Colossians 2:18-19
Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you. Such a person also goes into great detail about what they have seen; they are puffed up with idle notions by their unspiritual mind. They have lost connection with the head, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow.
Many people are fascinated by the supernatural, by spiritual mysteries and by the occult. From TV shows to online forums, people fill their minds with all sorts of bizarre and often scary ideas about the supernatural world. This isn’t a modern obsession. Down through the centuries, people have sought insight into the spiritual realms, sometimes through religion and sometimes through darker, more dangerous means.
We don’t know exactly what Paul was referring to regarding the “worship of angels” or what these people claimed to “have seen,” but it’s clear that the Colossian church was being influenced by false ideas about the spiritual world. Of course, the Bible has a great deal to say about angels, demons and what happens in the spiritual realms. Jesus, for example, often confronted and cast out demons. God sent angels to deliver important messages to his people. Miracles are supernatural events. We believe in the reality of the spiritual world, just as Jesus did, but we also know that some people develop unhealthy obsessions with the supernatural, claiming special knowledge or to have experienced fantastical things that may not line up with the teaching of scripture. That’s when these ideas can turn dangerous. Paul warns against those who have, in pursuit of supernatural mysteries, lost connection with God.
How do we navigate these odd waters of spiritual realities? First, we draw close to God through faith in Jesus, through prayer and through fellowship with other mature believers. Second, we fill our minds with God’s word, seeking after his truth instead of listening to other sources that may claim knowledge of the spiritual world but may in fact be false or deceptive teaching. And if we find ourselves confused or unsure what to believe, we pray for the Spirit to reveal God’s truth and to surround us with faithful brothers and sisters who can help us understand what is real and honoring to Jesus.
Father, help me to stay connected to You through Jesus my Savior. Fill me with Your Spirit and teach me Your word so I can know You better and can lead others to Your truth. I ask this in Jesus’ holy name. Amen.
____________________________
Pastor Mike Mirakian
