Reformed Evangelical Synod of America

Posts Tagged ‘holy word’

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. For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority.

If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations— “Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch” (referring to things that all perish as they are used)—according to human precepts and teachings? These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh.

Colossians 2: 8-10, 20-23 (ESV)

We live in the culture of the self-help guru. Someone, with some kind of experiential background, has come to a realization about some aspect of life, and needs to share it with us. They publish countless books, have a television show, go on a speaking tour. They are well known, and appear on all the fashionable talk shows. Their advice seems sound enough, and they obviously have benefited in some way from their experiences, so they must have some idea of what they are talking about.

Certainly there is nothing wrong with the Christian choosing to listen to someone who might fit the description above, but as a Christian, we have a solemn responsibility to evaluate the choices of our lives (and the advice of such individuals) by the light of the unchanging Word of God.

Christ has freed us from worldly wisdom and has given us, in his holy Word, a wisdom rooted in his mercy and compassion. He has not abolished laws and guidelines for the believer (the New Testament is replete with examples of how God expects us to live and conduct ourselves), but he has made it clear that it is a part of our responsibility as his people to evaluate wisdom by his standards, and to make our stand where Christ directs.

This does not mean that every self-help strategy is ungodly or a bad choice for the Christian – hardly so! Many people enter into such a profession in order to share the wisdom that God has shared with them. The problem comes when we uncritically follow down the garden path of anyone and everyone claiming a degree of wisdom in a matter. We must evaluate their counsel, and we must take upon ourselves the responsibility of calling on the Spirit for guidance as we consider moving forward with plans, decisions, choices in life.

May the Spirit guide us in right paths and decisions for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ.