Warning: Danger Ahead!

"Be careful that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deceit based on human tradition, based on the elemental forces of the world, and not based on Christ."  -Colossians 2:8

We all carry insurance because we know the dangers in the world both physically and financially, but do we ever stop to think about spiritual dangers?  Do we ever stop to think about how damaging incorrect teaching can be to us, the body of Christ, and to a lost and watching world.  In the above passage, Paul is warning the church about the dangers of spiritual deceit.  Let me ask you this question, is it possible for true followers of Jesus Christ to believe or follow a false doctrine?  YES!  The above verse drives us to ask at least four question:

1.  What does it mean to be taken captive?

This is the only place in the New Testament where Paul uses this Greek word which translate "takes captive". It means the unlawful taking of goods, property, and people! While passages like 1 John 4:1-4 seem to indicate that God's people cannot be taken captive by these spiritual slave traders, this warning in Colossians seems to indicate the we can.  How do we make sense of this?  I think it boils down to the fact that believers can be taken captive by false teaching in a temporary sense, but not in a final sense. Just remember that the consequences for Christians being carried away could have temporal and eternal consequences, such as people leaving the church or division within the body.

2.  What kind of person takes others captive?

How can we know who is a false teacher and who is a teacher of truth?  Do they look a certain way?  Are all teachers of false doctrine beautiful people?  Should we only listen to the ugly teacher and preachers?  NO!  It is not based on outward appearance or social status.  We should be warned that it is not their education or relational closeness that gives them away either.  We may have highly educated friends and family who believe in all sorts of false preaching and teaching.  They are captive to it.  Also note that they may not know they are under false teaching.  Look at this verse:

"Evil people and impostors will become worse, deceiving  and being deceived"  -2 Timothy 3:13

3.  By what means will they take others captive?

Paul helps us understand that the means they use is "through philosophy and empty deceit based on human tradition".  The philosophy described is that of the world.  The world loves messages about the goodness of man, positive thinking, and self-help.  The message of the world and the message of the gospel are completely opposed to one another.  The word of God calls us to repentance over our sin, and that we are dead in our sins.  Here are two quick tests to determine if you are hearing false teaching:

·         If you take the bible and all biblical references away from the speaker, do they still have a message?

·         Does the message glorify God or man?

4.  What is my responsibility in the matter?

The verse instructs us to have an ongoing alertness to false teaching.  Our reasonability is to identify the false teaching and refuse it.  Remember, Satan is crafty, he doesn't come at us with horns and a tail.  He know our weaknesses. He will give us a false teaching that appeals to our inward sinful struggle.  We are creates of emotion and desire. The false teaching and preaching tends to follow the sinful desires of the heart.