What we eat is big business in America. In a world where most earthlings are glad to have something, ANYTHING at all to eat, we Americans spend our time abusing food. Either we are "consumed" (yes, sorry...) by thoughts of it all-the-live-long-day. Or, we are arguing about what types of food to eat. Or, we are hedonistically eating anything and everything in sight. The media is full of ads for Nutrisystem, WeightWatchers, etc. We have shows like "Bizarre Foods" which captivate our attention. We are fixated on food.
Grab your Bible and read over Colossians 2:15-23, as that will be our devotional passage this morning.
16Therefore do not let anyone judge you with respect to food or drink, or in the matter of a feast, new moon, or Sabbath days –17these are only the shadow of the things to come, but the reality is Christ! 18Let no one who delights in humility and the worship of angels pass judgment on you. That person goes on at great lengths about what he has supposedly seen, but he is puffed up with empty notions by his fleshly mind. 19He has not held fast to the head from whom the whole body, supported and knit together through its ligaments and sinews, grows with a growth that is from God.
20If you have died with Christ to the elemental spirits of the world, why do you submit to them as though you lived in the world? 21“Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!” 22These are all destined to perish with use, founded as they are on human commands and teachings. 23Even though they have the appearance of wisdom with their self-imposed worship and false humility achieved by an unsparing treatment of the body – a wisdom with no true value – they in reality result in fleshly indulgence.
In today's passage there are two themes. One, in verses 16-17 and 20-21 has to do with eating or not eating certain foods. The second has to do with seducing heresies.
Let's focus mainly on the first, although the two are related. The Bible has a lot to say about what to eat (or not) and when to eat it (or not). The dietary laws of the Old Testament were given to the Jews primarily for health reasons. But, they became, over the centuries, entangled in religious tradition to the point that the dietary laws became a religion unto itself. Not much is different today.
I realize that many people, because of health reasons, must watch every bite they eat, must be extremely vigilant about it. This is not a condemnation of them for doing that. Watching their diet closely is, in those cases, practically a matter of life and death.
But, for many people, even Christian people, the fixation on food is rampant. You get a group of women together, for example, and almost always the conversation turns to their weight, how they need to lose weight, how they are losing weight, their Crossfit, etc. It is entertaining and sometimes innocuous. Other times, such fascination and dedication becomes a "fleshly indulgence" (vs. 23)
Here's the problem:
When we Christians make our holiness about what food we eat (or don't) or about any other specific man-made rule, then we are losing focus, "majoring on the minors". This is a lure and a trap, because it is easy to measure. Listen to Weirsbe:1
Legalism is a popular thing because you can "measure" your spiritual life - - - and even brag about it! But, this is a far cry from measuring up to Christ (Ephesians 4:13)!
"Oh yes! Look at me! I am so holy because I do this...and this...and this..." Pride slams its hammer down, crippling the soul.
We must be ever watchful for legalistic behavior, as we practice the Christian life. It is all about our attitudes, really. The key questions are "Why?" "WHY am I doing what I'm doing?" "What is my motivation?" "What (or Whom) is 'driving' me?"
Legalism is the result when we take our focus off of "the Head", Jesus Christ (vs. 19), and begin to "manufacture" our own holiness instead of letting the Holy Spirit work within our souls. It happens with a lot of our discipleship, not just with food. (Food is just the example of the day.)
Let's look at this other nameless dude in today's passage, this humble angel-worshipper. Scripture does not reveal to us his identity, but he is preaching/teaching heresy. I find it interesting that this person is cloaked in a "false humility". A fawning, obsequious, false humility is common among such deceivers. These wicked folks are, in reality, full of pride.
In both examples that Paul uses here, he is warning against letting anyone or anything draw the Christian "off-center". If we study Jesus Christ and focus on Him we will remain free to exercise our spiritual gifts in love, with freedom of movement unhindered by our own version of "holiness", our own filthy "self-righteousness", which is, of course "faux-righteousness".
It has gotten to where I can't wear those fashions that bend around the back of my neck. It is "age", I guess. Prolonged wearing of such bathing suits, bras or tops makes my neck hurt! They are like "a yoke on the neck" (Acts 15:10). The picture is of a farm animal upon whom the farmer places the wooden, mechanical contraptions across its neck and back, thereby allowing the farmer to harness the animal's strength to plow a field or pull a wagon. Yokes are heavy. Legalism is like that...yokes on our necks. They make our spiritual necks hurt!
When we as Christians "dress for the day", as described in Ephesians 6, let's not put on an oppressive, pretentious, legalistic yoke. Yokes drag us down, do not prepare us for each day's spiritual battles and frankly .... "It don't look good on you, Girl!!"
Lord, let the mind of Jesus Christ be in me, as Paul exhorted in Philippians 2:5. Jesus humbled Himself, to the point of death on the cross. Holiness begins with humility. Please forgive me for my all-consuming pride! Beat it down in me, Holy Spirit. Purge it from me. Fill me with Yourself so that You can work Your will out through my life. Please forgive me my "rabbit trails", where I spot a legalistic "rabbit", and then go chasing it through the briar patch. Thank you for patching up my cuts and scrapes when I make those unfortunate choices. Make me humble so that I can become more like You. In Jesus' name, amen.
Sources:
1 Wiersbe, Warren W., and Warren W. Wiersbe. The Wiersbe Bible Commentary: The Complete New Testament in One Volume. Colorado Springs, CO: David C. Cook, 2007. Print, p. 680-681
No comments:
Post a Comment