for if someone comes and proclaims another Jesus than the one we proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or if you accept a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it readily enough. [2 corinthians 11:4]
paul is concerned with the corinthians and what they are showing by their behavior–they are putting up with the “super apostles” bringing a false gospel that adds conditions to the gospel he originally preached to them.
we say we believe in the power of Christ’s work on the cross to save us and sustain us, that we depend on him for everything, and that his work, secures us, protects us, provides for us.
and yet–
we are captivated by the secular self-help “gospel”, running to the world’s ideas about how to be skinnier, savvier, more self-reliant, more powerful, more accepting of who we are, how to trust ourselves more, how to make more money, how to work smarter, how to win friends and influence others, be better managers of our time, be the alpha, be less anxious, think more productively, organize our homes, our lives, ourselves.
we are enthralled by the entertainers of the day, following the tweets and instagram accounts of photoshopped influencers, telling us we can have “more”.
we fear missing out, believing that our busyness in kids sports, committees, or church activities will result in our joy.
we chase the “gospel” of security–security in money, security in relationship, security in physical safety with alarms and guns and locks.
we embrace the “gospel” of duty, following rules, doing all the right things, being good or just looking good enough so that others might worship us and our perfect marriage, perfect lives.
we depend on a spiritual celebrity to tell us what to think, what to do, in order to be closer to God instead of pursuing God himself.
we “put up with it readily enough”.
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]
look at your behavior the last 24 hours–the last month–the last year; where have you been taken captive by philosophy and empty deceit? even things that seem good can just be human traditions at their best and can be controlled by elemental spirits–demons at their worst.
If you have been tricked– “behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” [2 cor 6:2] you can turn back! see the deception and turn from it! there is no other wisdom! there is no other gospel! turn to Christ alone!
what can wash away my sin?
nothing but the blood of Jesus!
what can make me whole again?
nothing but the blood of Jesus!
oh, precious is the flow
that makes me white as snow;
no other fount i know;
nothing but the blood of Jesus!
robert lowry
Father,
i confess. i have been taken captive by the worthless philosophies of the world, i have been deceived by the empty promises of the world. It has nothing for me–it is broken, striving after the wind. give me a desire for what is real. give me a passion for what is true. stir my affections for the living water that satisfies. give me Christ!–let me find myself in his presence, let me lay down my vain pursuits and pursue your glory and the fullness of joy that can be found in you only! amen!
~conor eastman