20Since 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: 21“Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!”? 22These rules, which have to do with things that are all destined to perish with use, are based on merely human commands and teachings. 23Such 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 2:20-23)
Thoughts: Christianity is not about rules. For many years, growing up in the church, I thought it was. I rebelled as a teen against the rules for I saw hypocrisy in the church. It was only later that I realized that there are no perfect people- in or out of the church. But at least the church tries to do the right thing. It was only later that I realized that Christianity is not an ethical philosophy but a relationship with Christ. The faith gives an illusion that to be religious means to follow the rules. But there is grace. The grace of Christ means He kept the rules for us. Christianity is about love. Jesus summed up all the rules in two commandments: Love God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength and love your neighbor as yourself. Rules tend to be earth based and earth focused- with culture pushing them back and forth. But without faith in God and love for God there is no power in rules (vs. 23).
Now Paul is not saying- there are no more rules. He is against the Pharasaical idea that keeping the rules gets us to heaven. He was also against the idea that we have to always live in resolute fear of breaking a rule. Perfectionism and legalism are not good ways to live. It develops an OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) that makes each person keeping them hard to live with. We are saved by grace through faith so that no one can boast (Ephesians 2:8-9).
But we must bring in the whole counsel of God here. Paul is not tossing out being good. This would be anti-nominism (against the law). Calvin talked much about the moral law (the Ten Commandments) are good guides for life. Paul wrote in Ephesians 2:10- "For we are created for good works" In a few more words (3:5 ff) Paul says, "Put to death therefore the earthly ways- sexual immorality (note that this is first), impurity, lust, evil desires and greed." These are sins that come from within- not without. We seek and do God's will not because we have to (to get to heaven), but out of love and gratitude (the heart and grace). There is a huge difference. What we believe and what we do matter to the One who loves us and wants what is best for us. It is out of the heart that sin comes, Jesus said. We must get our hearts right with God. Christianity- is about love- having our hearts changed and going in the right direction- toward things above (not earthly things- whether sin or rules).
Prayer: Lord, move my heart. Change my heart so that it is in tune with yours. Give me grace to love you and my neighbor.
If you walk into a restaurant and you see a sign that says, "No shoes, no shirt, no service." Then you see a sign that says "you must wash your hands before serving." To obsess over those rules instead of seeing that the restaurant is about food would be wrong. But when you enjoy the food and the service, you want to make sure that it is done right for you and others too.
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