Every week, I meet with a couple of friends to pray for missionaries we work with and support in different ways. In our last meeting, one of the members of this group said something that resonated with me. He said that many people are preaching their philosophy and adding Jesus’ name to it. Unfortunately, this is happening throughout the world, and it is a fear of mine that I too could fall into this trap. The devil is cunning and knows the Bible well, which he often contorts to manipulate people out of God’s will. So, we need to be very careful about knowing the truth of God’s Word for ourselves.
Now this I say lest anyone should deceive you with persuasive words. For though I am absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ. As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving. Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power. Colossians 2:4-10
It scares me to see how many popular preachers are out there with persuasive speech twisting the Word of God to suit their own philosophies and putting the name of Jesus on their teachings which are leading people further away from Him. I am even realizing that the work I think I am doing for Christ could be leading me astray and away from His path. My emotional responses to the work that I feel needs to be done for Him, may not be what He wants me to do. Not every good or even seemingly godly work is for me. I need to be disciplined enough to sit and wait for His direction before I do any work for Him. Oswald Chambers’ thoughts on this issue really makes me think about all I am doing for Christ.
Think how different we are from the example set by Jesus. We start projects because we’ve had a vivid religious experience and felt the thrill of inspiration, not because we’re living in obedience to God’s will. We’d rather take impulsive action than be imprisoned and disciplined to obey Christ, because we overvalue practical work. Meanwhile, disciples who aren’t caught up in busywork and who do bring every project into captivity for the Lord are criticized and told they’re not sincere about God or souls.
True sincerity is found in obeying God, not in obeying the inclination to serve him; obeying an inclination is born of an undisciplined human nature. It’s inconceivable yet true that many Christians are motivated to work for God by their own human nature, a nature which has never been spiritualized by determined discipline.
I am determined to obey Christ even if some Christians think I am not doing it the way that seems right to them. The truth is there is a way that may seem right to man, but its end is the way of death (see Proverbs 14:12). Our carnal nature always seems to get in the way. Those of us who preach the Gospel in whatever way, we need to discipline our bodies and make them our slaves as Paul says, so that after we have preached to others, we will not be disqualified. Therefore, it is also important to be diligent to present ourselves approved to God as workers who do not need to be ashamed because we are accurately handling the word of truth (see 2 Timothy 2:15). And we must take every though captive making it obedient to Christ. All of this is not easy, but quite essential for being a true disciple of Christ.
Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost? Luke 9:23-25
This is my fear. I fear trying to gain the world by seeking to attract people to Christ through worldly methods, but instead losing these precious souls because I am not denying myself as I am trying to have a life that looks good to the world, which may grieve the heart of God. However, I know, daily, I need to pick up my own cross and bear it for Christ as I follow Him in paths which I may not understand. This may mean suffering for Christ and living a life which seems useless to the world, but useful to Him.
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