WORD From The Woods
Colossians 2:16-23
"Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ. Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, going on in detail about visions, puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind, and not holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God.
If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations— “Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch” (referring to things that all perish as they are used)—according to human precepts and teachings? These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh."
At first glance this passage seems like it has nothing to do with the things we face in our day to day lives, but it's actually one of the most relevant passages in the New Testament. Asceticism was a kind of false humility that people had because of all the things they didn't engage in, simply because they thought that abstaining from things they saw as "taboo" would bring them closer to God. Paul says here, not to let anyone pass judgement on you in questions of food or drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a sabbath. There are many groups today that teach of you don't drink alcohol, if you go to church, if you read this translation of the bible , if you sing a certain kind of music in church, if you dress a certain way, if you have certain spiritual gifts, and so on and so on, if you do certain things then you are closer to God and more holy than others. This is exactly what Paul was warning against when he wrote these words 2000 years ago. It was a big problem in the church then and its a big problem in the church today. Next month, we will be at the Oregon Logging Conference, and our booth is in the same building where the “Sawdust Bowl” is held on Thursday and Friday nights. One of the reasons we chose that spot was to be there during the Sawdust Bowl, which is social gathering for a couple of hours with hosted beer and wine. It’s a great time to visit with folks. One of the reasons we’re there is to show people that we aren’t there just to cast judgement on them! Now, the Bible is clear about sin and sin is wrong. There is nothing wrong with having a couple beers if you don’t go to far. This is an issue that each of us needs to seek God on, some people should stay away form alcohol completely because it can be a very slippery slope that they need to avoid. But being a Christ follower isn’t about keeping a set of man-made rules I order to please God, it’s about being in a relationship with Him! We've all tried to do things by our own strength to tried and be "holy enough" for God. The bible is abundantly clear, there is nothing we can do to be good enough for the Kingdom of God. That's why we needed a savior, it's why only the perfect, sinless lamb, Christ Jesus could be that savior! We must hold fast to Christ alone, not what we do or don’t do. As we grow in Christ, through the power of the Holy Spirit living in us, we will produce good works, not of our own power but by the power of Christ! All these things that people come up with as ways to be holy have no power to stop the indulgence of the flesh. Only the power of Christ can overcome the sinful flesh of man!
God bless and have a great week! -Terry-
Colossians 2:16-23
"Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ. Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, going on in detail about visions, puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind, and not holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God.
If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations— “Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch” (referring to things that all perish as they are used)—according to human precepts and teachings? These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh."
At first glance this passage seems like it has nothing to do with the things we face in our day to day lives, but it's actually one of the most relevant passages in the New Testament. Asceticism was a kind of false humility that people had because of all the things they didn't engage in, simply because they thought that abstaining from things they saw as "taboo" would bring them closer to God. Paul says here, not to let anyone pass judgement on you in questions of food or drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a sabbath. There are many groups today that teach of you don't drink alcohol, if you go to church, if you read this translation of the bible , if you sing a certain kind of music in church, if you dress a certain way, if you have certain spiritual gifts, and so on and so on, if you do certain things then you are closer to God and more holy than others. This is exactly what Paul was warning against when he wrote these words 2000 years ago. It was a big problem in the church then and its a big problem in the church today. Next month, we will be at the Oregon Logging Conference, and our booth is in the same building where the “Sawdust Bowl” is held on Thursday and Friday nights. One of the reasons we chose that spot was to be there during the Sawdust Bowl, which is social gathering for a couple of hours with hosted beer and wine. It’s a great time to visit with folks. One of the reasons we’re there is to show people that we aren’t there just to cast judgement on them! Now, the Bible is clear about sin and sin is wrong. There is nothing wrong with having a couple beers if you don’t go to far. This is an issue that each of us needs to seek God on, some people should stay away form alcohol completely because it can be a very slippery slope that they need to avoid. But being a Christ follower isn’t about keeping a set of man-made rules I order to please God, it’s about being in a relationship with Him! We've all tried to do things by our own strength to tried and be "holy enough" for God. The bible is abundantly clear, there is nothing we can do to be good enough for the Kingdom of God. That's why we needed a savior, it's why only the perfect, sinless lamb, Christ Jesus could be that savior! We must hold fast to Christ alone, not what we do or don’t do. As we grow in Christ, through the power of the Holy Spirit living in us, we will produce good works, not of our own power but by the power of Christ! All these things that people come up with as ways to be holy have no power to stop the indulgence of the flesh. Only the power of Christ can overcome the sinful flesh of man!
God bless and have a great week! -Terry-