Christ Matters Most 基督最重要

[Dexu Xia]

See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy. Colossians 2:8

Today's Insights

Paul wrote the book of Colossians to the church in Colossae, which was possibly founded by Epaphras (Colossians 1:6-7). Paul wrote this letter during his first Roman imprisonment to address false beliefs and warn of the danger of falling prey to “hollow and deceptive” teaching (2:8). He knew the best way not to be led astray was to be “rooted and built up in [Christ]” (v. 7) through a relationship with Him and familiarity with Scripture. Elsewhere, the apostle warned of false teachers (themselves deceived by Satan) who deceived “naive people” through “smooth talk and flattery” (Romans 16:18) and “empty words” (Ephesians 5:6). He urged believers to battle deception by being “strong in the Lord and in his mighty power” by putting on “the full armor of God, so that [we] can take [our] stand against the devil’s schemes” (6:10-11). With God, we can “stand firm” (v. 14).

Today's Devotional

My wife and I like cheesy, feel-good romantic movies. I could say it’s her thing. But I like ’em too. Their charm and appeal lies in their predictable path toward happily ever after. Recently, we watched one that offered some questionable romantic advice. Love is a feeling, it said. Then, Follow your heart. Finally, Your happiness matters most. Our emotions matter, of course. But self-focused emotionalism is a lousy foundation for a lasting marriage.  Mainstream culture dishes up many ideas that sound good initially but crumble upon closer inspection. And careful inspection is exactly what Paul has in mind in Colossians 2. There, he emphasizes that being “rooted and built up in [Christ], strengthened in the faith” (v. 7) enables us to identify our culture’s lies. The apostle calls such lies “hollow and deceptive philosophy,” built “on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ” (v. 8).

So the next time you watch a movie, ask yourself or those you’re with, “What does this movie suggest is wise? How does that compare to what Scripture says is true?” And remember that it’s Christ that matters most. Only in Him can we find true wisdom and wholeness (vv. 9-10).

Reflect & Pray    How does popular culture shape how you see the world? How does your faith help you evaluate the values you encounter in entertainment?

Father, our world is filled with stories that promise life but ultimately run counter to Your truth. Please give me a hunger for Your wisdom that I might walk in Your ways.

小心不要让任何人用空洞和欺骗性的哲学俘虏你。歌罗西书 2:8

今日心得 保罗写歌罗西书给歌罗西教会，该教会可能是由以巴弗创立的（歌罗西书1:6-7）。保罗第一次在罗马被囚期间写了这封信，以纠正信仰的错误，并警告人们，“空洞和欺骗性”教导其危险是使人成为掳物（2:8）。他知道不被误导的最好方法，是与基督建立生命关系和熟悉圣经，“在基督里生根建造”（7节）。在圣经好几处，保罗都警告我们，假教师（他们自己被撒旦欺骗）通过“花言巧语和奉承”（罗马书 16:18）和“空话”（以弗所书 5:6）欺骗“天真的人”。他敦促信徒们要“靠着主和祂的大能大力作刚强的人”，穿上“神所赐的全副军装，就能抵挡魔鬼的诡计”（6:10-11），以此来抵挡仇敌的欺骗。有了神，我们就能“站立得稳”（14节）。

今日灵修  我和妻子喜欢通俗、使人舒畅的浪漫电影。我可以说，这是妻子的爱好。但我也喜欢。这种电影很有吸引力，它们的魅力在于观众可以预知结局美好。

最近，我们看了一部电影，它提供了一些值得怀疑的浪漫建议。它说，爱是一种感觉。然后，你要跟随你的心。最后，你的幸福比什么都重要。当然，我们的情感很重要。但以自我为中心的情感主义是婚姻很糟糕的基础，因为它使婚姻无法持久。

当今主流文化提出许多最初听起来不错但仔细审视就会崩溃的想法，这正是保罗在歌罗西书第 2 章中提醒的。他强调要“在基督里生根建造，信心坚固”（7节），使我们能够识别我们文化中的谎言。使徒称这些谎言为“空洞而欺骗人的哲学”，“建立在人的传统和这个世界的元素，即自身精神力量上，而不是建立在基督上”（8节）。

所以下次你看电影的时候，问问自己，或和你在一起的人，“这部电影提议的想法是否明智？这与圣经所说的真理相比如何？”记住，基督才是最重要的。只有在他里面，我们才能找到真智慧和完整（9-10节）。

反思和祈祷    流行文化如何塑造你看待世界的方式？你的信仰如何帮助你评估你在娱乐中遇到的价值观？

天父，我们的世界充满了给予生命的承诺，最终却与您的真理背道而驰的故事。祈求您赐给我对智慧的渴慕，好让我走在您的正道上。