A Nugget from New Life Network(from Rev. Ed and Cheryl Henderson)
Scripture for the Day – April 20, 2020
As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Colossians 2:6
Paul was in prison. He had never been to Colosse. However. He sat down and wrote one of the most powerful epistles to the church at Colosse. It was written to counter and respond to heretical teachings and encourage believers to serve with fervor and passion. It was a warning.
The basic problem was a Judaic-Gnostic heresy that sought to mix Greek philosophy with Christian theology. Gnostic philosophy taught that matter was evil. In order to avoid having their pure God create evil, they had created a system of lesser deities that overflowed from their God. These lesser gods were far enough removed from the pure God that they were able to create a universe (which was composed of evil matter).
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. (Colossians 2:8, KJV)
See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception [pseudo-intellectual babble], according to the tradition [and musings] of mere men, following the elementary principles of this world, rather than following [the truth—the teachings of] Christ. (Colossians 2:8, AMP)
Watch out for people who try to dazzle you with big words and intellectual double-talk. They want to drag you off into endless arguments that never amount to anything. They spread their ideas through the empty traditions of human beings and the empty superstitions of spirit beings. But that’s not the way of Christ. Everything of God gets expressed in him, so you can see and hear him clearly. You don’t need a telescope, a microscope, or a horoscope to realize the fullness of Christ, and the emptiness of the universe without him. When you come to him, that fullness comes together for you, too. His power extends over everything. (Colossians 2:8, The Message)
We have this same problem in our churches today! We have a lot of religious ritual and liturgy in a lot of our churches. We have people going to church because their relatives or friends go to that church. If Jesus himself walked into their church, I am afraid they would throw Him out. There is no freedom in many services to change direction and allow God to do what He is famous for. I went to one of these churches when I was young, so I know what I am talking about.
John Wesley and his brother founded the Methodist Church. John left behind copious writings in his personal journal. One of the things he wrote just before he passed was the following. “I am not afraid that the people called Methodists should ever cease to exist either in Europe or America. But I am afraid lest they should only exist as a dead sect, having the form of religion without the power. And this undoubtedly will be the case unless they hold fast both to the doctrine, spirit, and discipline with which they first set out.” — John Wesley
This is not a slam on the whole Methodist church because I was saved and baptized in the Spirit in a country Methodist Church.
How do I combat this religion versus relationship spirit? My suggestion is this. Read the New Testament cover to cover for yourself. Don’t let anyone, including a Pastor, preach something to you that is contrary to the Bible. The only way you will know this is by reading the Bible for yourself. If you are in a church that has doctrines that are contrary to the Word, get out! If you are in a church that is mainly liturgical, get out. If you are in a church that has no room for the Holy Spirit and His gifts, get out!
It is all about relationship with the Lord and the Holy Spirit. It is not about religion!
