Tag: rules

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Colossians 2:23a – The Wisdom Test

Picture of a small boy taking a test in an old-style school room.

Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom …

Summary: Paul’s letter points us to a test for determining if a religious rule or regulation truly honors God. 

If we are going to be able to recognize the kind of “rules” that Paul is talking about, we need to pay close attention to the clues Paul gives us. His first clue is that “Such regulations [aka ‘rules’] … have an appearance of wisdom …” 

What does that mean? 

Interestingly, the Bible has a lot to say about “wisdom.” The first thing to know about wisdom is this: 

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Colossians 2:22 – What God Wants

Picture of a cross standing against a dramatic background of clouds and light.

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. 

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Colossians 2:20c-21  – Rules About Rules

Picture of sign that reads "NO JUMPING OFF BRIDGE"

… 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. 

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Colossians 2:16b – The Risk of Rules

… by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. 

young man sitting in church, wearing a hat, drinking coffee and sporting tattoos.

Summary: In this passage, Paul gives us a rule about rules. 

Let’s review the entire verse before we start our meditation: 

“Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day.” 

Paul begins with “Therefore…” referring to his prior statement that God made us “alive in Christ” (Col 2:13) and has canceled our “legal indebtedness” (Col 2:14) by means of the cross, “do not let anyone judge you by legalistic requirements.“

This is not a mysterious statement or a confusing metaphor. Paul is speaking as plainly as humanly possible here. There is no chance that anyone would or could misunderstand his point. 

Except we do. 

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