Colossians 2:18-19 — The Christians at Colossae were dealing with false teaching that had a strongly mystical element. There was an emphasis on dreams and visions and they were being judged for not having these kinds of experiences.
Mysticism has always troubled the church and it continues to do so today, particularly in Charismatic and Pentecostal denominations. In this text, Paul powerfully refutes those who teach that dreams, visions and other subjective experiences are ordinary and necessary elements of the Christian life. In truth, these take the Christian’s focus away from the only source of spiritual growth, the Head of the Body, the Lord Jesus Christ.