walk in Him…

Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. 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. For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority. In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him. (Colossians 2:6-15 ESV)

What human traditions taint your world view?

I have been hearing a lot lately about how 1500 years of tradition in the church are good enough for me… or how we have not had to change anything for 2000 years, why do we need to now?

“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,” this does not mean that this is outside of the church. The church is a human institution that has been flawed and will be flawed until Christ returns. Jesus did not come to create a new way of religion but to reform another… So anything that is tradition that does not stand with Christ is not what we are rooted in Christ to be or do. These things are “not according to Christ” and therefore not something we should uphold.

We need to know Christ and Him crucified and not cling to something that excludes others. We are all open to the gift of grace that is freely given by God. Do not cling to something or hold to something that excludes others and keeps them from being a part of the community that is Christ’s and not the church’s or yours…

Gnosticism is the secret knowledge that gets you into Heaven. Neo Gnosticism is what the church is clinging to that excludes those who do not meet the standards of God. That means all of us are out in the cold, and none of us are in… God loved us when we were beyond being with Him. So drop your understanding that you are good enough and another if not… Only God can judge and from His seat we are all covered by the blood, and not worthy unless we are. and we can not tell who is and who isn’t. We just need to walk in Him and love and include all in the gathering and learning to better follow and spread His mercy and grace.