someone in this way means to be allied with them.    

To be risen with Christ means our allegiance is with him.  So, when we look and see a compromised church we stop.  We check our allegiances.  We ask, are we with Jesus?  Does Jesus have our full solidarity?  We remember Jesus’s death.  And we choose to stand “with” him against the corrupt and corrupting powers that colluded in his death.  We decide that we’re with Jesus, not power politics with religious justifications.  We’re with Jesus, not selfish ambition and greed.  We’re with Jesus, not the preference for comfort over truth.

Being “raised with Jesus,” means his way is our way.  All of us are tempted by corrupt and corrupting powers.  But, when we are with Jesus, we recognize and reject them.  

And here’s where we find life.  When we are with Jesus, we discover that Jesus is also with us.  

Stephen Colbert’s comedy is shaped by this this vision.  In that interview Colbert said, “in light of eternity death isn’t really an end.”  Because Colbert’s allegiance is with Jesus, he offers life in laughter.  

I think that’s beautiful.  I think it’s compelling.  It’s a vision of spiritual thriving.  

When Jesus has our allegiance, we share in his life.  Jesus is alive.  Jesus is risen from the dead.  “If you have been raised with Christ…”. That’s the first big idea.    

The second big idea has to do with setting our will.  

Paul writes, “If you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.”

We might assume we know what it means to seek the things above.  I’m not convinced we do.  We assume ‘above’ is up there somewhere detached from ordinary life.  We assume Paul is encouraging some kind of blissful detachment.  He isn’t.    

Paul is a very Jewish thinker.  His idea of ‘above’ simply means the place where God’s is.  In Paul’s view heaven and earth overlap and interlock.  God is above creation, but creation is full of God’s fingerprints.  

Isaiah 6:3 says, “the whole earth is full of God’s glory.”  Habakkuk 2:14 say, “the earth will be filled with the knowledge of God as the waters cover the sea.”  How do the waters cover the sea?  They are sea.  Setting our mind on the ‘things above’ simply means seeking God in all places and circumstances.  

How do we set our mind and will on seeking God?  We begin by choosing to do it.  You have a life with God the moment you want one.  Jesus said, “seek and you’ll find, knock and the door will be opened.”  I’ve experienced this as true.   

We use simple structures and practices to help us.  In my family we pray morning and evening.  We set aside regular time for reflection.  We meet small groups.  These simple rhythms help us.  But… and here’s the third thing… we don’t confuse our spiritual practices with our spiritual life.  

There's a Jesuit axiom, that goes like this, "You can't smoke while you're praying, but you can pray while you're smoking." The point isn’t that smoking is good for you (it’s not).  The point is that the goal of our spiritual life isn’t to spend less time living and more time praying. The point is to spend every moment paying attention the presence of God.  

I can testify to the wisdom in this little phrase. Often, my sweetest times in prayer are not in the recitation of the daily office or reading the New Testament.  The sweetest times are in a sudden desire to start praying for someone.  I was brushing my teeth this week when I suddenly felt a desire to pray for someone who despises me.   Recently, I felt deep joy in God while I made my daughter's coffee. 

This doesn't mean fixed rhythms of devotion don't matter. They do. But, the whole point of praying when we rise, before we eat, at dusk, and before bed, is for the times when we aren't formally praying. Our spiritual lives are not the sum total of our religious practices.  They are the lives that are lived in between.

Our first big idea is to give Jesus has our allegiance.  The second big idea is to give God our attention.  The third idea is to anchor our identity in God.   

Something powerful happens as we are with Jesus and seeking God.  We stop needing to be important, successful, attractive, secure, right, significant, or needed.  I think this is what Paul means when he writes, “your life is hidden with Christ in God.”  

There are so many things in NYC that offer us an identity.  Years ago, Elisabeth Gilbert observed that New Yorkers seemed to have the subliminal command, ‘achieve’ just below conscious awareness.  Being a successful New Yorker is a powerful identity.  We’re pulled toward strong family identity.  We’re pushed toward educational and class identities. 

To be clear, I’m not anti-group identities.  I’m for a life that is hidden with Christ in God.  Or, what I call life with God.

Life with God is an awareness of a relationship with God as the ultimate source, anchor, and goal of my being.  Personal identities are important.  Group identities are important.  But we thrive spiritually when our ultimate sense of wellbeing is anchored in God.  If your identity is anchored in success, losing a job will destroy you.  If your identity is anchored in family a broken relationship will destroy you.  If your identity is anchored in money, success, or sex appeal, you’ve already got one foot over the fence.  If your identity is anchored in a church, building, or community, you’re destined for disillusionment.  But, if your life is hidden in Christ, in God, you can thrive.  

Recently, I reflected on this when I was sharply criticized by a close friend.  The conflict raised questions about his trust for me as a leader, as a white male, and as an advocate.  About ten years ago this same friend and I had a similar conflict.  At that time, I was so hurt I felt like quitting ministry.  I was embarrassed. I felt shame.  I felt crushed by failure.  I didn’t know then that my identity depended on his approval.     

This time, instead of feeling crushed by the critique, I was glad.  Why?  Because, more of my life is hidden with Christ in God.  Because God already approves of me, flawed as I am, I’m free to learn.  I don’t have to be perfect.  I don’t have to be liked.  I don’t have to prove my value.  And that frees me to love my friend, even when he’s upset with me.  

This is a challenging season for the church.  Disillusionment with church and disappointment with God are real.  I get it.  And yet, in the midst of disillusionment, I see deep spiritual hunger.  It’s a hunger that can be satiated in life with God if we apply these big ideas.  Align yourself with Jesus.  Seek God.  Anchor your identity in God. When we do we will see Jesus, and so will others.   

There is real life and spiritual thriving in the way of Jesus!  This is good news, not just for you.  It’s good news for Dua Lipa.  It’s good news for Stephen Colbert.  It’s good news for your neighbors, classmates, and co-workers.