Jesus Only: Part OneНамуна

Week 5, Day 3 - Tuesday

Counterfeit Faith Practices

As a boy, I enjoyed watching professional wrestling. There were big guys with big names. Bruno San Martino. Haystacks Calhoun. Gorilla Monsoon. They bounced around the ring and propelled themselves off the ropes. They flew through the air. They wore belts with massive gold buckles. It was a glitzy, showy, pompous display.

My cousins wrestled for our high school team. They had common names. Dave. Leroy. Marlin. Rick. They lifted weights and ran a lot of miles. Managed their body weight. (Most pro wrestlers looked like they had eaten too many Krispy Kreme donuts.) My cousins’ wrestling experiences were quiet, disciplined, and challenging.

My cousins with “little” names, accomplished big goals. Set a record for the longest string of dual meet wins and earned district and state team titles. They helped establish a wrestling dynasty. It became clear who the counterfeit wrestlers were. While I found Bruno, Haystacks, and Gorilla immensely entertaining, I genuinely admired Dave, Leroy, Marlin, and Rick.    

Similarly, counterfeit faith practices emanating from two significant philosophies were enticing Colossian Christians. The Greek philosophy of mystical polytheism (many gods) was predominant. Some teachers saw Jesus and God as just one of many acceptable deities. From the Jews came a strict adherence to the laws of the Torah. And now some teachers were espousing a rules-oriented, how-to faith.   

Seeing Colossian believers caught in the crossfire of these two mindsets, Paul strides into the ring. He warns both approaches will dupe them into counterfeit faith practices. To counter, he emphasizes Christ’s supremacy and authentic power. Paul tosses the counterfeits out of the ring and calls for devotion to the genuine Jesus. 

Is it really any different today? We feel pressure to believe many paths lead to divine salvation. We misinterpret grace as tolerance for any view. We want clear how-to guides for faith practice. We exhaust ourselves trying to please man and God with right behavior. We separate ourselves from others who are too messy or different.  

In the ring of life, we need to resist counterfeit faith practices and embrace Jesus - a genuine source of power and wisdom to guide us.  

Reflection Questions:

What are the many “gods” and/or mindsets I encounter today? Which ones am I most influenced by?

How have I experienced and been impacted by a legalistic (should do) approach to my faith journey?  

How am I allowing Jesus to rescue me from the confusion caused by both an anything-goes and legalistic approach to faith and life?

Prayer:

Oh, Jesus, I long to follow you. Lead me to your Father. Help me discern the counterfeits that influence me today. Help me to toss them out of the ring of my life.  Show me how to grow my devotion to you. Give me your power and wisdom to navigate life. Guide me to authentic, real, genuine, abundant life.  Amen.