"Silly Foolish Religion" Colossains 2:16-23

Do you consider yourself to be religious? I think the question is a bit of a loaded one, given how many different conceptions there are today about what "religion" is. But, for the most part, I would suggest that religion for many people means following different rules and practices in order to get everything out of life that we think we should get. Religion is a way to make sure that our life will ultimately "measure up." It's in this sense that I would say then that most people are religious. We may be formal or informal about it, we may have lots of rules or very few rules that we follow, but the main motivation for many of us is to somehow find some path through life that will help us be fulfilled or enlightened or reach our full potential. And we will follow such paths with passionate, legalistic vigor if we think that our efforts will bring us success.

In Colossians 2:16-23 however, we see religion thoroughly debunked. Being "religious" will not help you measure up. In fact, God sent Jesus to save us from trying to justify our lives by being religious! Jesus came to save people who are trying to save themselves through a legalistic pursuit of religion.

The new teaching in Colossae was calling for people to become more religious. It involved keeping a lot of different Jewish rituals along with following ascetic practices and seeking visionary mystical experiences. Paul in confronting this teaching makes clear that this new teaching is really false teaching. Religious legalism never produces the kind of people it claims to produce. It creates people who become "puffed up without reason" (Col 2:18). Instead of making kind, humble, confident people, it creates joyless, harsh, insecure, judgmental, prideful people. This is because religious legalism cuts people off from Christ. Christ is the only means by which people find real fulfillment. From Christ comes a humble confidence about life. From Christ comes the kind of growth that will last and matter because it's a growth that comes from God (Col 2:19).

Paul concludes his assessment of the false teaching in v.20-23 by highlighting the fiction of legalistic religion and the truth of Christ. The fiction of religious legalism is that it suggests that the key to life will come by following self-made, human based rules. But such rules can never cultivate eternal qualities in people. More religion can not actually change people's lives. It can only bring "an appearance of wisdom." It can't do anything substantial to truly stop sin within the human life and within our world. At best it can bury sin under the cover of keeping lots of rules. At worst, it makes people sin more because it encourages them to look down with pride on other people who aren't as religious as they are.

The truth of Christ, however, is that the Christian has died with Christ to "the elemental spirits of the world" (Col 2:20). This means that they are no longer under their power. They no longer belong to their realm, which is the realm within which our world still resides. This realm is characterized by pride and competition, where you must always compare yourself with other people and must always make sure you are doing well enough in comparion to others in order to validate your existence and your importance in the world. Instead, the Christian belongs to a heavenly kingdom that's governed by love and grace, where there's no need to compare oneself with other people because everyone has been equally loved by God and saved by his grace. The Christian has a life that is already validated. It already measures up! And it has been given every resource available to stand strong and assured and grow to full maturity.

The song "A New Law" by Derek Webb captures well many of the themes in Colossians 2:16-23. As Derek writes, we don't want to know about moderation and liberty, we "prefer a shot of grape juice." We don't want to know about loving our enemeis or listening to the Spirit, we just want "a new law." However, there is one voice that cuts across all our religious striving - it's the voice of Jesus, and it's his voice that expresses the final words of the song, "Do not be afraid." In Matthew 14 we are told about a time when the disciples were caught in the midst of a rough sea and they saw Jesus walking towards them. They think it's a ghost and they become afraid. But then Jesus tells them, "Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid."

So also, we face many rough seas as we navigate through life. This incites great fear in us. Isn't this why then we often look to religion and legalism as a way to gain more control and direction over our lives? Rather, we must heed the voice of Jesus, who still tells his people to not be afraid. Jesus has overcome all things, including things that religion can never overcome. And because the Christian's life is linked with Jesus, the Christian can and will overcome all things.

In what ways do people today still look to legalism or religion or "spirituality" in order to validate their lives? Why is legalism so pathetically lacking in comparison to the true substance and growth that we only gain from God in Christ?