Read the transcript from today's video devotional.
A Strong Warning
In Colossians chapter 2, verse 8, there's some really strong language that Paul uses. Apparently, it's possible for us to be captured—to be captured by wrong ideas, anti-biblical ideas.
That means not just distracted, but captured, where these ideas, this kind of thinking, these philosophies could take hold of us and do what they want with us. It's a strong warning that he gives us. He says there's a distinct difference between that which belongs to the world—this knowledge that belongs to the world—and that which, in his words, comes from Christ.
It's a big warning for us here. There is a danger for us today, just like there was a danger when Paul was writing to the Colossians in the first century. There are things that we hear that sound good, that sound deep, sound meaningful and might even sound true. The question is, do they line up with Scripture?
Do they agree with Christ? It doesn't matter how polished the ideas are. It doesn't matter how confident the person delivering those ideas is. It doesn't matter how persuasive the arguments are. If it comes from—in his words here—merely human thinking, then it stands apart from Christ. It is no good for us, and it cannot give us life. We have to be on guard about this.
The Christian Must Be Discerning
You're bombarded all the time. You're hearing ideas, you're hearing information, you're hearing philosophy, you're hearing knowledge. If you're connected in any way to social media, you see it over and over again. What Paul is saying here is that the Christian must be discerning. What that means is that you could hear something, and it's not going to be obviously wicked.
Right? There are some things that you hear, and you know that's wrong. That's gross. That's not biblical. Then there are other things that you might hear and think, oh, well, I kind of like that. It might sound really good. It might be presented, like I said, with a lot of confidence. What are you going to do with that?
You have to say, what does the Bible say? What does Jesus say? Is this according to Scripture? If it's not, then I have to reject it.
Measure Everything by Christ
Practically speaking, how do we stay clear? How do we protect ourselves? How do we keep ourselves from being captured by these empty philosophies and this high-sounding nonsense? If you haven't figured it out already, we have to measure everything we hear by Christ.
Does this idea honor Him? Does it agree with His Word? Does it draw me closer to Him? Does it make me more dependent on Him or less? Does it make me more dependent on others, or maybe myself? Does it draw me into humility? Does it draw me into obedience, or does it push me into something else, like self-rule?
We remember this word from Paul in Colossians chapter 2, verse 8: "Don't let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ."
