Once in a while, Catholic Fundamentalism suggests to those in schism: “Jesus gave us ‘least commandments’. He told us that we should obey them, telling us, ;If you obey My commands, you are My friends.'”
Today’s Reading from COL 2: 6-15 offers a pretty direct statement. It is one of Jesus’ “least commandments”. Can Protestants figure this out?
Brothers and sisters:
As you received Christ Jesus the Lord, walk in him,
rooted in him and built upon him
and established in the faith as you were taught,
abounding in thanksgiving.
See to it that no one captivate you with an empty, seductive philosophy
according to the tradition of men,
according to the elemental powers of the world
and not according to Christ.
He is saying that the first faith, in which Christians received Jesus Christ, Who provided His Body and Blood to those who first received Him in that form at the Last Supper and thereafter is “the faith as you were taught”. Hard to argue with that, and even harder to disagree with “see to it that no one captivate you with an empty, seductive philosophy according to the tradition of men, according to the elemental powers of the world and not according to Christ.”
Wow! He’s telling us to stay away from distractions like Protestantism, obviously. And, He’s also telling us to stay away from human concerns, “according to the tradition of men according to the elemental powers of the world and not according to Christ.” That brings us back to being good Catholics, not Protestants, environmentalists, or other forms of unbelievers.
For in him dwells the whole fullness of the deity bodily,
and you share in this fullness in him,
who is the head of every principality and power.
In him you were also circumcised
with a circumcision not administered by hand,
by stripping off the carnal body, with the circumcision of Christ.
Can Protestants figure this out? Can they realize they must obey His “least Commandments” if they wish to increase their chances of getting into Heaven? Can they understand that being willing to take the risk of losing Heaven, by disobeying His Commands, may be enough to keep them out?
