Cutting It Straight

Have church open their Bibles to

This past week I participated in some market research where a mobile phone provider interviewed me asking about their website. So I put their prototype on my phone, and I’m scrolling through and giving feedback. I couldn’t get off the opening lines on the copy where it read- “different unlimited plans” I kept asking doesn’t unlimited mean without limits? Everything? How can you have different types of everything? I am completely skeptical. But as he starts to explain what is clearly absurd, I begin to soften. I start buying in to their philosophy. Oh the go unlimited is different than beyond unlimited, etc. I got sucked in and started agreeing with the concept- I need a different kind of unlimited. This is Colossians.

1. Godliness isn’t built on legalism (vv. 16-17)

Define what Godliness is built on

Legalism is seeking to be right with God through our behavior rather than through Christ and his death and resurrection. The false teachers are legalistic bc they say if you want to really be godly you must obey certain diet rules. They may be requiring eating according to Jewish law- can only eat what’s clean. Not in the modern sense #eatclean, but in the religious sense- no pork, etc. The Jews lived distinctively from those around and this was demonstrated in their diet. But Jesus overturned the dietary regulations in . We see this again in the early church in . So you aren’t more godly for avoiding foods forbidden in OT. Let no one pass judgment on you. Eating a certain way can easily become and area of pride where we place our identity in how we eat and subtly feel better about ourselves, even more godly than those who eat differently. Describe a time when you were faced with a compromising situation regarding legalism

​ ESVTheir end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things.

There were also drink restrictions. The old cov didn’t restrict drinking alcohol, so this might be another kind of restriction than Jewish. Some scholars think the restriction might be no meat/ no alcohol. The point is they are saying, if you really want to be godly you will only eat this way. They are also requiring religious festivals, new moon celebrations and honoring the Sabbath. If you really want to please God you will honor these days. But all of these Jewish ceremonial laws are fulfilled in Christ. They pointed to him. This is why Paul says Christ is the real thing and these rules are the shadow. ?God says- Don’t feel the pressure to live up to these standards. Some need to hear this today and breathe in the freedom of grace. Also, judge others who don’t abide by our rules. This includes anti-legalism, legalism. Getting all self-rightous about the self-righteousness of others. Let’s look to Jesus and not judge others who don’t embrace our practices in areas of freedom. We are quick to just others.

Dutch Calvinists and Baptists in same Michigan town. Hold tightly to Jesus. Hold loosely to our practices in areas of freedom.

Godliness isn’t built on mysticism (vv. 18-19)

It is really difficult to put together these verses and come up with a modern label fitting these false teachers. Not only were they legalistic, they also taught a kind of hyper self denial and mystical experiences. We will look further at asceticism in the next passage, but the word relates to humility. In fact the NIV translates it “false humility”. Genuine humility doesn’t give in to harsh restrictions. That kind of ascetic behavior is false humility and they may have thought it led to visions. Angelic visions and worship.This worship of angels was likely reaching out to spirit beings and calling on them for help and protection or maybe even revenge. Could have taught need these angels to get to Jesus. They say you need these spiritual experiences on top of Jesus. Don’t let these kind of people disqualify you! It can be intimidating to deal with hyper spiritual people who are always sharing about their experiences as if they are regular, and everyone should be having them. Going on in detail about them. That means you hear a whole lot more about their spiritual experience than about Scripture, about Jesus, about the gospel. They are puffed up by their sensuous mind, they are not growing in godliness. Don’t be disqualified by these people. Don’t feel less spiritual, less godly, or like you know God less than they do. You aren’t qualified by these fanciful experiences. You are qualified by Jesus. In the first section he is saying don’t feel less holy because you don’t keep certain laws that others do. Here he is saying don’t feel less holy because you aren’t having mystical experiences that others do. I have felt both of these. And the answer is not to pursue someone elses rules or experiences- pursue Jesus.We grow through connecting with Jesus. Paul says that Jesus is the head and we are the body. We are nourished through him and we grow with a growth is from God. Note that the growth comes in connection to the “whole body” These visionary spiritual experiences are individual, but real growth comes from as we purse Jesus together through the Scripture.

Godliness isn’t built on asceticism (vv. 20-23)

Last week we saw that the elemental spirits are demonic powers. He says you have died to these spirits when you believed in Christ. These spirits are inspiring various regulations- “do not handle, taste or touch.” We think evil powers animate dark things like occult rituals, or maybe some kind of bondage like a severe addiction, or maybe something really evil like rape or murder. That may be, but here the spirits are animating rule keeping. Rules of abstinence. We have already talked about diet rules that is likely meant here with do not taste. The do not touch may have to do with sexual abstinence. God designed sex to be enjoyed in the context of marriage, but in the NT you run into folks who are trying to say if you want to be really godly you avoid God’s gifts like sex with your spouse. Or abstaining from food. Or obstaining from any number of restrictions that aren’t from God. V. 23 says this appears wise bc it promotes asceticism and severity to the body. Paul says it is “human precepts and teachings.” It is promoting self-made religion.

Sam Storms- “asceticism is the belief that if you add up enough physical negatives you will get a spiritual positive. Mere avoidance becomes the pathway to holiness.”

These people probably looked like seriously religious people. We might look at them with amazement bc of their self-denial, but God says this is demonically inspired. Why? Because they are setting up their own rules and calling others to obey them. Paul says “do not submit to these regulations” You won’t reach Jesus by embracing rules that he never gave. And here’s the thing, this never promotes godliness. V. 23 says you think you are keeping from sinning, but the reality is these man made rules “are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh.” Godliness is built on Christ’s atonement not our attainment. 1. Beware of DIY religion (Garland)- When you think of godliness what do you think of? If you first think of certain rules or certain experiences, then you my be leaning toward what this passage calls a “self made religion”(v. 23) DIY religion puts self at the center. We get our identity out of what we do. Yes we believe salvation is by grace in Jesus, but if you really want to be right with God you will also... Our identity is found in a certain practice that we adopt. I asked pastors what the do nots we can be tempted to put our identity in. Our context may be different but we can also take our identity on food and drink. Our identity is in Jesus and our super healthy eating only (no law against pork, but sugar or carbs or gmos or whatever). At one level this is about stewardship of the body, but this easily slips to identity when I have to inform everyone. When you have to share w everyone your on a cleanse your greatest toxin is likely the pride that led you to let everyone know. It is subtle. Fitness can be the same way. Or alcohol. In our circles the greater issue may not be forbidding alcohol, but former Baptists and Pentecostals- placing their identity in freedom to drink. #craftbeer. You are also free not too drink and certainly free not to tell us about it. Identity.Entertainment- can be very rules oriented- music and movies. Education- our identity is homeschooling. We are in the world, no of it- public school. Politics- Jesus + conservative politics. Or progressive. Holidays- identity is no Halloween that is idolatry. Certain cultural Christmas and Easter things are idolatry. But celebrate July 4 with note of pride like we are the best and never consider the idol of nationalism. The list goes on and on, doesn’t it? How we dress- hyper modesty in purity culture, spend our money- all debt is sin, prudishness toward sex, anti- medical- agnostic, medical idolatry. Christians on the right take identity in patriarchy on the left feminism. Christians on the right talk about gun rights like they come directly from Jesus himself and on the left environmentalism like opposition to global warming is the 11 commandment. All of these may have their place, but lining up with your practice or your view or your position is not what constitutes godliness. And if your identity is tied to this We can so easily judge others, question their godliness bc they don’t embrace our point of view. We can subtley judge and disqualify others. With our self-made religion.2. Answer to DIY religion is focusing on Christ and his death and resurrection- How do we do that? Come back next week. Renew your mind in the gospel. This is a daily practice. Read these chapters. Use the Storms book. Get the greeen gospel book we give out like crazy. Come on Sundays. Here is one we may not consider- help fellow believers. This passage is all about people passing judgment on others for not keeping the rules, disqualifying others for their lack of spiritual experience, calling others to submit to severe regulations. What if instead they were seeking to help others see where God is already at work in their lives. What kind of godliness would that promote. There is a place to correct others. But our culture should be one of highlighting the work of Jesus and one way we do that is pointing out to others where we see him at work in their lives. Gospel doctrine should produce a gospel culture.