Home Books & Articles Spurgeon Gems Pink Gems Audio Messages

Christ: Sufficient for You

by David & Tamra Lee

“In [Christ] are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words. For though I am absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ. As you have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him; rooted and built up in Him, and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. And you are complete in Him…

Wherefore, if you are dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are you subject to ordinances, (Touch not, taste not; handle not; which are all to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men? Which things have indeed a show of wisdom in self worship, and (false) humility, and neglect of the body, not in any honor to the satisfying of the flesh.” —Col. 2:2-23

Christ is Supreme and Christ is sufficient! This is Paul’s grand message to the Church, both at Colosse and to us today. Paul proclaims boldly: Christ is Lord of all, and Christ is Head of the Church. It is Christ that you need! Christ sufficient for personal righteousness; Christ sufficient as the way to know and experience the living God. Christ sufficient for every need, every desire. You, Christian, are complete in Christ!

Sadly this sweet promise of Christ’s sufficiency has been almost forgotten. Mankind is always getting itself entangled in idolatry. The two extremes of false worship are legalism and mysticism. Legalism is adhering to a list of rules to proclaim one’s own righteousness; while mysticism is coveting hidden knowledge and personal esoteric experiences as the source of personal knowledge of God. The Church of Colosse had a mixture of both extremes in it with Jewish fanatics seeking to require Jewish law and ceremonies as a sign of true faith; while early forms of Gnosticism (an ancient cult) was growing among the Gentiles.

Over the past century there has been a great insurgence of Gnosticism in the Church of Jesus Christ. Christians wearied of “dead orthodoxy” (churches which are doctrinally correct but lack zeal for Christ and the lost) and legalistic regulations have sought a deeper knowledge of God. Unfortunately, they have often not sought it in a Biblically balanced and prayerful approach that Christ might be exalted. Rather, the “secret” knowledge of mysticism and man-made philosophies have thoroughly attached themselves to the warp and woof of many pastors and church families.

While this thirst for experience has taken many forms, we wish to address today the influx of psychology and reliance upon 12-Step programs in the Church.

What is often not recognized is the total moral and spiritual bankruptcy of psychology. Early pioneers of psychology and psychiatry were devoted to humanistic and evolutionary thought. Some were involved in the occult. Many admitted they were seeking an alternative way of thought and lifestyle completely separate from Christianity and the Bible. Freud, Maslow, Rogers and Skinner [to name a few] are some of the founding fathers of this pseudo-science. Thus, psychology and psychiatry were birthed out of men’s desire to rebel against the Word of God, and provide people with another religion in complete opposition to the living God. It is their thinking that is still the basis of psychology & psychiatry, even in “Christian” psychological circles (Dobson, Minerith & Meyer, Hoeksema, etc.). This philosophy of rebellion is the tool which “Christian” and nonChristian psychologists seek to use in healing the mental and emotional wounds of others! “…Lest any man beguile you with enticing words…”

Bill Wilson fathered Alcoholics Anonymous, which is the basis for all other 12 Step programs. Bill Wilson was a Spiritist (one who communicates with spirits; commonly called today a “channeler”); who incorporated ideas from psychology along with the dictated lectures given by his spirit guide, Boniface.

Wilson did not attempt to hide his source. Two authoritative books about Wilson and A.A. underline these dangerous truths in a positive light! They are:

Pass It On: The Story of Bill Wilson and How A.A. Reached the World, by Al Anon Services, Inc; 1984 ; - and -

The Soul of Sponsorship: The Friendship of Fr. Ed Dowling, S.J. and Bill Wilson in Letters, Hazelden Pittman Archives Press, 1995.

One small example (dozens can be sighted) of the sinister influence can be seen in Step 3, where the alcoholic is admonished to surrender to “God, as we understand him.” We are to surrender to Him “whatever He is.” In other words, blindly worship ‘something’ and submit to the god of your imagination. This is blatant idolatry!

Hebrews 11:6 says we cannot please God without faith; and whoever comes to God must believe He is (examine that word in light of Exodus 3:14,15 and John 8:58) and that He is the rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

In John 4 Jesus chided the woman at the well, “You worship what you do not know…the true worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeks such to worship Him (vs. 22-24).”

We are commanded to “cast down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ…(2 Cor. 10:4-6).”

Psychology and Al Anon replace man’s sin and need for the Savior with a cop-out: “mental illness.” This religion gives an excuse to people looking to avoid facing their sin and Almighty God. People are no longer responsible for their crimes, evil attitudes and lack of values. Instead they are “victims” of bad homes, abuse from lovers and friends, and addictions to drugs and alcohol; “co-dependents”. Self-esteem is exalted rather than esteem for Christ and others.

Drugs such as Prozac deaden the conscience and emotions. Blame shifting for a life of addiction and crime occurs as parents are accused [often by the questionable means of hypnosis] of abuse & neglect. Depression, addictions, “mental illness”…all these are psychobabble words for sin.

The Word of God tells us God has bent low to reveal Himself to man through His Son, Jesus Christ. In fact, Hebrews 11:1-2 tells us “God, who at different times and in different ways spoke in times past to the fathers [Israel] by the prophets [Isaiah, Ezekiel, Elijah…] has in these last days spoken to us by His Son…”

Christ is the final message from God to man! Jesus’ message to us is faithfully given in Scripture. Christ—not psychology, psychotherapy, the 12 Steps, a mystical experience, an “inner light”, nor a “Word from the Lord”—Christ alone speaks to us today by His written communication in the Bible to us. (Read John 20:30-31; Acts 17:11;Galatians 1:3-9.) He alone is sufficient for our every need!

“You are complete in Him…” —Colossians 2:10

“Grace and peace be multiplied to you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, according as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him that has called us to glory and virtue: whereby are given to us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these you might be partakers of the divine nature…” —2 Peter 1:2-4

How complete is “complete”? Is it insufficient for some things? Not good enough to handle every situation? Just “so-so”? How much is “all things?” A few? Some? A thousand times no! We are COMPLETE in CHRIST! His Word, His Spirit…they are sufficient to lift the depressed. Sufficient to transform a hardened criminal. Powerful enough to deliver from addictions. Christ is sufficient for every child of God; and you are complete in Him!

Christ knew He was calling people to Himself that needed total rebuilding. He knew that people would be damaged in their understanding of life and relationships, have wrong views of Him, and be totally inept at life in general. That, my friends, is the result of sin…depravity! Yet, did Jesus establish “Psychologists and 12-Step programs” in His list of gifts to the Church in Ephesians 4? No, He appointed godly men to point us to Him; to use His inerrant Word to establish us in Him, that we would no more be tossed about by every wind of [false] doctrine; so that we might be truly "established in the faith", as it says in Colossians 2.

All the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are found in Christ! How much more than “all” can we have or need? How much wisdom and knowledge can we find outside of Him?

Rely no more on the arm of the flesh, child of God. Look to the Lord, your Deliverer! Jesus Christ, by His Word & Spirit, is all you need; and His arm is not shortened to save you. Rest on Christ alone; sufficient for you.


Resources:
The Vanishing Conscience, by John MacArthur, Jr.
A Biblical View of Self-Esteem, Self-Worth, by Jay E. Adams
Psychobabble, by Richard Gantz
12 Steps to Destruction, by Martin & Deidre Bobgan


© 2000 by David & Tamra Lee. This article may be copied on these terms: 1. That it is copied completely, verbatum, unless permission granted by author to do otherwise. 2. The author is credited. 3. No charge be made for distribution of it. 4. All glory go to Jesus Christ; Author of all Truth.


Home | Books & Articles | Spurgeon Gems | Devotional Helps
Puritan Prayers | Inspirational Quotes | Inspirational Poems
Audio Messages | Assurance | Prayer | Praise | About Our Ministry