Gullible?

 “I say this in order that no one may delude you with plausible arguments. For though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the firmness of your faith in Christ.”

(Colossians 2:4–5 ESV)

If there is one weakness of the American Church today, it’s that we’re easily deceived. We’re gullible. We’re quick to accept every convincing argument that is made by those both outside of the church and within. 

We are convinced that the gospel is not true. We’re deluded into thinking that our faith is merely a system of rules, regulations, and morality. We’re led to believe that the message of Scripture is simply one of acceptance.

We’re led into these warped beliefs by the false teachers who surround us. We’re led to do so by the false teachers we’ve allowed to infiltrate the church. We’re quick to trust those with the nicest smile, with the best stories, and with the greatest speaking skills.

This was the very concern that Paul possessed for the Colossian Church. This was the concern he had for the Laodiceans and others who had not seen him face to face. He had been struggling for them, that they might be encouraged and built up in the faith. He agonized over them, desiring that they would come to a full assurance of faith. And, as we see above, he did so that they might not be deluded.

This word, deluded, can also mean deceived. So, he did not want them to be easily led astray by those who came to them with persuasive language. He did not want them to be easily led astray by those who spoke with enticing words.

Like the Colossians, and like the Laodiceans, this is the reason that we need to be encouraged and built up in the faith. This is the reason we need to come to the full assurance of faith. It prevents us from being captivated by fine sounding arguments.

This makes it clear that our faith, as well as that of the church as a whole, is a valid concern. In fact, it’s the greatest concern. It’s the greatest concern because it determines not only our life here in this world. It determines our eternal destiny.