THE HEAD PROBLEM

The Head Problem

Text: Colossians 2:4–10
Theme: There are some things that can fill your head that will become a problem for your heart and spoil your ground.

Introduction

  • Two warnings about knowledge:
    “Knowledge puffeth up” (1 Cor. 8:1).
    “…casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God” (2 Cor. 10:5).

  • Big idea: Some knowledge sets itself against God’s knowledge. It swells the head with pride, choking the garden of your heart and stunting spiritual growth.

Illustration hook: A field overrun by weeds because someone brought in bad seed. The “wrong” wisdom spoils the soil.

1. Rudiments of the World (v. 8)

A. What Are “Rudiments”?

  • Elements, principles, fundamentals — the building blocks of any art, science, discipline, or society.

  • Examples: education, art, literature, science, religion, philosophy, traditions, music, physical fitness.

B. How They Work

  • Rudiments are seeds that produce fruit.

  • Bad seeds = bad harvest.

C. Popular Rudimentary Sayings

“Be good to your fellow man.”
“Do unto others.”
“Love is love.”
“If it feels good, do it.”
“The ends justify the means.”
“As long as it doesn’t hurt anyone…”
“Don’t judge.”
“Work hard enough and you can be anything you want.”

D. Rudimentary Laws of Man’s Religion (v. 21; cf. Rom. 2:15; Gal. 4)

  • Touch not, taste not, handle not.

  • Scripture calls them:

    1. Beggarly (Gal. 4:3)

    2. Bondage (Gal. 4:9)

E. Rudiments of the Christian Life

  • Church attendance, Bible reading, prayer — good but not saving in themselves.

  • Foundational disciplines help but are not the root of life.

F. Questions for Christian Discernment

  1. Is it right according to Scripture?

  2. Will it please God?

  3. Does it edify?

  4. Is it expedient?

  5. Will it bring glory to God?

  6. Can I thank God for it sincerely?

  7. How will it appear at the Judgment Seat of Christ?

Illustration: A gardener choosing seed — not every seed grows fruit; some only bring weeds.

2. Tradition of Men (v. 8; cf. Matt. 15; Mark 7)

  • Man-made religious traditions that look pious but are not after Christ.

  • When worldly rudiments + human traditions combine → a religion that is neither pure nor Christ-centered.

“Tradition is the most formidable enemy of truth. It is the most inveterate because it is the most concealed.” — J. C. Ryle

Illustration: Pharisees washing hands religiously but hearts far from God (Matt. 15:8).

3. Philosophy and Vain Deceit (v. 8)

A. What Philosophy Is

  • “Love of wisdom” isn’t wrong by itself.

  • But when it produces vain deceit, it becomes an enemy of the gospel.

B. Two Kinds of Wisdom

  1. After Christ — pure, peaceable, meek (James 3:13-18).

  2. Not after Christ — earthly, sensual, devilish.

C. Greek Philosophy’s Long Shadow

  • Paul fought it (1 Cor. 1:22).

  • Still seduces churches today.

  • Many Bible-correcting theologians (Westcott, Hort, Griesbach, Augustine, Origen) were shaped by Plato, Aristotle, Plotinus, Cicero, Philo.

D. The Danger

  • Philosophy beguileth hearts with enticing words (2 Cor. 11).

  • It makes the simple complex, turning truth into speculation and strongholds of Satan.

“Philosophy has always been the rival of the Gospel, and human wisdom has ever been set up in opposition to the wisdom of God.” — Robert Haldane

Illustration: A simple path to Christ overgrown with intellectual vines making it look impassable.

Closing & Call

  • Truth sets free (John 8:32).

  • Man-made religion, tradition, philosophy, and worldly rudiments bring bondage (Gal. 5:1).

  • God wants worship in spirit and truth, not in fleshly pride or flattering words.

Takeaway: The purpose of truth is to make you free (John 8:32), and the purpose of religion, philosophy, tradition, or the rudiment of the world is to put you in bondage (Galatians 5:1). God desires to be worshipped in spirit and in truth, not in the flesh and or flattering words.

Jeffrey smith