Freedom from Human Rules

“Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ” Colossians 2:16-17: This section of scripture begins with the word “therefore”. The previous messages are “there for” us to grasp why we can be free from deceptions and legalism. The previous section pointed out all that Christ is to us now. Here, Paul is describing a dedication that goes far beyond true Christian discipline and seeks to please God by extreme forms of self-denial.

Dedication and discipline have a proper role in the Christian life. The proper motivation to make yourself do what God wants you to do is simply because you love him. Paul has already commended the Colossians because they led disciplined, well-ordered lives. But discipline can become a god when the motive is to look good and thereby to win the approval of others and God.

Paul declares these rituals, are a mere "shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ." Once the reality has been realized, shadows are no longer of any value. Shadows, given in advance, are pictures designed to prepare us for something. Once you have found Christ, you do not need the shadows any more. Paul includes the Sabbath day as an example. By placing your priority on honoring the Sabbath instead putting the priority on the relationship with God, defeats the purpose of honoring a holy day. Jesus should be the center of all life and the source of excitement in a Christian's experience. To place primary value on the shadow is to ignore the source of excitement and vitality in life. That is the danger in observing shadows. 

“Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you. Such a person also goes into great detail about what they have seen; they are puffed up with idle notions by their unspiritual mind” Colossians 2:18: The key characteristics here are "false humility and worship of angels." In Colossae there was an ancient teaching later called "gnosticism," meaning knowledge, which held that there is a hierarchy of angels between all human beings and God. Today we see this played out under the name of the New Age Movement. At the heart of it, this claim is to seek the true “Oneness” in the universe. This claim is the way to escape from being centered in oneself, and so move into the fullness of knowledge of the universe. That is why Paul refers to it here as a "false humility." It claims to move you beyond self, but they actually focus on self and the real goal is to develop the powers of self. 

“They have lost connection with the head, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow.” Colossians 2:19:  Mysticism, a compulsive following of spirit guides, always stops growth. Someone who becomes involved in these kinds of teachings cuts himself off from the Head. When the head is cut off a human body, you die. According to the apostle, the same thing happens when anyone has lost contact with the Head of the church which is Jesus. Also at loss is the connection to the church; the body of Christ. When we are no longer fed by teachers and by shepherds of the church, the "ligaments and sinews", growth stops completely. The process which God himself has outlined in his Word is "Follow me". His ways of growing in the knowledge and understanding of Spirit and Truth is the only way to true growth and maturity.

“Since you died with Christ to the elemental spiritual forces of this world, why, as though you still belonged to the world, do you submit to its rules:  “Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!” Colossians 2:20-21: In the church this becomes what is called "legalism," which is to pursue holiness by self-effort, instead of accepting the holiness that God freely gives, by faith, and then living it out in terms of experience. A legalistic look at life says, "Everything is wrong unless you can prove by the Bible that it is right. Therefore, we must have nothing to do with anything that the Bible does not say is right." That reduces life to a very narrow range of activity. But the biblical Christian looks at life and says, "Everything is right! God has given us a world to enjoy and live in. Everything is right, unless the Bible specifically says it is wrong or is proven through the violation of Biblical principle." Some things are wrong; they are harmful and dangerous. Adultery and sexual promiscuity is wrong. Lying and stealing are wrong. But there is so much that is left open to us that is good. If we are willing to obey God in the areas that he designates as harmful and dangerous, then we have the rest of life to enter into in company with a Savior who loves us, and who guides and guards us in our walk with Him.

“These rules, which have to do with things that are all destined to perish with use, are based on merely human commands and teachings.” Colossians 2:22: Paul says that whatever benefit practicing legalism may gain it is only temporary, it all ends at death. Outwardly you look good, but inwardly you are like a grave full of rotting bones. Stubborn to continue to live with the appearance of certain status and privilege will eventually prove in the end, legalism is worthless.

“Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.” Colossians 2:23:  Paul declares these things are of no value in restraining the indulgence of the flesh. People may outwardly appear dedicated and disciplined, but inwardly sin rages unchecked. Inside they are angry, resentful, filled with a spirit of bitterness. Many people suffer this condition and even some Christians have this problem. They are trying to manage the externals instead of walking in the fullness of life with Jesus Christ, finding the inward purity and cleansing that only He provides.

The world is full of distractions and things that lead us away from God. We need to be constantly in the Bible being fed by the Word and led by the Holy Spirit. Even within the church we can be unknowingly misled or also lose our focus and direction. Where is your spiritual growth centered? What is the difference between an absolute, your convictions, and a preference? When do you make a stand?