"Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ." (Colossians 2:8)
In order to grow toward spiritual maturity, we must recognize the false. In order to help us do this, in Colossians 2, the Apostle Paul gives us three characteristics of false teaching.
Having considered the first yesterday, today we will take up the second.
False teaching is based upon "the basic principles of this world."
The word for "principles" here literally means "things in a row" or "a series of things." This means that this way seems right to most in the culture, making it more difficult for us to think differently. This explains why we have such difficulty thinking the Lord's thoughts.
This philosophy is man's drive to be successful. Success isn't wrong or bad. The key is by what definition do I define success. If we are defined by anything or anyone other than the Lord, we will be rendered lacking in one way or another. False teaching will always lead us to self, our most prominent god.
Our culture defines success by the amount of money, education, or status we have attained. Again, there is nothing wrong with money, education, or status, but, if we define our success by the world's definition, we lack the definition of God.
In 1 Corinthians 1:18-24, we read, "18 For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written, "I WILL DESTROY THE WISDOM OF THE WISE, AND THE CLEVERNESS OF THE CLEVER I WILL SET ASIDE." 20 ‘Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?
21 For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. 22 For indeed Jews ask for signs and Greeks search for wisdom; 23 but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness, 24 but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God."
Here is the contrast between the wisdom of God and the wisdom of this world. God’s wisdom is Jesus Christ crucified. God's wisdom is seen most profoundly through the death and resurrection of His Son, as He remedied our greatest enemy, death.
The Greeks were well known for their philosophers; with Socrates, Plato and Aristotle being the most notable. Jesus and His crucifixion was like foolishness to them.
In 1 Corinthians 1:30-31, we read, "30 But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, 31 so that, just as it is written, "LET HIM WHO BOASTS, BOAST IN THE LORD."
Jesus Christ is the antidote to empty human philosophy. He is the solution for the lack rendered by the wrong pursuits in the human heart! We do well to pursue a real, meaningful and intimate relationship with Him. Our goal is to discover His definition of all things, which are discovered in His word.
The reason so many Christians struggle with spiritual maturity is that we pursue formulas rather than a Person. When we have a passion for a person, we won’t have a problem with the requirements that are involved in that relationship. We will not read the Bible because we have to, we will read it because we want to.
When we increasingly pursue Christ as a Person, we will increasingly find Him. In so doing, we will be defined by Him and not the basic principles of this world.
Finally, think of the Bible as a pane of glass. The glass is designed for us to look through and enjoy the scenery beyond. When the Bible is a means to seeing God, our study of it will render a heart for Him. When we study Him, we will be guarded against becoming etched and scratched by this cruel world's way of thinking. This is how we fight off the negative influences of this lost and dying world.
