Smoodock's Blog

Presently, we are involved in a study of Paul’s Epistle to the Colossians, and we had just learned what Paul meant about spiritual circumcision and baptism in Christ (Colossians 2:11-12), and what that means to the believer (Colossians 2:13-15). Paul continues in this context by telling the Colossian believers to never permit anyone to judge them, as that pertains to what they believe about the food, they consume or water that they may use for cleansing. Moreover, neither should they permit anyone to judge their behavior, concerning whether or not they observe a holyday, a new moon or a Sabbath, which are nothing more than shadows or symbols of a greater reality, and that great Reality is Christ (Colossians 2:16-17).

Both gentiles and Jews had traditions about ritual cleansing and what was sacred or unclean pertaining to foods they ate. Moreover, there were both gentile and Jewish traditions about the observance of religious festivals or holy days. So, what is Paul trying to say? Why would a Christian’s participation in worldly philosophical matters, whether gentile or Jewish, be wrong as that applies to our godly behavior?

I believe the problem of Christian behavior in such things has to do with the rise of the New Covenant in Christ, as understood in the new creation (2Corinthians 5:17; Galatians 6:15; Ephesians 2:10). Under the Old Covenant, God dealt with the world through the nation of Israel (Exodus 19:6), not through a godly remnant. Therefore, it was the nation, not the godly remnant that affected the world in the name of God. Under the New Covenant God rejected the nation of Israel and chose the Church to stand between him and the world (1Peter 2:5). So, prior to Christ and under the old creation, no matter how Israel behaved as a nation, they affected the world’s understanding of God. Eventually, it was the corruption of Israel, and the image of God they bore to the world that caused God to reject the nation in favor of working through the Church. Thus, if the Church becomes affected by worldly philosophy, whether gentile or Jewish, to the degree that occurs, to that degree the image of God Christians bear to the world is corrupt.

A modern example of the Church’s philosophy/teaching, one which everyone has been able to see almost on a daily basis, would be the idea of abortion. Let’s ponder for a moment, how Christian behavior in this matter has affected the world.

If we use only the Bible for our understanding of life within the womb, we must conclude that it is not held to be a person, like those who have been born, because the fetus throughout the gestation period is considered property (Exodus 21:22-25). Moreover, Adam did not become a living soul, until he drew his first breath (Genesis 2:7), for the life of both men and animals is considered to be their breath (Genesis 2:7; 6:17; 7:21-22). A person was said to be dead, when there was no breath in him (1Kings 17:17). The scripture that says the life is in the blood (Leviticus 17:11) is misinterpreted to mean the blood gives life. That’s not so; breath gives life. The “life” that is in the blood is species life, which is why doctors don’t give blood transfusions to humankind from animal kind. The blood determines the species life. So, how was this corrupted?

According to Josephus, who had publicly admitted to following the philosophy of Pharisaism, claimed:

The law, moreover, enjoins us to bring up all our offspring, and forbids women to cause abortion of what is begotten, or to destroy it afterward; and if any woman appears to have so done, she will be a murderer of her child, by destroying a living creature, and diminishing human kind…” (Against Apion; book 2; paragraph 25).

Early Christians debated over when life began, and they were influenced by the Greek philosophers. The Epistle of Barnabas said: “Thou shalt not murder a child by abortion, nor again shalt thou kill it when it is born.” The Didache says: “thou shalt not murder a child by abortion nor kill them when born.” These early documents followed the Pythagorean/Epicurean interpretation of soul life, which began at conception.

Another point of view was the Aristotelian notion that soul life began at the quickening, vis-à-vis when the fetus was fully formed, meaning when the mother felt movement in her womb. This view became the Christian understanding at the time of Augustine and continued to be the Christian understanding until the 19^th century, when Pope Pius IX condemned abortion at any time during the pregnancy under penalty of excommunication.

Strictly speaking, diversity is allowed, so it isn’t what we believe about abortion that matters to God, it is what we did or do with what we think we know. Therefore, it isn’t very difficult to understand the turmoil the world has been put in because of the influence of Christians, promoting their version of worldly philosophy. If we can agree that the Aristotelian and the Pythagorean/Epicurean philosophical views on soul life have been absorbed and promoted by the Church to the point of influencing or partnering with worldly governments, then behold the turmoil Christians have brought modern America, because of the stand, which evangelical Christianity has taken by supporting Donald Trump for president, solely on the grounds of the fetus’ right to life. Not only are women oppressed due to Christian influence of secular power, but white evangelical Christianity has placed our democratic republic in jeopardy in the process.

God has chosen to deal with the world through the Church. If the Church doesn’t hold to its Head (Christ; Colossians 2:19) she will put the world in a state of chaos, as seems very clear in what she has done in modern America, thus, the reason for Paul’s command: “Let no man judge you… (in matters) not holding to the Head…” (Colossians 2:16-19).