Dear Friends,
For the last few weeks, I’ve been meditating on the theme of love in Paul’s letter to the Colossians. Last week, I wrote to you about how those who are in Jesus don’t follow dietary rules, observe a Sabbath day, or celebrate holidays according to a religious calendar. We read in Rom. 14:5 that it is okay to treat a certain day as if it is special if we so desire. But, Col. 2:16 makes it clear that God does not have expectations of us in this regard. There is absolutely nothing of a spiritual nature that is gained by such observances. Rather such things are purely a matter of personal preference. What is important with regard to the lifestyle of those who are in Jesus is, as always, love.
Paul goes on to talk about another way that people can get distracted from focus on the love of Christ, saying in Col. 2:18-19 (NIV),
“Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you. Such a person also goes into great detail about what they have seen; they are puffed up with idle notions by their unspiritual mind. They have lost connection with the head, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow.”
The details of what this problem looked like in the Colossian church are unclear. But, in the contemporary church, we definitely see a similar issue. Well meaning Christ followers get overly focused on angels, demons, and visions, thinking and talking about these things rather than Jesus and his great love, as shown to us on the cross. This can be confusing for young Christians who long to know God with greater intimacy and to serve in the power of the Spirit. They can start to admire and want to be like those who speak of angels and visions, imagining that these people are especially spiritual, instead of admiring and wanting to be like Jesus in his love.
For example, in my home group last week, we talked about the temptation of Jesus. In the course of our discussion, a number of people, including myself, shared about our own confrontations with demons. It was genuinely interesting and educational to hear about these things. But, after a while, I began to worry that others, who had not had such experiences, might start to feel that their own experience was lacking and that perhaps they might be less spiritual than the rest of us. Nothing could be farther from the truth.
Paul describes excessive talk in this area as “unspiritual” and those who get focused on such things as being “puffed up by idle notions.” And he explains why he says this. It isn’t that these things are not real, but that those who are preoccupied with angels and visions have lost touch with the head of the body. That is, they have lost touch with Jesus, who should be at the center, as the source from which the whole church grows and finds its meaning. We are not to be impressed by those who speak of dramatic, otherworldly encounters with spiritual beings any more than we are to be impressed by those who practice a strictly controlled lifestyle of rules around eating and other daily activities. If we want to grow spiritually, we need to stay connected to Jesus, the head, seeking to become like him in his love.
Jesus, help me not to be enamored by or envious of those who describe dramatic prophetic visions and spiritual encounters. Help me to keep my focus on you and not on spiritual beings, outdated rules, or even the good gifts of the Spirit like dreams, visions, and prophecies. Rather, as you give these good gifts, let me see you in them and turn my heart toward you, toward how you are demonstrating and pouring out your love, and toward how you are inviting me to participate with you in your love. Amen.
Love in Christ,
Michelle
