Human Wisdom Has Lead Us astray

 I am still thinking about the my last blog where I talked about all of the diverse messages that surround us daily

The Apostle Paul is writing to the Colossians about the presence of false teachers who assume a superior way of thinking about how this world should think and be — over against the teachings of Jesus.  

We know of such teachers in our present day.

Paul is asking them to remember their true “roots..”  Ignoring those who would lead you away from God.

¹⁸Do not let anyone disqualify you, insisting on self-abasement and worship of angels, dwelling on visions, puffed up without cause by a human way of thinking,…

How often do we tend to listen to the ways of "human thinking?"

We get caught up in the rules and regulations of our earthly culture; and then make decisions, and form opinions, according to today's worldview. 

That must have been happening with in the Colossians community as well.

All these centuries, how do we learn to separate the ways of Christ with the way of our modern cultural human understanding of how to live together?

 20 If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the universe, why do you live as if you still belonged to the world? Why do you submit to regulations,… 

This issue is huge in our nation and all over the world -- the need to own power and authority. 

Just stop for a moment and think about all of the myths that inform our day-to-day living. 

If nothing else the nightly new casts are enough to prove Paul's point.

I am inviting you to attempt to remember a world other than what we hear on the news, about all the deceitful philosophies and power hungry leaders who claim to be about "your own interests."

 

It is my honest assessment anything -- anything -- that temps us, or tries to lead us away from what Jesus came to teach and model for us, are simply philosophies and empty deceits.  According to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the universe, and not according to Christ.  

So I am wondering how you and I start to remember -- reflect on-- how we reorder our thought processes???

When is it that we start to say 'no' to all those who cleverly gain our attention away from the wisdom of Jesus?

When will we begin to live according to God's original design.  You and I "as His image?"

20 If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the universe, why do you live as if you still belonged to the world? Why do you submit to regulations,…

6 As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, continue to live your lives in him, ⁷rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. 8 See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the universe, and not according to Christ. ⁹For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, ¹⁰and you have come to fullness in him, who is the head of every ruler and authority….

16 Therefore do not let anyone condemn you in matters of food and drink or of observing festivals, new moons, or sabbaths. ¹⁷These are only a shadow of what is to come, but the substance belongs to Christ. ¹⁸Do not let anyone disqualify you, insisting on self-abasement and worship of angels, dwelling on visions, puffed up without cause by a human way of thinking, ¹⁹and not holding fast to the head, from whom the whole body, nourished and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows with a growth that is from God.

20 If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the universe, why do you live as if you still belonged to the world? Why do you submit to regulations,…(Colossians 2)