The Supremacy Of Christ Is Defended Against Man-Made Rules & Regulations

The Supremacy of Christ is Defended Against

Man-Made Rules and Regulations

Colossians 2:18-23

October 21, 2001

Intro:

A. [Odd Laws Still on the Books, Citation: Robert W. Pelton in The Door. Christian Reader, Vol. 33, no. 5.]

Young girls are never allowed to walk a tightrope in Wheeler, Mississippi, unless it’s in a church.

In Blackwater, Kentucky, tickling a woman under her chin with a feather duster while she’s in church service carries a penalty of $10.00 and one day in jail.

No one can eat unshelled, roasted peanuts while attending church in Idanha, Oregon.

In Honey Creek, Iowa, no one is permitted to carry a slingshot to church except police.

No citizen in Leecreek, Arkansas, is allowed to attend church in any red-colored garment.

Swinging a yo-yo in church or anywhere in public on the Sabbath is prohibited in Studley, Virginia.

Turtle races are not permitted within 100 yards of a local church at any time in Slaughter, Louisiana.

B. Those are humorous until you stop to think about the fact that all of those had something to do with church…

1. The sad thing about all of this is that there probably were some fierce arguments about such ridiculous things (with church people involved) before these laws passed.

2. So the question is, Why do people who call themselves believers get so tied down in rules and regulations?

3. Why do believers in Christ insist upon living by some set of man-made rules and regulations and then imposing those rules on other people?

4. Why would the non-Christian community even care if someone wore red to church?

5. It had to be church-goers who decided there needed to be a law against wearing red to church.

6. It wasn’t non-Christians who decided people should wear suits and ties to church.

7. It wasn’t non-Christians who decided that rock-n-roll music is of the devil.

8. It wasn’t non-Christians who decided that playing cards was a sin.

9. Why do believers in Christ insist upon living by some set of man-made rules and regulations and then imposing those rules on other people?

C. So today let’s look at what the apostle Paul had to say about all of this at the end of Colossians 2. [read Colossians 2:18-23]

I. Man-made rules and regulations will disqualify you for the prize.

Colossians 2:18, Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you for the prize. Such a person goes into great detail about what he has seen, and his unspiritual mind puffs him up with idle notions.

A. Paul says man-made rules and regulations will disqualify you from the prize.

B. The prize that Paul is referring to here is clearly heaven.

1. Paul is saying that human rules and regulations will disqualify you from heaven.

2. Following merely human rules and regulations will keep us out of heaven.

C. So let’s look at the rules and regulations that he’s talking about…

1. The first one he says is false humility.

a. People who appear to have all the answers and appear to be humble can lead you to hell. How is that possible?

b. Because even though they appear to be humble, they’re not giving the glory to Jesus and Paul says they are really puffed up and falsely humble.

c. People draw attention to their supposed humility are not humble, but proud.

d. People who tell you that they can tell you how to live are not humble but proud.

e. Unless they are teaching what Jesus said and unless they are giving all the credit to Jesus, they are not humble, but proud.

2. The second one is the worship of angels or I would paraphrase this as false spirituality.

a. Folks who are proud of the things they have experienced are not godly.

b. Folks who talk about themselves and the things they experience are not godly.

c. Why? Because they are drawing the attention to themselves and not Jesus.

d. You can tell by the way they talk what is in their heart.

e. If they are telling of their experiences to tell how great Jesus is, then listen.

f. But if they are just telling you about spiritual experiences and encounters with angels and the experience itself, then don’t listen to them.

3. Because these people can disqualify you from going to heaven.

4. If they are telling you that you need to experience these things and you need to tell others about your experiences, Paul is saying they can disqualify you from the prize.

C. How do they disqualify you?

1. They disqualify because they don’t focus on Jesus and Jesus is the only one who can get us to heaven.

2. Angels can’t get anyone to heaven.