we give thanks to the god and father of our lord jesus christ, praying always for you…

A COLOSSAL Thanksgiving

Part One:

Thank WHO?Pastor Mark Schwarzbauer PhD

Family Worship Center

Colossians 1:3 We give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you…

mile

Thanksliving

Part One:Thanks

to WHO?

In Colossians, Paul presents Christ as different against the gods and goddesses of

Greece and Rome where you could worship any god as

long as you worshipped the emperor above all.

Similarly, in our culture you can

worship any god as long as you worship tolerance above all.

Similarly, in our culture you can worship any god as long as you

worship tolerance above all.

(Contradictions- They are intolerant of exclusivity, They exclude those who

believe in exclusivity so they are being exclusive

themselves).

• The spirit of our age promotes all religions as equally valid and true and claims that all religions lead to God.• Pluralism of our culture

promotes that although all belief systems are superficially different they are essentially the same.

TODAYS SIMILAR SYNCRETISM

They are emotionally appealing but completely

logically wrong.

These defy simple logic as in the Law of Noncontradiction which states that opposite assertions

cannot be true at the same time.

The 3 sisters of false philosophy.

• Syncretism- the pick and mix philosophy – from TV, culture, media, education and whatever is attractive at the time.

• Individualism- nobody has the right to tell anybody else what is true. All truth is equally valid even if it is wrong. Intolerantly demands tolerance.

• Sentimentalism- emotions rule.

“Think of these three “isms” as three sisters. Sister Syncretism is a fat and lazy girl who simply takes on whatever belief system seems attractive at the time. Sister Individualism is a strident campaigner for her own rights and her own independence against all authority structures. The third sister is a sweet and attractive girl. She is called Sister Sentimentalism. Sister Sentimentalist decides everything according to her emotions. She wants everything to be nice and wants everyone to feel good. She doesn’t want anything nasty to happen.

“The sentimentalist is “saddened” when things are harsh and intolerant. With such a longing for happiness and light, the sentimentalist seems the sweetest of the sisters. However, when things don’t go her way (especially when someone makes an objective judgment), Sister Sentimentalist can become strident, like her sister the individualist. These three secular “isms” are determined by one shared attribute: All three elevate individual judgment over all authority.” Father Dwight Longenecker

Our sole authority is the Bible- If the Bible says it, that settles it whether or not we believe it, like it

or feel good about it.

Colossians 2:8-10“ Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. 9 For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; 10 and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.”

Colossians 2:8-10“ Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. 9 For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; 10 and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.”

Colossians 2:8-10“ Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. 9 For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; 10 and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.”

Colossians 2:8-10“ Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. 9 For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; 10 and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.”

Colossians 2:8-10“ Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. 9 For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; 10 and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.”

Colossians 1:15-1815 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. 17 And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. 18 And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.

Dr. John SinkeyChemistry Professor

Clermont CollegeUniversity of

Cincinnati

“Finally, a special acknowledgment must be made to the One Who controls oxygen alkali reactions (Colossians 1:16,17), and Whose guidance, when heeded, invariably proved to be perfect (Proverbs 3:5,6).”