Guilt Trips and Self-Control

Colossians 2:16-19 Guilt Trips and Self-Control Guilt trips. They’re all the rage, you know. Everybody’s taking them. No date restrictions. Availability unlimited. People of all ages are welcome. But there are a few hidden costs. Among other things, guilt trips cost you: your stomach lining, your sleep, your sense of humor, your ability to have fun, your productivity and any realistic sense of who you really are and what your purpose really is. fi fi Such is the case in Colossians 2:16-17 - So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths, 17 which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ. Scrutiny Judaizers are trying to guilt trip the Christians into going back into Judaism. “Look at what you’re missing” seems to be in their motives. They are not to “let” (allow) no one to pass judgement on you. Whether through private scrutiny such as the food and drink you eat (Romans 14) Or through public scrutiny in dealing with why we worship according to the New Testament pattern now, and not “regarding a festival, new moon, or sabbaths.” The Christian lives under a magnifying glass. However, when someone looks closer at us they are hopefully seeing more of Jesus the closer they get to us. Scrutiny is never a nice pill to swallow. You won’t set out on your day and start feeling bad then take the pill of scrutiny to feel better. It’s hard to stay faithful when you’re under investigation. You see the tension building around these Christians. Leave Christianity and reclaim Judaism is their ghting spirit. Shadow Paul is showing them that the OT is the NT concealed and the NT is the OT revealed when he says, “which are a shadow of things to come (things that without hope I Chronicles 29:15), but the substance is of Christ.” (vs.17). Let no one cheat (deprive) you of your reward… This is known as reward de ciency or deprivation and you see this happen when a person, normally a child, is subject to limited freedoms that when they become more prone new sources and that may actually lead to addiction and lack of self-control. So, what is Paul talking about here? By insisting on “taking delight in false humility and worship of angels” by the Judaizers trying to restrict their freedom in Christ; fl fi the Colossians may actually look make them look elsewhere outside of the gospel. Sin is designed to entice (James 1:14-15). Sin is often viewed as “You can’t” which makes you want to do it more God didn’t give Adam and Eve the right to decide what was good and evil. He gave them the right to choose between good and evil. The Colossians are at a crossroads of choice. Stay with Jesus or go back under the bondage of the OT. So, Colossians… Will you take delight in false humility? Will you worship angels? Will you be proud about your eshly mind? Will you renounce (Will you Give Up) Jesus as the Head? This is like the Jewish philosophers here are spreading out a sheet of consumer goods and saying pick one. Colossians 2:19 - ….from whom the entire body, nourished (generously supplied) and knit together (united with the conclusion) by joints and ligaments, grow with the increase that is from God.” Will you grow? Growth comes from God. God is then pulling out the basket of delicacies and placing them in front of each of us. So, here’s the discussion: While the world says here’s my sheet with all these little things you can snack on spread on the sheet (sin, things contrary to Scripture; etc.); God is saying “Here’s the feast with Him.” Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him (Psalm 34:8) Colossians 2:20-23 just further explains the folly of these things. Self-discipline “If you have died with God to the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourself to regulations? (vs.20) If you are living by faith and walking with Jesus, why are you still entangling yourselves with things that may bring you into bondage? This section is dealing self-control. Self-indulge While these things may look ne and “have the appearance of wisdom” they have “no value (honor, price, privilege BDAG).” Now, we are beginning to see that somethings hold no value, but Paul is setting the stage for us to realize where our true value in so as not to be easily mislead.