Not rules and superstition
Love and Wisdom; God and You
Colossians 2:6-23
The famous astronaut Buzz Aldrin faced a conflict after returning from the moon. He spiraled into a deep depression that ultimately resulted in him being hospitalized, medicated and put through a battery of psychiatric treatments. Ignorant of the depth of his own disability, once
the medicine kicked in, he felt so much better that he immediately began making plans for a new start:
• He would divorce his wife and marry his lover
• First, he would spend Thanksgiving with his wife and children so everything could be like old times
• He would then take his wife to Acapulco for their 17th anniversary and break the news to her
Of course, his counselor was aghast and tried to talk him out of it. He was in far too fragile a state to make such life changing decisions. He was also reaching for two very different senses of fulfillment. Aldrin admits that he did not see the contradiction in this plan. His medicine made him feel better, but his mind was still not reasoning clearly. He wanted so badly to have a new start that he was grasping at everything that seemed to hold out that hope.
That kind of contradiction is what the Colossians were facing. They were traveling a new spiritual road, rushing forward with power and speed. Along side that spirituality, in their town of great philosophical and religious industry, were a couple of other groups that wanted to lead them along their own paths. Paul, like Aldrin’s counselor was working hard to help them see the incompatibility of these two other influences with the path they had chosen.
The Colossians faced two sets of teachings that endangered their understanding of true spirituality. Paul merged with the description of the problem an explanation of why the Colossians should resist being drawn in, they had received Jesus. This change in their lives brought into play many important truths:
• Everything they had learned about Jesus’ Way
• The strengthening "rootedness" of their faith
• All the blessings of Jesus for which they were thankful
• Jesus’ ultimate identity as God
• His resurrection
• Their forgiveness through His power
• The "circumcision" of their hearts
Paul was telling the Colossians that all of this must be measured against two problems that threatened their practice of true faith in Christ. Like Buzz Aldrin, They were facing a dilemma of contradictory values.
So Paul was reminding them of the profound nature of the road they were on:
• Remember who it is that you serve
• Remember the power He has demonstrated
• Remember what He has done for you
• Remember everything you have learned
These truths were the bases for them to evaluate the value of the alternative paths calling out to them.
What were those paths?
The early disciples were criticized by two groups: One was conservative Jewish communities who saw their teachings as a departure from tradition. The other was pagan sources who thought they threatened their own gentile cultures and religions.
First is strict Judaism
Paul is not being intolerant or anti-Semitic in these statements. He is, after all, Jewish and, his Jewish friends are important to him. He speaks of the value of the Scriptures and his policy to connect with Jews first wherever he went. The impression that we get is that he depended upon the Jews’ understanding of the Scriptures to provide a solid basis for teaching in the churches he planted. The church has at times, abusing Paul’s teachings, embraced anti-Semitism, but that has been wrong and an inappropriate reading of what Paul was trying to do.
To be clear, Paul saw following Jesus as an extension of true Judaism, not a departure from it. However, he was a trained Pharisee and he wanted his disciples to avoid the trap of Pharisaical legalism.
The Apostles, all of whom were Jews, had been coming to the conclusion for a long time that the Law of Moses must be reexamined for its application to followers of the Messiah. The conclusion they came to, and that the New Testament demonstrates, is that the strict observance of the letter of the Law can distract from its real transforming power, giving a sense of technical morality. Tertullian, an influential leader of the 2nd century church in North Africa said, Paul "does not mean to criticize the mandates of the Jewish law ... His intention, rather, is only to condemn those who do not accept Christ as the One who has true authority over all such things" (ACCSNT IX:42). That’s why Paul characterizes their emphasis so negatively:
• Do not handle!
• Do not taste!
• Do not touch!
Jesus indicated that we should carefully distinguish between what God wants for our spiritual health and what humans add to God’s word and intentions. Human additives are expendable.
The Spirit of the Law, the intention of God should be honored more even than the words themselves. So, Paul refers to other practices found in strict Judaism:
• Circumcision
• New Moon celebrations
• Feast days
• Sabbath observance
These ideas are clearly Scriptural, but Paul is saying that, not just Gentiles, but even for Jews who wish to follow Jesus as Messiah, they need to be approached differently; not with an idea for strict observance, but in order to honor their ultimate value. By saying they are merely a shadow, he is not devaluing them, he is putting them in perspective.
• Thus, the circumcision Paul advocates is not a mark on the flesh, but a mark on the heart
• Sabbath observance is no longer a day of the week, but a disposition of the whole person all the time, living in the holiness of God and resting in His presence
It is a misreading to say that we as Christians observe the Lord’s Day as our Sabbath. We do not. Followers of Jesus are freed from strict, legal observances. We dare not substitute one for another. Belief in Jesus spells freedom for the believer. He frees us from sin and from the bondage of the Law.
So true spirituality is not in keeping rules. It is not even in keeping rules that are found in Scripture. It is a matter of making ourselves direct servants and friends of the One true God, in His Son ... His self, Jesus the Messiah. In that light, what we do in obedience is much less standardized, much more individual than a system of laws can accommodate.
Second he warns against Spiritism
Totally different from extreme legalism is the spiritual philosophy honored by people from Colossea
• They are empowered by the enemy
• They are called "elemental spirits of the world"
• They delighted in false humility
• They worshiped angels
• Involved personal visions or experience
• They had the appearance of wisdom
• They involved an unsparing treatment of the body
Ancient philosophers were never far removed from the religions we now think of as mythology. They believed battles of the gods found their way into the physical and human worlds. For example, Lucretius, who lived about 100 years before Paul spoke of the ongoing battle between the Sun or fire and water along with their associated gods. The Sun constantly struggled to gain mastery by drying up the water, but the rivers provided in such abundance that fire was constantly defeated.
The rulers of the elements: Earth, Water, Fire and Air were represented in everything from weather and politics to medicine and human personality, giving rise to the model of four personality temperaments still recognized by many today, even among Christians: Phlegmatic, Choleric, Melancholy, and Sanguine. Hypocrates, Plato, Aristotle, and Galen all considered these elemental influences, influenced by gods, demons or angels, to be at the root of everything that happened. These elemental spirits had associations with the seasons and thus with the zodiac stars and constellations that governed each particular season.
So those who worshiped these spirits or prayed to them as angels or gods in hopes of affecting the human world were removing their faith from the One True God. Just as today, some believers in God cannot quite put these ideas behind them. Some practices were apparently hard to shake.
For example, in ancient times, a person might fast and avoid sleep in order to induce visions for the sake of visions, not for the sake of knowing God. Some of this fasting can and does induce hallucinations. So Paul warns against the false humility of these kinds of fasts, and the spiritual pride that resulted from the "visions" they experienced. Paul is identifying the philosophical and pagan ideas represented in Colossea as having their source in evil "Rulers and Authorities".
"Rulers and Authorities" are references to angels and demons. To the ancients, false gods were not just works of imagination, they represented a supernatural hierarchy in which different spheres of authority were under the command of specific angels or demons, including Satan - whom some believed to be the angel over the nation of Edom. So, to dabble in philosophies of the elemental spirits was to give demons, even Satan himself access to your life.
Paul was saying that whichever extreme falsehood you gave in to, you were being led astray:
• Whether they chose to follow God, but only in the framework of legalistic, strict observance of rules
• Or whether they mixed their faith with the spiritism and philosophies of the surrounding culture
Either one was going to lead to problems. But as disciples of Jesus, we are not subject to either. When Jesus sacrificed Himself on the cross, it was to fulfill the strict demands of the Law and to overthrow Satan and his systems of dominance.
Today’s disciples still struggle
Here are a few examples:
The more conservative branches of many churches repeatedly and chronically fall prey to legalism. As we see the problems caused for and by people because of the abuse of freedom, many fall back on strict rules. Although much good theology is developed in these circles, their insistence on "standards" is binding and contrary to freedom in Christ.
Some believers have a vague misunderstanding of angels. Their ideas of what angels do and why are formed by a mix of biblical stories, folk legend and vaguely Christian traditions mixed with pagan ideas. Because of current popular literature and religious ideas, some think we should pray to angels and dispatch them for our personal desire. This is a naive and sloppy approach to angels. They are not there for us to command. They are servants of God alone.
As I pointed out, some Christians, even one high profile author recognized throughout the evangelical church, advocate an elemental categorization of personalities. I’m not saying that all his analysis is wrong. I am simply saying that his basis is faulty.
There are systems of diet and nutrition that are claimed as "the godly way to eat." I believe we should exercise wisdom in our food, but when it comes to setting up some things as "biblical food" and others as "sinful" we are simply replacing one legalistic, dietary bondage with another, saying, as Paul warns against: "touch not, taste not." Some of the systems out there are poorly disguised marketing schemes designed to make money for their authors and advocates.
Many believers, some I personally know, consult their horoscopes. Some do so because they are amazed at what they think is the accuracy of the readings. Others see it as entertainment. In either case, they are opening their decision making faculties up to an influence that is not consistent with the victory Christ exercised over the elemental spirits on the cross.
What can we do?
Ask yourself what you trust
It sounds bad to say it, but the Bible is not a complete guide to everything. Where it speaks, it is perfect, but where it is vague or silent, we should be careful. Psychology and medical science teaches us things necessary to our bodily and mental health. We should learn from them. But I get nervous when I hear anyone, even trusted Christian leaders speak of the 21 indisputable laws of anything. Only one "thing" is indisputable, and He is not a thing.
Remember that all things should be under God’s direct control, even our understanding of His word. No matter what systems we follow, we must hold them with a loose grip. Only one truth deserves the place of inviolability, and that is the One who is the Truth.
Recognize and avoid the elements of actual paganism that surround us
By this I am referring to Horoscopes, tarot readings, channeling or other means of speaking to the dead. Even some drug usage is touted as a way to get in touch with the spiritual world. In biblical days, this was called sorcery.
I am not talking about fictional stories or TV shows that are influenced by things even the author does not believe. I am also not talking about meditation technique or exercises that really amount to nothing more than sound emotional and bodily exercise.
What I am referring to are the dark practices in our world that open us to dark influence and have negative spiritual repercussions. As believers we are called to avoid these practices.
Guard against legalism
You are free in Christ. Paul warned against using this freedom as a license for sin, so don’t go crazy. But it does mean that the man-made rules people like to place on believers don’t always apply. People like to make being a "real" Christian all about superficialities:
• Don’t listen to certain types of music
• Don’t go to movies or watch TV
• Don’t eat certain things
• Don’t smoke, drink or chew ... and don’t go out with girls that do
• Wear your hair a certain way
• Don’t work on Sunday
• Have a certain kind of car or home
• Dress a certain way
We as Mennonites have a history of this kind of rule mongering, demanding things of people that not only are not in the Law of Moses, they are not even tangentially alluded to in the Bible. At the risk of seeming critical of my own spiritual mentors and elders, I will side with Paul. Don’t let anyone stand in judgement over you based on these kind of criteria.
Live honestly, with a mind to pleasing your Maker and Master, obeying the demands He places on your life; avoiding things that will hamper your spiritual health. This may mean there are things your believing friends do, that you have to avoid. That is the "personal" part of your "personal relationship with God." I like the way one mentor of mine put it. He said, "when you need to know God’s will regarding a certain activity, ask yourself three questions:
• Is it a right thing to do?
• Do the results of my prayers permit me to do it?
• Do I want to do it?
If the answer to all three questions is yes, go for it." It sounds simple, but that is what freedom in Christ means. If we can honestly avoid rationalizations for sin and trust the Holy Spirit living inside us, we are on the road to knowing true freedom.
