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Colossians 2:7

Ulysses S. Grant publicly apologized for his failures as president claiming the mistakes he made while in office were due to his inexperience—“errors of judgment, not intent.” While Grant’s personal integrity was never formally questioned, his presidency was rife with many government scandals. The first was Black Friday, a gold-speculation crisis set up by Jay Gould and James Fisk. The 1875 Whiskey Ring scandal saw over three million dollars in taxes stolen from the federal government with the aid of high officials. Other scandals included the Sanborn Incident, an embezzlement of government funds, and the Crédit Mobilier of America scandal which ruined the political career of Grant’s first Vice President, Schuyler Colfax. He was replaced on the Republican ticket in the 1872 election with Henry Wilson who, ironically, was also involved in the scandal.

As president, Grant learned it’s very easy to get caught up in the evil around us, or to give tacit approval to it. Paul warned the Colossians they must be careful in their behavior lest their testimony be tainted. Satan always seeks to discredit us to compromise our witness. We must stay spiritually alert. Among other things, Colossians is mainly a warning against combining Christianity with a worldly “philosophy” that involves Jewish observances. The author argued that faith in Jesus is completely sufficient, and that nothing need be added to it. Paul wrote this letter to the Christians in Colossae (in what is now western Turkey).

Paul tells us to not let anyone capture our minds with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense coming from human thinking and spiritual powers of this world. He then reminds us of the sufficiency of Christ in all areas of life. We must stay devoted to Him. Man-made rules seem good but actually turn people inward rather than upward: These rules may seem wise because they require strong devotion, pious self-denial, and severe bodily discipline. But they provide no help in conquering a person’s evil desires. Paul says to counter these pressures from the world: Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.