TRUE SPIRITUALITY
COLOSSIANS 2:1-23
These rules, which have to do with things that are all destined to perish with use, are based on merely human commands and teachings. Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.
These two verses in Colossians 2 have been among the most thought-provoking verses for me for a long time. For me, they are a clarion call that the Christian faith is not about rules and regulations and harsh discipline to combat sin.
The problem is that while the bible is clear that God uses the power of love to save us, we are sceptical and continue to believe that fear is a more powerful motivation and a more effective tool to transform. Of late though there is another movement that believes that even more powerful is the appeal to man’s innate selfishness and greed and thus the prosperity gospel. The Gospel instead offers freely an escape from God’s judgement and wrath through the sacrifice of Christ right at the beginning, in order to deal with the intractable problem of sin with grace, love, knowledge and the power of the Holy Spirit; the motivation is righteousness itself!
Paul’s response is to reiterate simply: you began with Christ, you continue with Christ, so that you end with Christ. “So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.” Christ offers his love and our freedom; we should therefore continue in his love and freedom, growing in faith and overflowing with gratitude.
False paths to spirituality diminishes the role of Christ and promote a special activity or experience; judges and disqualifies Christians unless they adhere to their priorities (this is why they can be seen as Law); discourages and splits Christian communities creating a “special” elite group who are more spiritual; promotes strict rules to prohibit certain behaviour and activities (do not handle, taste, touch); promotes “extreme” spirituality of denial, harsh treatment of human needs and desires (to combat sin); and promotes “spiritual” activities such as worship and prayer above all else (and perpetuate a spiritual-secular divide).
The spirituality of Christ is warm (let the children come), generous (I will, touching the leper), compassionate (neither do I condemn you, go and sin no more), dignifying (I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little), without discrimination (it is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick), caring (come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest), gentle (come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.) yet uncompromising (I have not come to abolish them (the Law and Prophets) but to fulfill them.) Only he (and the Spirit) can hold the balance and thus our spirituality needs to be rooted in Christ.
Take time to think through what should characterise your spirituality. Paul had worked hard contending for the soul of the Christian faith in his day. We now carry the torch.