Ben Fourie
See to it, then, that no one enslaves you by means of the worthless deceit of human wisdom, which comes from the teachings handed down by human beings and from the ruling spirits of the universe, and not from Christ. Colossians 2:8, GNB
Man-made faith is what Paul meant when he wrote about false doctrines in his letter to the Colossian church, where these doctrines gained a big following. Self-made faith is not based on the true gospel of Christ, but on the teachings of people. Paul calls it philosophies or worthless deceit by human wisdom and legalistic teachings handed down by human beings. Why were the people in Colossus led astray by these things?
The answer is found in Colossians 2:23 where Paul said: “Of course such rules appear to be based on wisdom in their forced worship of angels, and false humility, and severe treatment of the body; but they have no real value in controlling physical passions.”
This man-made religion is worth nothing, but looked very inviting. It is nothing new and the people in Colossus were not unique in doing so. From the very beginning, the idea of self-redemption has attracted people. Human pride always finds it difficult to accept that salvation can only be given by God and God alone. People would like to contribute to their salvation, even if it is only to abstain from certain foods and drinks.
Unfortunately, any man-made faith is really dangerous, as one might be busy with idol worship instead of worshipping God. Faith that is not based on the Word of God alone, is, after all, nothing but idol worship. Man-made faith makes that which Jesus gained for us on the cross, completely worthless.
The most important thing we can do in this new year is to leave our salvation in the hands of God and not to listen to theories about how to be saved, which is being sold as true gospel by many. God saves us without any contribution from our side – enjoy being saved by God this year.
Prayer: Dear Lord, I struggle sometimes not to fall back on my own ideas about who you are and how you operate. Please help me to trust your Word and your Spirit, to understand who you are. Amen
Ben Fourie
Pasop dat niemand julle meevoer deur ‘n filosofie en leë bedrieëry, wat gegrond is op menslike tradisie en teorieë oor die kosmiese elemente, en nie op Christus nie. Kolossense 2:8, 2020-vertaling
Selfgemaakte godsdiens is wat Paulus bedoel met die dwaalleringe waarvan hy in die brief praat en wat groot aftrek gekry het in die gemeente van Kolosse. Selfgemaakte godsdiens is nie gegrond op die ware evangelie nie, maar op die siening van mense. Hy noem dit filosofieë, menslike tradisies en teorieë oor wettiese godsdiens. Dit het engel aanbidding en beperkings op sekere kos en drank ingesluit. Die vraag is waarom die mense in Kolosse hulle deur die vreemde leerstellings laat verlei het?
Paulus gee vir ons die antwoord in Kolossense 2:23 wanneer hy sê: “Hoewel hierdie voorskrifte met hul selfopgelegde godsdienspligte, geveinsde nederigheid en liggaamlike kastyding, die skyn van wysheid het, is dit heeltemal nutteloos, maar dien tot bevrediging van die sondige aard.”
Hierdie mensgemaakte godsdiens is nutteloos, maar dit het blykbaar baie aantreklik gelyk. Dit is niks nuuts nie en die mense van Kolosse is nie uniek in die opsig nie. Deur die eeue het die idee van selfverlossing nog altyd mense aangelok. Dit is vanweë die mens se trots dat hy nie kan aanvaar dat verlossing geheel en al God se werk is nie. Mense wil iets bydra tot hulle verlossing al is dit net om sekere kos en drank te vermy.
Enige vorm van selfgemaakte godsdiens is egter dodelik gevaarlik, want terwyl jy dink dat jy met God se dinge besig is, is jy dalk met afgodediens besig. Godsdiens wat nie volgens die Woord is nie, is mos afgodediens. Deur selfgemaakte godsdiens word dit waarvoor Jesus baie duur aan die kruis betaal het op die ou end waardeloos.
Die heel belangrikste ding wat ons in hierdie nuwe jaar kan doen is om ons verlossing volledig in God se hande te los en ons nie te steur aan allerlei teorieë oor die mens se redding wat so dikwels aan ons opgedis word nie. God red ons sonder enige bydrae van ons kant af. Geniet jou verlossing die jaar voluit.
Gebed: Ag Here, ek verval so dikwels in my eie mensgemaakte idee van wie U is. Help my om deur u Woord en u Gees te verstaan wie U werklik is. Amen