The + Never Completes

“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. For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority.” (Colossians 2:8-10)

I find it amazing how much of the believer’s life is spent in discontentment—as if there is something more that we’re missing. Maybe we wouldn’t say it outright, but in our hearts we believe that there is something in addition to Christ that we need—something to complete us. Maybe it’s a future ministry goal. Maybe it’s a theological soapbox. Whatever it is, the formula is always the same:

Christ + __________ = completion.

Even our Christian subculture feeds this deception, marketing to us new ideas, systems and methods ad infinitum. Whether it be a “new” church growth model, the latest leadership structure, or even simply the trendy new worship album, our culture is disease-ridden with the spirit of the “fresh and new”–the spirit of the +.

To be fair, all of these things have their place. The problem comes when these ideas and philosophies take us captive, as Paul warned the church at Colossae. He reminded these believers that Christ + NOTHING = completion. We have been made complete in Christ, and in Christ alone. Our identity is found in Him. Our contentment is found in Him. Our life is found in Him. All that we are and all that we hope to be is wrapped up in who He is–in Christ, “who is our life” (Col. 3:4).

Jesus, as we navigate through this life full of new ideas and philosophies (some good, some bad, some neutral), may we never search for our fulfillment, contentment, or completion in the +. Remind us that it’s only found in You.