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This is essentially what was occurring among the Colossians. They had been
presented with something that looked attractive, something they were told would
enhance their worship of God,
but it was actually a pagan idea. Contrary to the sales pitch they were hearing,
they needed to get it out of their lives, out of their worship of God, or it
would eventually lead them completely astray.
They were being deceived by something that appeared right. It seemed so good,
and it indeed had its positive qualities, in a way. Paul, though, could see that
death waited at its end. The people, apparently, were deluded into thinking
about it an entirely different way.
Humanly, God has given us multiple ways to express our personalities that
have nothing at all to do with sin
or necessarily, with His way. But there is only one "Way," and that is His. When
it is alloyed with other ways, it is not improved by any means. The Word of God
is pure, and when things are added to it, it is not made stronger or enhanced.
Added things actually make it worse; it is made weaker.
We can express our personalities in things like fashion. Look how many
different designs there are to clothing. The same applies to furniture or
automobiles. They change them on us every so often to make them appeal. People
buy things that appeal to the expression of their personalities. The same is
true with houses and yards. Look at the landscaping varieties that there
are—hundreds of different flowers, bushes, and trees that we can put in our
yards to express a little bit of the beauty of God in our own way. Food and
drink are other examples of variety in personal expression.
But in terms of morality and spirituality, the Way is extremely narrow. "Wide
is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, . . . [yet] narrow
is the gate and difficult is the way way which leads to life, and there are few
who find it" (Matthew 7:13-14). This is the principle we are dealing with
in this case. In Colosse, the Christians were victims of yet another attempt to
syncretize something moral and spiritual—but humanly devised—to God's Way.
In this case, it was a philosophy of asceticism and the worship of demons,
which they were being told would enhance their worship of God. It appeared to be
so spiritual, but it was effectively cutting them off from the true Object of
their faith
and their Source of power to overcome—Christ.
— John W. Ritenbaugh
To learn more, see:
The Covenants, Grace, and Law (Part 23)
Related Topics:
Adding to God's Word
Blend of Truth and Paganism
Broad and Narrow Way
Narrow Way
Syncretism
Syncretistic Religion
Way We Worship
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