What Holds You Captive?

Good morning brothers,

In this political season we're in (of course, now everything seems to be political, so I'm not sure we're ever out of this "season"), I thought this was a timely message from God's Word. The Apostle Paul wrote, 

"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." (Colossians 2:8) 

In seminary, as part of our training in sermon preparation, we learned it's essential for us to draw the meaning of a text out of the Scripture (exegesis), as opposed to going to the Scripture and putting upon it what we want it to mean (eisegesis). That's true for how all Christians ought to approach God's Word. 

Every generation of Christians has to face the variety of competing "philosophies, empty deceits, human traditions, and elemental spirits of the world." There are many of them and they continually compete for our allegiance with Christ. And if we follow them, they can lead us off the narrow path Christ walked before us - the same path he has called us to walk after him. 

I love politics. I definitely have my own deeply held convictions. But if I'm not regularly aligning my beliefs against the truth of God's Word, (instead of the other way around), I'll end up going astray, all the while thinking I'm on the side of the angels. 

This is not a message against having opinions or even expressing them. But it is an admonition to remain diligent and vigilant in God's Word brothers. Let God alone mold and shape your mind. As Paul says in 2 Corinthians 10:5, take every thought captive and bring it under the lordship of Christ. Let Christ and Christ alone set the agenda for your life - not just your politics or your views on society, justice, or college football - but for every sphere of your life.

Have a great day. 

Your Brother in Christ, 
​Dale