Philosophy, Christ, and Living Free

Text: Colossians 2:8-23

We begin today with an easily (and often) misunderstood verse of Scripture. We are warned against being taken captive by or through philosophy and empty deception, ideas that arise out of humanity rather than out of Christ. And this is frequently taken as a warning against the study of philosophy due to a fear that it will turn on us and lead us astray. Certainly, it is possible that the study of philosophy could have this effect. But it seems far more likely that the philosophies we are to beware are not the ones we study, but the ones we don't. There are hidden philosophies or worldviews in any culture; they underlie the way things are done on a daily basis and are usually unexamined because they are so familiar yet unspoken and unnamed. And they are often quite in conflict with the truth that is in Christ.

Paul seems to be offering a brief reprise of his earlier statements about who Christ is (vv. 8-10), a more specific accounting of how we come to be "in him" (11-15), and a "therefore" statement concerning the futility of relying on someone's visions, special practices, and deprivations of the body' needs (16-23). Let's flesh out what this might mean in our own culture.

Perhaps we mistakenly believe that our culture is neutral regarding its outlook on the world and on the place of humanity therein. I beg to differ, and offer just one simple example. There are "elementary principles" which inform us of who we are and what our role in the world is. In America we are consumers; our role is to buy things and keep the economy moving. We order our lives accordingly, so that we will be positioned to consume not just homes, cars, clothing, sports equipment, and restaurants, but the best of these we can possibly attain. Christ, on the other hand, has something far better to say about us--we are valuable not because we contribute to economic growth, but because he loves us and gives himself for us. On one hand we are told how good we are by culture, only to find that we're only as valued as far as our spending will take us; on the other, we're told in Christ that God loves us and gave himself for us, to free us from bondage to any other thought system. For all the competitors fall short of giving the worth that God already holds us in.

What do the people in your life, the voices influential in your world say about you and what's expected of you? What have they done to prove themselves worthy of your allegiance? Then compare this to Christ, whose yoke is easy and burden light.