Spiritual Kidnapping

National Center for Missing and Exploited Children… Approximately 800,000 children younger than 18 were reported missing.

National Center for Missing and Exploited Children… Approximately 800,000 children younger than 18 were reported missing. More than 200,000 children were abducted by family members.

National Center for Missing and Exploited Children… Approximately 800,000 children younger than 18 were reported missing. More than 200,000 children were abducted by family members. More than 58,000 children were abducted by nonfamily members.

National Center for Missing and Exploited Children… Approximately 800,000 children younger than 18 were reported missing. More than 200,000 children were abducted by family members. More than 58,000 children were abducted by nonfamily members. An estimated 115 children were the victims of “stereotypical” kidnapping.

Colossians 2:8 See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ.

I.CHRISTIANS CAN BE SPIRITUALLY KIDNAPPED

Colossians 2:8 See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ.

Romans 8:38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers,

Romans 8:39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Galatians 1:6 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel—

Galatians 1:7 which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ.

1 Peter 5:8 Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

Galatians 5:1 It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore, keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.

II.HOW A SPIRITUAL KIDNAPPING CAN HAPPEN

Colossians 2:8 See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ.

How can we be spiritually kidnapped?

A.Through falling prey to bad philosophy.

The word “philosophy” means “a lover of wisdom.”

Historian Adolf Schlatter “everything that had to do with theories about God and the world and the meaning of human life was called ‘philosophy’ at that time, not only in pagan schools, but also in the Jewish schools of the Greek cities”

Colossians 2:8 See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ.

How can we be spiritually kidnapped? A.Through falling prey to bad philosophy. B.Though falling prey to empty deception.

― Rob Bell, Love Wins: A Book About Heaven, Hell, and the Fate of Every Person Who Ever Lived

“God wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth” (1 Tim. 2). So does God get what God wants?” ― Rob Bell, Love Wins: A Book About Heaven, Hell, and the Fate of Every Person Who Ever Lived

“Once again, God has a purpose. A desire. A goal. And God never stops pursuing it. ― Rob Bell, Love Wins: A Book About Heaven, Hell, and the Fate of Every Person Who Ever Lived

Jesus tells a series of parables in Luke 15 about a woman who loses a coin, a shepherd who loses a sheep, and a father who loses a son. ― Rob Bell, Love Wins: A Book About Heaven, Hell, and the Fate of Every Person Who Ever Lived

The stories aren’t ultimately about things and people being lost; the stories are about things and people being found. ― Rob Bell, Love Wins: A Book About Heaven, Hell, and the Fate of Every Person Who Ever Lived

The God that Jesus teaches us about doesn’t give up until everything that was lost is found. This God simply doesn’t give up. Ever.” ― Rob Bell, Love Wins: A Book About Heaven, Hell, and the Fate of Every Person Who Ever Lived

III.WHY SPIRITUAL KIDNAPPING IS SUCH A THREAT

Three reasons spiritual kidnapping is such a threat: A.Man’s traditions do not equal spiritual truth.

Francis Schaeffer “One man would draw a circle and say, ‘You can live within this circle.’ The next man would cross it out and would draw a different circle. The next man would come along and, crossing out the previous circle, draw his own—”

Three reasons spiritual kidnapping is such a threat: A.Man’s traditions do not equal spiritual truth. B.Earthly philosophy has earthly roots.

1 Corinthians 2:14 But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised.

Three reasons spiritual kidnapping is such a threat: A.Man’s traditions do not equal spiritual truth. B.Earthly philosophy has earthly roots. C.Real truth is only found in God.

Galatians 1:6 I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel;

Galatians 1:7 which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ.

Galatians 1:8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed!

Galatians 1:9 As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed!

CONCLUSION

Colossians 2:3 No man-made religion can lead to the truth, for truth can be found only in Christ. “In whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge”

John 14:6 No one can come to God except through Christ

Life Application New Testament Commentary True philosophy will focus on Jesus Christ—it will not put Christ in any lower position, nor will it focus on human endeavor.

2 Corinthians 10:5 We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ,

What are you doing to protect yourself from being spiritually kidnapped?