The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, and majestic in his radiant splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Colossians 2:23,
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
"Such 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."
While considering the new life we have in Jesus Christ, Paul makes an interesting observation about religious do-gooders. He tells his readers that the religion these folks peddle is worthless in its stated goal - it cannot restrain sensual indulgence. All religion is predicated on the idea that humankind is flawed, and its adherents maintain their religion to fix it.
Paul had apostolic insight into the massive religion industry that has been developed and refined over the centuries since Paul penned these words. He knew what all these religious do-gooders should know from their own experience. If we are concerned about sin in our lives as believers, religion simply won't get the job done.
Sin, and the temptation that brings it, is existential. When we are confronted with the temptation to sensual indulgence, it needs to be met and dealt with in that sphere. Theology and theories just won't do, as they are ineffective in the reality of where life happens, where the rubber meets the road. This is perhaps why I simply have no use for do-gooders. While they may be well-intentioned, they are people promoting useless religion that has no hope of accomplishing what they so confidently claim. Religion does not work for the do-gooder and his initiates.
Here is Paul's more complete comment on what the religious do-gooders have to offer: "Since 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: 'Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!'? These rules, which have to do with things that are all destined to perish with use, are based on merely human commands and teachings. Such 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.
However, Paul does go on to tell us how to deal with restraining sensual indulgence. He says, "Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God." Colossians 3:1-3. Rather than promoting religious sanctions against all the evils we are drawn to, Paul tells us to set our hearts and minds on Jesus Christ. When we do so, when we are awed by his many-splendored perfections the view provides, the Lord himself impacts us in ways that the "thou shalt nots" never can.
Recall the last time you were caught up in meaningful, passionate personal worship of the Lord. As your view of him was vibrant and alive, how much of a struggle were you experiencing with sin at that moment? Paul invites us to extend that moment into a lifestyle. In another letter Paul tells us of the escape God provides us during temptation, "No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it." 1 Corinthians 10:13. How does God do it? Through Jesus Christ!
In that we all continue to struggle with sin following our conversion to Jesus Christ, in that we still have to deal with that sinful nature until we leave these bodies behind, (and, by the way, all the do-gooders struggle with sin just as the rest of us), this becomes very important to us as we desire live our lives in a manner pleasing to the Lord. I heartily endorse Paul's perspective: forget about religion and set your heart and mind on Jesus Christ.
While considering the new life we have in Jesus Christ, Paul makes an interesting observation about religious do-gooders. He tells his readers that the religion these folks peddle is worthless in its stated goal - it cannot restrain sensual indulgence. All religion is predicated on the idea that humankind is flawed, and its adherents maintain their religion to fix it.
Paul had apostolic insight into the massive religion industry that has been developed and refined over the centuries since Paul penned these words. He knew what all these religious do-gooders should know from their own experience. If we are concerned about sin in our lives as believers, religion simply won't get the job done.
Sin, and the temptation that brings it, is existential. When we are confronted with the temptation to sensual indulgence, it needs to be met and dealt with in that sphere. Theology and theories just won't do, as they are ineffective in the reality of where life happens, where the rubber meets the road. This is perhaps why I simply have no use for do-gooders. While they may be well-intentioned, they are people promoting useless religion that has no hope of accomplishing what they so confidently claim. Religion does not work for the do-gooder and his initiates.
Here is Paul's more complete comment on what the religious do-gooders have to offer: "Since 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: 'Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!'? These rules, which have to do with things that are all destined to perish with use, are based on merely human commands and teachings. Such 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.
However, Paul does go on to tell us how to deal with restraining sensual indulgence. He says, "Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God." Colossians 3:1-3. Rather than promoting religious sanctions against all the evils we are drawn to, Paul tells us to set our hearts and minds on Jesus Christ. When we do so, when we are awed by his many-splendored perfections the view provides, the Lord himself impacts us in ways that the "thou shalt nots" never can.
Recall the last time you were caught up in meaningful, passionate personal worship of the Lord. As your view of him was vibrant and alive, how much of a struggle were you experiencing with sin at that moment? Paul invites us to extend that moment into a lifestyle. In another letter Paul tells us of the escape God provides us during temptation, "No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it." 1 Corinthians 10:13. How does God do it? Through Jesus Christ!
In that we all continue to struggle with sin following our conversion to Jesus Christ, in that we still have to deal with that sinful nature until we leave these bodies behind, (and, by the way, all the do-gooders struggle with sin just as the rest of us), this becomes very important to us as we desire live our lives in a manner pleasing to the Lord. I heartily endorse Paul's perspective: forget about religion and set your heart and mind on Jesus Christ.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
No comments:
Post a Comment