“If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations— “Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch” (referring to things that all perish as they are used)—according to human precepts and teachings? These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh.” Colossians 2:20-23 (ESV)
What the Apostle Paul is pointing out in this passage and warning us against is the misdirected religious impulse to make a bunch of rules and regulations that we must adhere to and practice if we really want to be “sanctified” or “spiritual” Christians.
The thinking that feeds and stands behind this misdirected impulse goes something like this: “The world is a very dangerous place and the slightest misstep or even the most subtle exposure to the wrong thing could be devastating to your spiritual health.” According to this thinking the world is strictly viewed as like walking through an active Minefield. So this fear and panic (rather than faith and dependence) sets in and you begin to construct this protective Christian bubble wrap made up of a bunch of “Do not’s”:
DO NOT read those books
DO NOT watch those kind of shows or movies (in some cases DO NOT even have a TV)
DO NOT hang out with those kind of people
DO NOT send your kids to that kind of school
DO NOT shop at that store
DO NOT associate with that political party or vote for that kind of candidate
The list could go on and on and specific examples could be supplied for each of these.
Paul says that to varying degrees this “Do not” Christian bubble wrap method has the appearance of wisdom. Some of these rules in the right context and with the right motives can be useful and beneficial. Let’s not forget that the Bible has some “Do not’s” of its own that we must follow, the prime example being the majority of the ten commandments.
But the problem with this spiritual program is that these “Do not’s” go beyond the Bible. And as an overall package the “Do not” program does not get the job done. Why? Because it never gets to the heart, which is the heart of the matter. Also, its most serious error is that it actually becomes a distraction from centering our focus on Christ, who is the heart of the solution.
It is only because of and in the power of the Cross of Christ that we can crucify the flesh with all its desires. As the Puritan John Owen said, “Fill your affections with the Cross of Christ and there will be no room for sin.” The Cross is so much better than our self-made religious strategies that have the appearance of wisdom, because the Cross is the wisdom of God for our salvation and sanctification.
