All In Together

Christian community is a "a web of stubbornly loyal relationships, knotted together in a living network of persons who are committed to practicing the way of Jesus
together for the renewal of the world.”
- Jon Tyson, Creative Minority

Humans were not designed to live siloed or solo, the Christian life reflects this. While "telephone pole Christianity," is common, we're invited to the way of being shaped by the cross together.

The last section of Colossians is typically referenced as "Final Greetings," but it's not just a list of names. The last part of this letter is a tangible expression of all that Paul and Timothy have encouraged the readers to in this letter. They know what it means to "put to death what belongs to your earthly nature," (3:5) they've "put off the old self with its practices" (3:9), and pursued "putting on compassion, kindness, and humility" (3:12). The counter-cultural way of living they exhort the Colossian Christians to, they've lived themselves. The names listed here participated in living this new life in Christ! What's expressed here gives us a good glimpse of what "all in" together looks like.

When we're "all in," we're: stubbornly loyal, tenaciously for each other, humble, comforting one another, serving one another, encouraging one another, and committed to reflecting the kingdom of God as men and women; together.