The Worship of Angels? (Col 2:18)

IN COLOSSIANS 2:18 PAUL WARNS CHRISTIANS AGAINST THE WORSHIP OF ANGELS. What does this mean? Why would anyone worship angels?

Angels are spiritual beings who can be quite impressive. Not only do we have the witness of the Old Testament in which a number of people show reverence for the angel of the Lord, but even late in the New Testament period the prophet John is tempted to fall down and worship an angel, not just once, but twice (Rev 19:10; 22:8-9). So we see that the writers of the New Testament themselves could feel the power of such a temptation.

We do not know the full context of what was going on in Colossae, for Paul never explains it. Whatever was happening there, the Colossians obviously already knew about it, and Paul does not know that his letter will be read centuries later by Christians who will have no knowledge of the Colossian situation. Yet while we do not know the full extent of the practices being urged on the Colossians, some of the elements are clear in this passage.

First, the people promoting angel worship had experienced visions. That is the point of the reference to "what he has seen" (the NRSV refers to this correctly as "visions"). Visionary experiences were well known in the early church and, indeed, throughout the history of Christianity. However, not every vision is for public consumption. Paul notes in 2 Corinthians 12:4 that what he had seen in heaven he was not permitted to report. John in Revelation is permitted to report much, but not all, of what he saw and heard. A person without maturity or who fell prey to temptation might easily report on a vision that was not supposed to be told (assuming that the vision was from God in the first place).

Second, the person or persons engaging in this activity is puffing himself up. This indicates that the person considered himself to be someone special because of the revelation he had received. This is in fact a significant temptation. He had heard information that others must have. It is clear to all that he is the person who has been chosen to mediate this revelation to the community. If this process is successful, such a person receives special status, this status hooks him, and he becomes proud.

Third, the focus of the vision is on two things. On the one hand, it is on some type of false humility. That could be the particular practice of fasting or devotion that the recipient of the vision was engaging in when the vision came. It could be some practice he believed that the angelic messenger revealed to him. Whatever it is, it is a practice through which a person humbles himself or herself. It is a rule or law through which a person can "get more holy," more perfect (Col 2:20-23). Such a position ignores the fact in Christ Christians have received all the status and holiness they will ever receive. One does not earn a higher status with God; it has all come in Christ (Col 2:9-10).

On the other hand, the vision (or the report that the people gave of it) focused on angels. "If you get to know these angels as we do, then you will get inside information too." In some systems of Jewish and Christian thought the angels were named. In others they were ranked, and the goal was to get to know the more highly ranked angels. Or it may be that these people in Colossae only thought that special honor should be paid to a particular revealing angel. All of this does one thing: it takes the focus off Christ. Paul points out that "he [the person teaching on angels] has lost connection with the Head" (Col 2:19). If one knows Christ, one does not need to know the angels, their ranks or their names. They are all servants of the One the Christian already knows. The Bible does incidentally reveal the names of a few angels, but it always keeps its focus on Christ or God. If the names of the angels or even their presence were removed, but the revelation were retained, nothing of great significance would be lost. To focus on the angels is to detract from Christ and thus to lose a grip on the "Head."

That is probably why John reports his two attempts to worship angels in Revelation. Perhaps some reader would be tempted to give honor to the various angels who mediated such a great revelation. John is crystal clear: don't even think of it. If honor is given to Christ and God, the angels will be quiteÿpleased, for then they have done their job as servants.

Religious experience is great. God grants it because it is good for us. Yet it is also dangerous. True experiences can be distorted. The temptation is always there to focus on our experience or to use our experience as a lever to gain personal status or power. This does not invalidate the experience (while there are demonic visionary experiences, Paul gives no hint here that these visions were not true visions from God), but it does distort it. Instead of leading the person to a greater devotion to Christ (that type of devotion that faces martyrdom fearlessly), such a use of visionary experiences turns the person from his or her focus on Christ, and can shift a whole group as well. The person becomes the "mediator" between Christians and some angel or angels, using rites about which God does not care a snap, however pious they may seem.

In Revelation there is a role for angels. They stand along with the redeemed before the throne of God and of the Lamb. That is the image to keep in mind: redeemed human beings and angels stand side by side looking at one and the same focus, God. Once this is grasped, both angels and visionary experiences will be kept in their proper perspective.