Colossians 2:6-15.                             Living as Christians in the face a false world!           24/7/16

6 So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, 7 rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. 

8 See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ. 

9 For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, 

10 and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority. 

11 In him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not performed by human hands. Your whole self ruled by the flesh was put off when you were circumcised by Christ, 

12 having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through your faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead. 

13 When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, 

14 having cancelled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. 

15 And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.

‘We are living in interesting times’, is an understatement indeed. As we look around us these days there are so many things happening and being said that are quite disturbing indeed. We firstly think of the increasing incidence of terrorism: Political debate where lies are openly said and accepted; Where media and the Law promote a politically correct view, and openly and viciously condemn people who put a different view; Where the Muslim faith is shielded, while Christianity is roundly condemned: Where my wants are expected to be fulfilled even when I am not prepared to contribute: and the list could go on.

But what is even more interesting is the response that so many take in the face of this. So many seem to tolerate things that are quite clearly wrong and viciously defend them. While others seem to go along with whatever, because it is the current popular view. It seems that most people are modifying what that are saying and doing in order to fit in with the current world view.

Even in the church and our own lives this is far more prevalent than we would care to admit. Our views on many things have changed in recent times. Even where Scripture is quite clear we have changed our thinking so that we are not so out of sync with the culture around us.

In many ways it seems that more and more we are being taken captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ. More and more it seems we are prepared to listen to hollow thinking, simply because it sounds pleasing to the ear and is sprouted regularly in the media.

It was interesting to read a rare article in the media that was being critical of the popularist thinking; that we must not speak out against the Muslims and their faith, but at the same time condemn the Catholic and the Christian faith because of the few priests who have brought disrepute on Christianity. They use one rule for one situation and do the opposite in another. They speak at great lengths about tolerance, but are absolutely intolerant toward anyone who does not go along with their views. They do not argue the issue but ridicule and condemn the person.

The humanist, views are many and varied, but are all in the end hollow and deceptive philosophy. They are human views of what we would like to think is good, but we fail to acknowledge that we have a major flaw in our thinking. No matter how good the idea, our sinful, selfish thinking always mucks it up. When the idea comes from humanity and is focussed on ourselves, it will in the end fail.

This we can see as life goes on week after week, month after month, our worldly thinking is unravelling disastrously. Things are going from bad to worse rapidly. So we need to think carefully as to what we are listening to and taking on board in our lives.

Here in this reading we are warned again to see to it that we are not led away from the truth of God’s Word. We surely can see now that as we give way a little here and there, before we know it we have lost the plot altogether. The lie that we can change and ignore God’s Word a little here and there leads to disaster.  We need to heed Paul’s words here in this reading.

 So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ. 

Again the reminder is to be completely centred in Jesus Christ and what he has told us in his Word. He is to continue to be our LORD – our Master – our Boss – the One who is all important in our lives. Our roots need to be firmly set deep in him and his Word. Our lives are to be built around him, not the world around us: Not ourselves and our thoughts wants and desires.

In these darkening days we need to be very much strengthened in the faith as you were taught. We must go back to the basics and strengthen our understanding of them. Regular worship and study of God’s Word is paramount for us as we increasing come under all kinds of pressures from within and without. Gone are the days that we can sit back and go to church only when we feel like it; and to simply think that we went to confirmation lessons, so we know it all.

On top of this, we are encouraged to be overflowing with thankfulness. But how can we be thankful in the midst of very unsettling times, that are seemingly getting worse all the time? We surely need to have lots of good things around us if we are to be safe? But then, in light of what is happen, all that might so easily be taken away from us as well? The things that we have relied on, can today be so easily taken away from us?

That is why we again need to go back to the basics, and then we are able to be overflowing with thankfulness, no matter what lies before us. Because of a strong focus and centre is in Jesus Christ we know that all things will work out for good. Not necessarily in worldly terms. But because Jesus is Lord and God he knows what is best, and he know what will ensure that we do not lose out on eternal life with him in heaven.

This reading tells us quite clearly: For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority. So despite what we see when we look around us in worldly terms, we now can be sure that God is in control. Sure he is allowing us human beings to bring untold hardships on ourselves. But he does so, so that we can again be reminded that we cannot do life by ourselves without reference to God and what he has to say to us in his Word.

Sinful, selfish humanity will continually get it wrong, as we are seeing around us today. However, God has stepped into our world to give us a way out. He sends his Son, Jesus to do what was necessary for us to be joined back into God’s family.

We read: When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having cancelled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. 

Jesus gives his life into death on the cross so that we might be forgiven and enabled once more to live with God, both here on earth and in eternity. What we have continually strived for, he has been made possible. In connection with him we can live forever. And beyond this life we can have health, wealth and happiness, with a complete absence of anything bad and evil happening to us. It is there for us, guaranteed.

Also: In him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not performed by human hands. Your whole self, ruled by the flesh was put off when you were circumcised by Christ, having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through your faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead. 

God has done everything necessary, through Jesus Christ to ensure that it is all there for us. Even now in the midst of, and as things get even worse, in our world, he will ensure that we will gain everything that he has promised for us. He has joined us to himself in our baptism, and as we now stay close to him, trusting him alone, we can be sure that all things will work for good.

Here also remember that final verse of our reading. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross. So again the reassurance is that just as the terrible death on the cross appeared to be a win for evil, it was in fact its defeat. So also for us, evil is not able to win out over us. In fact, it is defeated, and is instead now used for the good of those who love him.

So let us now See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ. 

Instead let us look to and hold firmly to our Lord Jesus Christ. Let us allow him to lead and guide us through these difficult days ahead, so that we can give all glory and honour to our great God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. For after all to him alone does it all belong, now and forever.  AMEN.

Pastor Roger Atze

Glandore/Underdale Lutheran Parish