Growing Through Colossians

Editor's note: We'd like to apologize for the inconsistency in publishing new posts. But, our chief blogger has experienced an inordinate number of personal setbacks this year! So, now that he's back on his feet, we'll continue our journey through the Bible as we grow through Colossians:

Extreme self-denial, worship of angels, seeking spiritual visions, and the punctilious observation of religious festivals characterize the Christians in the Colossian church. To counteract the false teachings circulating through the Christian community, the apostle Paul pens a letter, challenging them to renew their commitment to Jesus Christ:

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.--Colossians 3:1-2

Paul was battling the erroneous teachings of Gnosticism (the belief that salvation is found through hidden knowledge and that matter is evil). Today, we face a form of Gnosticism known as the New Age Movement (NAM). Adherents to NAM generally believe that knowledge is subjectively constructed  and socially determined. New Agers insist that truth isn't universal to all human beings but, instead, varies according to what "works." Subsequently, moral values become individualized.

The ideas of NAM are widely disseminated through television (Oprah Winfrey Network) and movies (Avatar). The NAM influence has even infiltrated today's church as evidenced in the writings of Rob Bell (Love Wins)--pastor of Mars Hill Bible Church in Grandville, Michigan--and Elaine Pagels (The Gnostic Gospels)--professor of religion at Princeton University.

So, to the 1st-century Christian in Colosse being misled by Gnosticism and to the 21st-century Christian in Fluvanna being unduly influenced by the New Age Movement, Paul's message is clear:

Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation--if you continue in your faith...--Colossians 1:21-23

Please join us this Sunday as Lake Christian Church's discipleship minister, Chris Long, unpacks the teachings of Paul's letter to the Colossians in his sermon:

God's 4G Network