Captivity<\/strong> (2:8): The author asserts that our lives should be established in Christ. He warns the Colossians to \u201cSee to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the universe\u2026<\/em>\u201d This is why pseudo-truth seems plausible: because it is universally accepted and codified in human traditions. This is where deception moves to captivity because it hooks our allegiances supported by our peers and nourished by our habitual way of doing things.<\/p>\n Condemnation<\/strong> (2:16): Once we are deceived and captivated, then condemnation enters: \u201cTherefore do not let anyone condemn you in matters of food and drink or of observing festivals\u2026<\/em>\u201d If we accept pseudo-truth and are captivated by it, when we fail to live up to its lofty and even spiritual expectations, condemnation is the result. We have handed those who have deceived us and captivated us our permission to condemn us when we fail.<\/p>\n Disqualification<\/strong> (2:18): \u201cDo not let anyone disqualify you, insisting on self-abasement\u2026<\/em>\u201d When we fail and disappoint those in religious and spiritual authority over us and receive their condemnation, the next step is disqualification. We are no longer a part of the elite who succeed in their spiritual lives. We are disqualified because we simply cannot live up to the lofty expectations placed over us.<\/p>\n Dictation<\/strong> (2:20): \u201cwhy do you let yourselves be dictated to\u2026?<\/em>\u201d When we are told and feel that we no longer qualify as spiritually capable or obedient or successful, then we are reduced to people who blindly obey those in authority over us. We are so afraid of spiritual failure that we will do anything we are told, right down to minutiae of \u201cWhy do you submit to regulations like \u2018Do not handle, Do not taste, do not touch?\u201d (v.21).<\/p>\n There you see the certain progression from freedom in Christ to complete spiritual bondage to those in authority over us. It begins with a departure from basic truth and ends in being told how to live our lives. Against this overwhelmingly popular progression the writer warns.<\/p>\n Get fine art cartoon prints & original art<\/a>. I came up with an idea, since I am no longer preaching on a weekly basis, that I would provide a Sunday sermon for my readers\u2026 many of whom don\u2019t attend a church themselves. I miss the practice of preparing a message from the Bible. So I\u2019m going to post a little more than a […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":349,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[564,1492,603,722,112],"class_list":["post-6319","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-thought","tag-bondage","tag-colossians","tag-david_hayward","tag-nakedpastor","tag-sermon"],"yoast_head":"\n
\nGet my t-shirts<\/a>.
\nGet my book<\/a>.
\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/wp-media.patheos.com\/blogs\/sites\/328\/2010\/10\/np101-drop-shadow.jpg\")
<\/a>
\nPlease join my newsletter<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"