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. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming. In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all. (Colossians 3:1-11 ESV)
But now you must put away all anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk… OK but what does that mean?
Well anger is a strong feeling of displeasure and usually of antagonism.
Malice is desire to cause pain, injury, or distress to another.
Slander is the utterance of false charges or misrepresentations which defame and damage another’s reputation.
Obscene is 1: disgusting to the senses : repulsive
2 a: abhorrent to morality or virtue; specifically : designed to incite to lust or depravity
b: containing or being language regarded as taboo in polite usage <obscene lyrics>
c: repulsive by reason of crass disregard of moral or ethical principles <an obscene misuse of power>
d: so excessive as to be offensive <obscene wealth><obscene waste>
So still what does that mean? It is not specifically stated in all of those definitions, but it is implied in the ones it is not stated that this is something you have or feel towards someone else. Another person other than yourself is involved here, and you can not be self centered and worried about yourself! This is about elevating the other higher than yourself and looking out for their needs rather than yours.
If we can do that, then there is no separation or classification to us. We are united in the love that Christ has given to all of us. That is the love that allows us to look beyond ourselves, or above to something better than our own self preservation and to the needs of the other.
Look out for the other and not your own interests and God will lift you up.
aSacredRebel 