Colossians 2:16-23
Paul contrasts the shadow of the law with the reality of Christ. The idea of false humility shows up twice as well as mystical, rule heavy worship and harsh treatment of the body. This is the early form of gnosticism that I mentioned before: the physical is evil and must be punished, the spiritual is good and must be worshiped. Angel worship comes in because they would believe that angels had special knowledge that was passed to humans if humans observed certain rituals and rules.
Paul's words would have sounded completely radical to this culture: don't let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink or by which days you observe (or don't observe) as sacred and how you observe (or don't observe) those days; don't keep submitting to the ancient rules and traditions. The unfortunate thing is that Paul's words still sound radical in today's culture. We've taken the good news message of Jesus (that God became one of us to show us his love, to save us from sin and to declare the end of religion) and built up rules and traditions around it and have created a new religion. This must sadden God!
The reason that we don't have to observe the rules anymore is found in the previous verses (Paul connects this passage with the previous with the word "therefore" meaning that this section is a conclusion of the previous): Christ has canceled the charge of our indebtedness and has taken away that which condemned us. Therefore we don't have to earn God's favour - Christ has purchased it for us.
The problem is that I love rules! I love rituals and traditions because I like to know what to expect (I love the familiar with a little twist of new) and because I like to think that my observance of rules and rituals somehow pleases God. It's really an issue of pride - I want to have a role in my own salvation; I don't want to accept the fact that Christ had to do it all for me because I was incapable (that makes me seem weak and helpless, which, in fact, I really am). Worse than that, I impose my self-imposed measures of righteousness on others, trying to make them live up to the same rules I have created. I am a Pharisee.
May I experience the freedom that Christ offers from rules and rituals (self-imposed or otherwise) and may I model that freedom so others too can be free.
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1 comment:
I hear you man. wouldn't it be nice to just break away and be free. God gave us such amazing freedom and yet we choose our shackles. Man can we be suckers for punishment, decieved into thinking that we need to do something to earn or keep our salvation. I often think of the thief on the cross who did nothing but say remember me when you come in your kingdom. That man is in heaven now, he did nothing but confess That Jesus was the Christ. I agree with you, we give ourselves rules so we can feel that we are earning something, but it is God who did everything, the only thing we can do is be faithful and thankful and live out our love foe Christ in the freedom he has given us.
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