Category: Secularism

In the first three verses here, Paul expressed his concern and diligence in encouraging his brethren.  Specifically those in Laodicea and Colosse. He did this in his ministry by sharing his understanding of God’s will, in which are “hidden all treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (3).

In verses 4-10 he contrasts the Divine wisdom with the foolish philosophies of men. What he refers to as “persuasive words.” They have persuasive power to the uninformed, but are false. We are to walk in God’s word, not “philosophy and empty deceit, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ” (8).

This is an important warning that Christians need to hear today. We are complete in Christ.  He is the preeminent One, the “head of all principality and power” (10). To place our trust and faith in any man rather than the Lord Jesus Christ is foolish and Paul wrote that it “cheat”-’s us out of our standing with God!

No one likes to be lied to, or to be cheated out of what they deserve. If this is so regarding worldly matters, how much more so spiritual concerns.

This concerned Paul, and he warned about those who would come in and do this to his brethren. He wrote in Colossians 2, “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” (8-10). Continue reading “Being Deceived and Cheated” →

As I am writing this article, the President has been impeached, and the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court is about to swear in the United States Senators as jurors in the impeachment trial. Impeachment is a political process, as designed by framers of our constitution. In this case, it is also a partisan process, as Democrat and Republican representatives and senators are dividing (or are projected to divide) almost exclusively along party lines in their votes on the matter.

This is a sad time for Americans. The partisanship and rancor that is present in our nation is disheartening. It has been this way before, many times. In fact, politically our republic is messy, and unrest may be considered a fact of life. In some ways it is as it should be in any democratic process. The conflict consists of words, and protests seldom lead to actual violence. For this we are thankful.

Continue reading “Ruminations on Citizenship” →

The national elections are less than two months away. While it is not my place as a preacher to tell anyone who to vote for, it is my place to defend the Christian faith against attack. In fact, all Christians have that same imperative!

Remember the words of Jude. He wrote to his brethren, “…I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 3).

Continue reading “Video Transcript: The Christian Faith is Under Attack!” →