These rules, which have to do with things that are all destined to perish with use, are based on merely human commands and teachings.
Summary: It can be easy to lose sight of Paul’s message in the complexity of his words. But the heart of his message is simple: He wants us to understand what God wants from us.
In our last meditation, we discussed various kinds of rules. Some rules, obviously, are for our own good. “Don’t touch a hot stove” is an example of a “good rule.” Other rules are specific to Paul’s concerns for Christians.
In the next verse, Colossians 2:23, Paul provides hints about the kinds of rules he has in mind. Everything he lists has to do with external forms of worship. Of course, this is Paul’s point.
“Bifurcation” is the art of dividing reality into two parts. It is the polar opposite of the word “nuance.” To say that the world is made up of “good” and “bad” people is bifurcation. There is no room in the middle, only “good” and “bad.”
Sometimes, bifurcation can be used to manipulate people’s thinking, but it is also a valuable logical tool. When we divide the world into two camps, it doesn’t matter if we are discussing theology, politics, or any other subject. The exercise of dividing into two parts makes us think about the differences between the two kinds of things.
And that is exactly what Paul wants us to do!
He wants us to think about the difference between external forms of worship and internal worship. The external forms are forced on a person by social pressure. Worship that comes from inside of a person comes from the heart.
The “rules” Paul is writing about to the Colossians are rules about observing holy days, bringing tithes and offerings, fasting, and such. They are the roadmap God gave to Moses centuries before. It is a map that leads people to what the man or woman of God did to show their love toward God. Sadly, over the years, people kept this form of worship, but their hearts turned to evil.
God is not fooled!
Speaking through Amos, the prophet, God says: “I hate, I despise your religious festivals; your assemblies are a stench to me.” (Amos 5:21) Instead of hollow formalities, what God desires is the same thing all of us want — love. (Proverbs 19:22)
Love is not something we can fake. Love is not a recipe we can follow or a script we can read. Love comes from the heart.
Application: Divide what you do into things you feel you should do and things you want to do, then examine the result.
Food for Thought: Each of us comes to God by a different path. How does our personal story impact how we hear and apply Paul’s teaching about true worship?
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Each of us comes to God by a different path. How does our personal story impact how we hear and apply Paul’s teaching about true worship?
Well for me I’m dyslexic so words get mixed around a little bit in my head anyways and when I first was comming to church I would always call it warship. My warship was diffrent than my wifes worship, yet we both love Jesus and try to apply it together in unity swaying back and forth in the front of the church to her dancing for the Lord, ( I’d never be able to dance like her. Or the worship of the nice kind man that lives above me sining chrismas songs from a deep low voice or even a tall guy with his hands up as he sings praising the Lord. We might worship a little differently yet he knows our hearts ,and deserves itall, He deserves praise in any way we can give it to him.
Each of us comes to God by a different path. How does our personal story impact how we hear and apply Paul’s teaching about true worship?
1 Corinthians 12:12-27, Jeremiah 1:5, Galatians 1:15, Romans 1:1,8:29, Ephesians 1:4, 1:11, 2:10, 4:11-12, 1 Peter 1:2, 1:20
With God, there are no surprises. Believers are all works in progress as we are being transformed from self centered beings into Christ centered beings. Every single detail of our lives before Christ, and in Christ, has been foreknown by God before creation.
We are parts of one body as each of us submits to Gods Will over our own, as we are called to live according to His priorities for our life. No one part is better than any other part, all equally important to God and our effectiveness depends upon our reliance on His power to achieve His goals.
Each of us are similar yet unique and this uniqueness is what makes us perfect for the unique ministry God has for each of us.
We come from unique backgrounds, we are called at different times/stages in our physical lives, we have unique ministries, but we are transformed and empowered by our One God.
I watched a humorous video recently that touched on the question in today’s meditation. The basic idea was three groups of worshippers and the differences. One group said “stand up, sit down, stand up, sit down” the other said “we don’t want to move at all” and the third just showed the group leaping through the air with their hands outstretched.
The point of the video wasn’t to diminish anyone’s expression of worship, but to highlight that placing oneself under “rules of worship” can hinder the true expression of worship. Honoring the Lord in His Holiness in love and in gratitude. Personally, if I had strictly followed “the rules” of worship that I received in my youth as an adult, it would have hindered my walk today. But also, the “rules of worship” of my youth have helped construct a place in my heart to express worship. But simply stopping there would have closed my heart to the Holy Spirit. A good example of this would be that growing up, I was “strongly discouraged” from putting my hands up in worship. Others I have talked to have expressed in their youth they were “strongly encouraged” to do so, but they did so out of a need to fit in or to avoid scrutiny.
I believe here as some good “rules of thumb” for expressions of worship:
2 Corinthians 9:7 Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
1 Peter 5:1-3 So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock.
Romans 12:2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.