We seem to think that because of new inventions and creative ideas that we can do a better job of reaching people for Christ. Over 2000 years ago people were still approaching religion the same way they do now. In the church at Colossae, they had been given the simple gospel. Many were saved and living their lives for Christ. We see in Colossians 2:16, that these Christians were facing a hodge-podge of spiritual error. There were some from Jewish background that felt it was important to keep all the old Jewish rituals that pertained to what they could eat, drink, or do, in reference to Holy days of their past. Gentiles were bringing in pagan superstitions from their past. Both were wrong because they were adding to the gospel of Jesus Christ. This adding to the gospel diminishes the truth that what Christ did on the cross is enough to save us.
Colossians 2:16-23 “Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ. Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God. Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances, (Touch not; taste not; handle not; Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men? Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honor to the satisfying of the flesh.”
For the Jews, there were special diets, special ceremonies, and special days. Many years before, God had given most of these as a show, or picture, of what was to come, but they were now performing these rituals mechanically, or as we would call it, going through the motions. A parallel of this kind of situation would be the eating of fish for Catholics on Friday. It used to be a strict restriction for the Catholics, but it has since been lifted by the church. It was a dietary restriction that was supposed to have some religious value. Even today, many churches, including the Catholic church, insist on their members giving up activities or foods they love during Lent. Those I have talked to that practice this seems to think by doing this they are given special blessings. God does tell us to give up foods at times of fasting, but it is for the purpose of praying. Instead of eating, we are to pray. Any kind of religious performance that is done without meaning or personal significance falls into the category Paul is describing.
Many today have allowed rituals to replace a true relationship with God. Many equate going to Sunday morning service as being right with God. Many add certain ceremonies and actions to the plan of salvation. Paul warns over and over in scripture to beware of adding or taking away from the simple plan of salvation. Jesus is enough, was enough, and always will be enough, to save our soul.
Paul is teaching them that all the shadows of the Old Testament were pointing us to the real deal, Jesus. We now have the reality and no longer need a shadow. He should be the center of all the excitement of our Christian experiences. He gives us strength when we need to it face certain issues in life. He offers us a refuge in time of trouble, a source that is always with us, and fully capable of guiding us into truth. (Psalm 91) Paul tells them that now that they have the real deal, they should let no one deceive them into thinking they need more or less in order to be a Christian.
Now let’s get practical with these verses. What about you on Sunday morning? Do you merely mouth the words of the hymns at church? Do you let your mind wander during the message? What about when someone is praying, are you praying along silently with them or just listening to hear the amen? If so, you are entering into a religious mechanical performance, that is a form of hypocrisy. While we all find ourselves in these situations from time to time, with our attention straying away from our worship, we need fight it hard. We need to keep ourselves from getting into the habit of the mechanical routine. When we aren’t engaged, we are participating in a destructive habit that is nothing but empty ritualism. Look what God says about this kind of worship in Isaiah 1:13-15.
Isaiah 1:13-14 “Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with; it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting. Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hateth: they are a trouble unto me; I am weary to bear them.”
God hates thoughtless involvement and imitation worship. This ought to be the best time of the week for us. We are coming together with those who are like-minded, worshipping the one true God. We should be corporately expressing what God has done in our hearts all week. We should be sharing one another’s burdens also. It should be a time of refueling and refreshing our souls to go out and let the world see Jesus in us. It should remind us of the daily walk we need to have with him. If there are things in our life that are not pleasing to Him, we should feel the conviction of the Holy Spirit. However, if we are not engaging, there is not much the Holy Spirit can do. We have tied the hands of God in our lives by our imitation worship.
Excellent