Don't get spoiled!!!

Col 2:8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.

When I think of the words "spoiled" and "cheated," I automatically think of something eitheir decaying or corrupted, and someone being robbed from. Paul is writing in Colossians 2 to combat the Gnostic Heresy that had crept into the churches in Colassae and Laodicea. He said that those churches were going to be spoiled and cheated through philosophy and empty deceit.

You see, in Paul's day, the Laodiceans in particular were placing the philosophy of Aristotle, Plato, and Homer on the same plane if not a higher one than Scripture. And he said this would corrupt them and cheat them. Fast forward 30 years to the time of John writing the Revelation. What did he have to say to Laodicea? "You're rich and increased with goods and have need of nothing, yet you're in reality blind, miserable and naked. You're neither cold nor hot but lukewarm, and you make the Lord sick."

Could it be that that is exactly our problem in the church in America today!?! We put the philosopher's of our day ahead of Scripture. When it comes to child rearing we think that Dr. Spock knew best. When it comes to family issues, we think that Dr. Phil knows best. When it comes to spiritual matters and matters that affect every day life, we think Oprah knows best. Ultimately, when it comes to right and wrong, we think that we know best. And what is the result? We too have become lukewarm and have seen no major revival in over 100 years.

What is the hope to see it change? Is there any at all? The only hope is to repent and turn to Jesus. We need to return to Him and the Holy Scriptures with a simple child-like faith. Instead of "interpretting" Scripture through the lens of modern philosophy and philosophers, we need to just read it, study it, believe it and obey it. Otherwise, we will continue to be corrupted, and this will rob us of our joy in the Lord! So, this week, DON'T GET SPOILED OR CHEATED! RETURN TO YOUR SIMPLE CHILD-LIKE FAITH AND WATCH GOD WORK WONDERS AGAIN! GOD BLESS!