Week 42 – Day 2

LISTEN TO THE ONE TRUE HEAD

Don’t be cheated out of the prize by others who are peddling the worship of heavenly beings and false humility. People like this run about telling whoever will listen what they claim to have seen; but in reality, they testify only to an inflated mind, saturated in conceit— not in the Spirit. They are detached from the very head that nourishes and connects the whole body with all of its nerves and ligaments, a body that grows by the kind of growth that can only come from God.
Colossians 2:18-19 (VOICE)

When I was in college, I unwittingly visited the meeting of a cult. I picked up a seemingly Christian pamphlet during a new student orientation. A nice young man noticed this and invited me to a potluck supper saying I could meet Christian friends. The mealtime was fine. Everyone was nice, but ultra-conservative. Keep in mind that observation is being made by someone who has been called a “Baptist nun.” When the meeting started, people sat in concentric circles with men in the middle and women on the outside. The leader invited comments during his talk, but after a few moments of discussion, I realized I was the only female speaking; and people were giving me polite smiles. I began to feel uncertain about them even though nothing overtly anti-Christian had been said or done. The leader was dynamic, but the others seemed docile. God placed a friend at church in my path who had researched this particular group. He had found that they had a dictatorial international leader that insisted they give up all property, fast at certain times, and do whatever he deemed right including estranging themselves from their families. I was not as strong in God’s word or my relationship with Jesus at that time as I am now and am thankful God guided me to the friend who pointed me back to Jesus as the only Head of the body. God has at times asked me to give up things or habits, but that has always been a nudging through His Holy Spirit and His word. Christian leaders are to be servants, not dictators. Believers are not to be non-thinking, passive individuals allowing ourselves to taken in a direction contrary to Christ’s leadership. Growth comes as we know Christ more intimately and seek to find and follow His will.

Father, help us to respect the people You have placed in authority but be careful to remember that Jesus is the true Head of the church and be diligent to know His word.