Colossians 2:8 says, "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." Previous to this Paul mentions the importance of holding on to the teaching that establishes us in faith. Afterwards he explains why it is important: Christ is the only God who dwelt in bodily form; He fills us; in Him all powers are subjected; and we are purified by the putting off of one nature and being clothed with another. Evidently these were counter points against false teaching that was going around the church at that time. Paul's point was that any teaching that taught a contrary message than how Christ was preached to them, is a worldly philosophy and not to be led astray by it. If we adopt teaching, for instance, that considers Christ a god among many gods, then we adopt something of no value and our sin will go on unabated (Colossians 2:23). If we adopt the false notion that we must deny our bodies pleasures since God's Spirit resides within us, then we have believed the lie of the ascetics who considered the body evil. Secondly, we read from this very passage (vs. 11) that it is God who performs a circumcision "made without hands". So it is He who alone puts off the flesh. Let me indulge in a little exegesis. Another false notion the church has held for years ins the notion that our effort is required for true victory over the flesh. That we must co-operate with the Spirit and together we can "beat this thing" called the flesh. So we read in Colossians 3:5, "Put to death therefore what is earthly in you..." as an injunction that this is our responsibility and our doing. But 3:1 gives us a clue to the fallacy of this doctrine; it reads, "If then you have been raised with Christ (emphasis mine)"; and 3:4 points out that "Christ, who is your life". The implication here is that in putting to death the things of the flesh is Christ in us doing what a Christian should an ought to do. On one hand the passage seems to indicate that we have a part of the work in securing what is assured by Christ in the hereafter, "...then you also will appear with him in glory". Also the direct commands of "set your minds on things that are above..." and "put to death therefore..." etc. seem to imply effort on our part in making our "election sure". But the real implication is that these are impossible things if we have not been raised with Christ. Christ is not a pill we take that forthwith gives us the ability to do what has been commanded of us. He is a person that flows freely through us accomplishing all, according to His perfect Will, that He intends to do in us. So the real implication in this passage is that if Christ is in us, then we will seek the things that are above; we will set our minds on the things that are above; and we will put to death what is earthly; otherwise we will not and our lives will reflect that decision. It is a slight of hand; a twist of the wrist, the subtle winking of the eye that moves the focal point from the subject of God in Christ as the real power to that of man's responsibility in the securing of salvation for himself by doing the things that Paul says we ought to in Colossians. But the shift has happened and it is a dangerous one. Yes we have responsibility, but the focus should still be on Christ's power and not on ours. We fulfill our Christian responsibility by keeping our eyes on the power that Christ has in conquering sin. Not on my responsibility to keep God's Word by co-operating with Him to do what He desires for me to do. When the focus shifts from Him to me, worldly philosophy, the wisdom of man, has entered in.
-Joe
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