“If then you have died with Christ to material ways of looking at things and have escaped from the world’s crude and elemental notions and teachings of externalism, why do you live as if you still belong to the world?” Colossians 2:20 ->me: I think Paul is talking about how we use the wisdom and common understanding of the world to define our goals and successes. ‘Material Ways’ means ‘earthly ways’. The world’s understanding of how to succeed in life and managing perception based on the world’s view is exactly what Paul is saying we should be against. Why are we playing into the lie that we need to impress, or LOOK like we are humble, or do things that LOOK like righteous living? I have died and been buried with Christ and now belong to Him alone. Why do I put any stake in catering to the world’s perception of being a good person? When I read the word, God is very clear what His standards are, the measuring stick by which we will all be measured and there is no way for us to meet it without Him. The phrase obedience is better than sacrifice takes such a bigger meaning when I see in the context of this verse. I don’t belong to this world…my home is in heaven above.
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