“Don’t let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ.” – Colossians 2:8 (NLT)
Have you noticed how the world seems to have all of the right answers to every problem? But there’s an obvious problem with their formula: It doesn’t involve God.
In Colossians 2:8, Paul emphatically warns us to stay away from worldly philosophy and human thinking that doesn’t acknowledge Christ. “Empty, high-sounding nonsense,” he calls it. He’s telling us to not fall into the temptation of assuming that the world’s deepest thinkers and most educated minds have the Christ follower’s best interests at heart.
Numerous times throughout the Gospels, Jesus uses parables to illustrate just how different His kingdom operates compared to the ways of the world. But arguably his most powerful declaration came near the very beginning of his ministry in The Sermon on the Mount. (Matthew 5)
It’s worth noting that Paul wasn’t necessarily condemning philosophy. He himself was a very gifted philosopher. Rather, Paul is condemning teaching and worldly views that credit humanity and not Christ, which is essentially a false religion.
So as we go through our day today, let’s challenge ourselves to tune-out secular philosophy podcasts and political news talk radio. These are always the quickest and easiest ways for us to become indoctrinated with worldly problems and man-made solutions. Instead, let us tune-in to God’s Word and see what He has to say, not just about the world, but most importantly about the desperate state of our own spiritual condition.
For it is in Him and His Word that we find the solution to all our problems. Amen.
Former Blackout Artist 