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This my response to the topic of Counterfeit Spirituality in my online Spiritual Formation class. Colossians 2:23 says, "These are matters which have, to be sure, the appearance of wisdom in self-made religion and self-abasement and severe treatment of the body, but are of no value against fleshly indulgence." (NASB) There is definitely counterfeit spirituality out there. This can be seen from the New Age movements, to the philosophies of the day (such as Oprah), to even practices within the church. Spritiuality (and in specific spiritual formation) involves the whole person. Beginning on the inside and then moving to the outside. The problem with the New Age spirituality and the spirituality of Oprah is that it touches the inside, albeit, this is not done by the Holy Spirit. These people who are "seemingly spiritual" in the eyes of the world are hungry for transcendence, mystery, and a spiritual experience. Consequently, these "spiritual experiences" never align up with the Word of God. As Paul told the "spiritual" people in Athens in Acts 17:22, "I see that in every way you are very religious." Like those in Athens, the "spiritual" people of our day are looking for inward experiences. These experiences are simply "inward experiences" that are wholly humanistic and hedonistic at their nature. To follow this way is "to attempt to achieve righteousness some way other than God's way." (Vines, p. 161) This is the extreme end of counterfeit spirituality on the New Age side. On the other hand we have the counterfeit spirituality that is in the church. This spirituality is on a certain level, the same as the Gnostics that Paul is referring to in Colossians 2:23. These "self-made religious" people were focusing on the outward without a thought to the inward. Whereas, the New Age looks for an "inward experience" without any regards to the outward actions, the Gnostics that Paul is discussing here were totally focused on the outside. Discipling their bodies without regard to the discipling of the soul. Making noise and being seen. I really like how The Message puts this verse, "Such things sound impressive if said in a deep enough voice. They even give the illusion of being pious and humble and ascetic. But they're just another way of showing off, making yourselves look important." This type of counterfeit spirituality that is entirely focused on the outward is just as dangerous as the New Age counterfeit spirituality that is entirely focused on the inward. Both have perverted and abused the holistic spirituality that begins inwardly and ends outwardly. This is the type of counterfeit spirituality prevalent in our churches today. People (some well-intentioned and some not so well-intentioned) who are so focused on the outside and behavior modification and being seen and being heard. This is all done without it "beginning in the heart" as Mark 7:15, 20-23 says. When you read verse 15 of Marks 7, you would think that "you are defiled by what you say and do!" (NLT) But when you read verses 20-23 and in specific verse 23 you see that all of these things come from the heart. As The Message says, "There is the source of your polution." It is the outward acts that defile you, but these outward acts are rooted in the heart. So what seems like an obvious contradiction is in reality a beautiful paradox.