See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ. – Colossians 2:8

Today’s Scripture Reading (March 10, 2018): Colossians 2

In February 2018, Canadian Conservative politician Andrew Scheer vowed that, if he were elected Prime Minister of Canada, he would follow President Trump’s lead and declare that Jerusalem is the capital of Israel. The Canadian Government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, abstained from a vote in December 2017 that resulted in more than a hundred countries condemning the United States because of President Trump’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.

The problem is that the issue is complex. Understanding Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, rather than Tel Aviv, is the traditional choice. It is also the emotional choice. Many Christians hold a special respect for Jerusalem. We expect that, someday, there will be a new Jerusalem and that it will be there that God will set up his forever throne here on earth. So I understand the temptation. But on the other side of the equation I also believe that, as Christians, we are called to messengers of peace and love to the world. I reject that God is only the God of the good. He is the God of the world that all people are important to him. I believe that Christ, if we dared to let him, could unify us, binding us together. And here we find the problem with Jerusalem. While tradition and emotion declare that Jerusalem should be the capital of Israel, such a move would destabilize the area. Jerusalem is divided, and there is still much work that needs to be done before such a declaration can be made in favor of the city.

Personally, I wonder if I will see Jerusalem as the capital of Israel during my lifetime. But then again, I never thought that I would see Poland as a member of NATO, or a unified Berlin and Germany. Somehow, these things have worked out. So I hold out hope for Jerusalem and the Middle East.

Paul tells the Colossian Church to be careful not to be deceived by hollow or deceptive philosophies or traditions. Do not allow emotion to sway you away from the move of Christ. It is not that tradition and emotion are not important. They are undeniable forces in our lives. But the dictates of Christ must always come first. Moves like the declaration of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel are not far from the political ideals that Jesus rejected in the first century. Capitals are never more important than people. Jesus did not come to earth to serve a political ideal “the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost” (Luke 19:10). If we follow him, this becomes our purpose as well. The rest is just more hollow and deceptive philosophies that we need to reject. Our actions must be centered on Christ.

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Colossians 3