Magic shows are fun to watch, but we know from the start that there is some sleight of hand or movement undetected by the audience that makes it seem real. Perhaps we enjoy being fooled. However, when it comes to our walk with Christ, we are warned to be on our guard. There are false teachers, philosophies, and "empty deceit" just waiting to snatch any listening ear....even Christian ears.
This point is driven home as I watched "The Truth Project" for the sixth time on a Wednesday evening. Del Tackett, the tour guide, in this wonderful teaching series pointed out that even Christians are capable of being deceived by the ideas promoted in our world. He pointed to the letter Paul wrote to the Colossians (2:6-8): "Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ." Unfortunately, the Church at Colossae as well as in Galatia had been dealing with false teachings that pulled them away from the truth of the Apostle's instruction. They lost sight of true doctrine. This should not surprise us because from the beginning of the church until now there have been many strange teachings, philosophies, and ideas that have crept into the body of believers. Instead of believers influencing the world, we are more often influenced by them and accept as truth something which God has not condoned.
Sources of disinformation abound today now that we have electronic devices which can connect us instantly to ideas, theories and philosophies which may have no basis in truth. Even in Paul's day, word could travel quickly in a village simply by passing a story on. Today, however, we have instant messages that travel the globe in a click of a button. Instant information, though, does not equal godly wisdom. According to Paul, we need to be careful to walk in Christ daily...that is...His Word of truth. His teachings (doctrine) should be close to our heart so that we are not deceived when someone introduces a "new understanding" on an issue to the church. If we are rooted and established in our faith following the Apostle's teaching, we will not be easily led astray.
Paul echoes his teaching of being prepared in his second letter to the Corinthians 10:3-5: "For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinions raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ...." We are in a battle....a war of ideas in our present world. Our fight is against arguments, opinions and ideas which try to distort God and His Word. As Ephesians 6:12 tells us: "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places." This verse is more relevant today than ever. We live in a time of spiritual confusion and darkness. This is why we need to be prepared by putting on the full of armor of God (Ephesians 6:13-18) and make certain that we take every thought captive to Christ.
Knowing that it is possible for us to be deceived as we walk in this world should encourage us all to be students of the Word....both Old and New Testaments. God's Word does not change nor can we pick and choose what we want to obey. His truth sets us free and creates in us a new heart and mind in Christ. Therefore we must make certain we are "rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith". Don't let the enemy steal your joy or deceive you with worldly philosophies and ideas. This world is passing away but God's Word will stand forever. While magic can be fun to watch, we all need to live in the real world founded on the rock of Christ and the Bible. With the Lord, there are no tricks but abundant life. Selah!
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