December 18, 2023

Colossians 2: 8 See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ. (NIV)

A philosophy may explain difficult things, but has no power to change them.*

Imagine a pride of lions invites you to have dinner with them. They seem friendly. Just big ole shaggy kitty-cats. So, you go to their den where they welcome you with open arms (well, while we’re pretending, let’s imagine they have arms!) and you think you’re having a nice evening. Until they eat you.

This is what Paul is warning about in this passage. Unscriptural teaching is false doctrine, even if it seems friendly. As David Guzik states, the philosophy that threatened the Colossians was dangerous because it was not “obviously sinful and licentious.”* They might have been more aware of the problem if it had been blatantly evil or purposely anti-Christian. Instead, they went home with it, thinking they were going to have dinner when they actually were dinner.

The world is full of “good” people doing good works for reasons that have nothing to do with the gospel of Christ. I know many in my community who are moral, ethical, and abounding in charity toward the less fortunate. But they have put their faith in their own philosophy of a life well-lived and have no hope beyond that. Putting your faith in human traditions and the basic principles of this world might make you a decent and productive citizen but it won’t save you. 

You can’t be taken in by hollow and deceptive philosophy if you are armed with the truth of the gospel. Know the truth and you won’t get eaten by sneaky, hungry lions.

There's an old saying that if a lie is told often enough, it becomes the truth. Actually, it doesn't. What happens is that people simply start believing that it's true.*