… why, as though you still belonged to the world, do you submit to its rules: “Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!”?
Summary: Understanding Paul’s writings often requires an understanding of the world Paul is writing about. We call this “context,” but even that concept has limits. Because God’s thoughts are higher than our own (Isaiah 55:9) we have to stretch our minds to try and understand God’s.
Reading this passage without context is dangerous! It is very easy to look at Paul’s words and come away with the idea that Christians don’t have to follow any rules. Like most words in the English language, the word “rule” has many applications.
Paul is not talking about the “rules of the road.” Christians don’t get a free pass to ignore speed limits or drive toward oncoming traffic. We don’t get a “pass” when we go the wrong way on a “one way street.” Christians, like everyone else in the world, still have to follow the traffic rules.
Another kind of “rule” that we should not ignore is safety rules. Have you ever been told not to touch a hot stove? Well, that rule is a good one! Hot surfaces burn skin, and burned skin hurts! Not touching something hot is a good rule to follow.
So what kinds of “rules” is Paul talking about?
Paul is talking about the kinds of rules that belong to the “world.” Yes, that is another nuanced term that requires some context to understand.
Paul’s context is always about our relationship with God. He occasionally delves into other topics, like how to behave in church, but almost everything he writes is about God and how his Son, Jesus Christ, changed everything.
The “world,” for Paul, is a word that describes a way of looking at God. Perhaps the best way to understand Paul’s use of the word is to think of it as referring to the “world before Jesus Christ.”
Before Jesus, the people of the world struggled to understand their relationship with God. The Jews had the law and the prophets, which gave them a leg up on understanding God. The Gentiles latched onto all kinds of stories that described God’s characteristics without knowing the real God behind their “gods.”
Both the Jews and the Gentiles had rules for their religions. By doing this or not doing that, people could stay on the good side of God. When Jesus came, he showed the world a different way.
What was that way?
When the rules said, “Do not touch!” (2 Corinthians 6:17), Jesus touched the lepers and healed them of their disease (Matthew 8:3). When the law said to avoid certain people, Jesus reached out to them (John 4:1-26). If the rules kept people from handling unclean animals, Jesus made the animals clean (Acts 10: 9-23).
There are “rules,” and then there are “rules.” In a way, Paul is explaining to us the “rules about rules.”
Application: Read the Bible every day to develop an understanding of context.
Food for Thought: How should we apply Paul’s warning about rules in today’s world?
The intent of rules is so that we can live in harmony, like in your example about traffic rules. But is someone told you they shouldn’t have to pay road tax because they have never broken a traffic law, you might think they missed the point. When we get into our relationship with God, we have to remember that God’s commandments are there to steer us toward Him and away from sin. The intension of summitting our daily actions and attitudes to Christ is so we can live in His presence, not “feel” justified because we follow a set of rules. We are justified through Christ, and live under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. In seeking God’s will in our lives, and submitting our action and attitudes to Him, we will live live in a manner that promotes harmony in His presence, and will serve as a light to the world.
Thank you, Chris!
When you mention living in harmony, my mind goes to the word “unity.” (John 17:23) Harmony is an interesting word because it combines the quality of ‘unity’ with the variation that comes with being different humans. God brings us together in unity and our different viewpoints blend into a harmony that is pleasing to our Lord.
One way is to not be part of the problem. As a pastor I have had meetings where people were upset because someone wore a hat to church, or children ran down the hall, or a lady’s dress was an inch above the knee rather than an inch below. So sad that she was one inch away from being an acceptable person in society rather than a hussy. We don’t need to help God out by adding rules to worship or the Christian life. We simply need to follow Jesus instead.
Rich,
Bless you, Brother, for all you put up with! You are a faithful shepherd and you are so patient …
“one inch away …” probably applies to all of us in some respect. 🙂
How should we apply Paul’s warning about rules in today’s world?
Colossians 2:20-21, 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!”?
Christians are called to submit to God as we live lives focused on a list of DO’S given by God. Jesus Christ is our example and the power in every believer, to live according to Gods will for our lives on earth.
For 33 years, Jesus lived a 100 percent pure and perfect, sinless life, and became the sacrificial lamb for our sins, and God was satisfied for all time.
In Jesus, we’re free from the list of do’s and don’ts that handcuffed us all those years ago. Now, love compels each to follow God’s rules as a matter of choice. Our choice because Jesus’ chose to pay the price for our freedom, and we are no longer slaves to the law. In the power of Christ we keep His rules and commands by choice, viewing them as protective guardrails around our lives that keep us on the road to the blessing of fellowship with Him, received from obedience.
When we are asked questions about rules, we can get to the heart of matter. Help him or her see that out of the love given to us, comes obedience. And it is this love, not rules that compels us to obey.
Ron,
You point us to an important distinction. Love is indeed the motive that brings us into alignment with God’s will.
How should we apply Paul’s warning about rules in today’s world?
Matthew 6:24 which states, No can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other.
I know of a church that stayed opened when most other churches closed during covid. I think they broke some rules opening back up before they should have to follow scripture instead of the rules made against the church.
Thanks Tim!
That is a great example! We serve a God who overshadows all efforts that try and diminish and distort his will.