Since you died with Christ to the elemental spiritual forces of this world, why, as though you still belonged to the world, do you submit to its rules: “Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!”? 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.
Colossians 2:20-23
My Mom has this great story. It takes place when she was a high school student in a little town in West Texas over 70 years ago. 
It seems that the school had a street dance one Friday night, and all of the kids were there. There was also a Youth Pastor from a nearby church who was seen there. Well, as she tells the story, his attendance at the street dance came to the attention of the church board, and since everyone knows that dancing is very wicked, sinful actually, the Youth Pastor was fired. To this day, my Mom will have nothing to do with that denomination. Her reasoning? If his job is taking Christ to the youth, shouldn’t he be where the youth are? I can’t argue with that kind of reasoning, can you?
I recall a conversation with an irate lady who was upset because a couple of members of our church were smokers. She wanted them straightened out or kicked out because smoking is a sin. When I asked her how she knew that, she replied that it’s a sin because the body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. I thought that was interesting and asked her about the context of that verse (1 Cor. 6:19) She had no idea, but everybody knows it means you can’t smoke. She turned bright red when I pointed out that in context, Paul is talking about sexual immorality in general, and sex with a prostitute in particular. Sorry, smoking may be crazy, but it isn’t a sin. (I’m a non-smoker and always have been)
These are the kinds of things Paul is addressing in this paragraph. We have all sorts of “rules” that come from culture, from society and from religious traditions that have nothing to do with any Bible teaching! Now it may be that there are certain things my conscience won’t permit me to do, but that doesn’t make it a “rule” for everyone else! Paul’s logic is simple and clear: We have died to sin, the Law and the ways of this world. Why do we linger? Stop it! Just follow Jesus Christ!
The end of the passage is quite interesting. All of these rules and traditions lack any value in restraining “sensual indulgence.” Let’s try not to have our minds go straight to the gutter here, for “sensual indulgence” covers a lot more than sex. Paul gives us some advice on how this can be done in the next chapter, and we’ll have a look at that next time…
Life Project Blog 
You have a way with the lord’s words. Putting love back into them.
Gee Paul, I’d hoped to bring it out… 🙂
Rofl – don’t use that one very often. 🙂
And there it is….As in the case of 1 Cor 6:19…….context, context, and more context. Most rip scripture out of the Bible and make up there on set of rules.
As even with the case of having a drink, most do not realize that God gave man food out of the earth, wine to make glad his heart and oil to make his face shine Psalm 104:14-15.
Several hundred years ago part of the Pastor’s wages was wine from the cities wine storage.
We all want some type of rules to go by that way when we keep these rules we feel that we have certainly earned God’s favour and are doing our Christian duties. But following Christ is not a set of rules per se, but is a life style that is focused on our Saviour Jesus Christ.
ve man
Amen, thanks!
Great post. We’re so good at making up new rules as we go along … and also very good at pointing out to other people where they are tripping over them!
Truly said, thanks!
Following ‘the rules’ gives us a sense of control, a ‘standard’ that we can compare ourselves (but usually others) to. Life, Spirit, love, relationship (with God & one another) is messy, utterly unpredictable, and reveals the reality of our dependence on someone/thing other than ourselves. But, ultimately, far more interesting and rewarding.
Isn’t that the truth! Nicely stated, Jim, thank you!
Don, thanks for visiting my blog & ‘liking’ it! Pretty cool in my book since I’m just starting and you’re so far ahead of me! I really like your rule post, it’s kind of funny how people can take God’s Word and add their own spin on it, huh? By the way, I love dancing while worshipping, and most of the time can hardly keep still even when I try! God is so awesome and gracious, and I’m thrilled that He is indeed my Father! Thanks again!
I’m not much of a dancer, but I know what you mean! Thanks for dropping in, and all the best for your new blog. I’m looking forward to more great posts there!
You hit on something that is so true. I can relate to this because I too was a smoker. When the Lord drew me to Him I was smoking and smoked for years, yet He still spoke through the Holy Spirit to me. I am reminded of trying to find a building(so called church) and I went to one, only to find out that they didnt like my capri jeans, the fact that I smoked, etc… they judged me the minute I walked in the doors. God looks at the heart, not the clothes, you can be rich, a pharisee and that will not get u born again and blood bought, in fact the Lord reprimanded the pharisees and the saducees. It is to those whom are broken and contrite in spirit, the lowly , and the humble that the Lord hears. A prideful heart must be broken because it makes for a hard heart one that is not open to hearing the Lord. God knows how to break the hearts of hard hearted people. He does His best work and it begins in each of our hearts. The Lord bless and keep you~
Thanks! yes, it’s all sad but true. What do these rules and traditions really do… do they bring us closer to Him? No! They drive away the lost who need to hear the Gospel, and put a wedge between brother and sisters in Christ. I’m glad Paul wrote his lessons down!
yes they drive folks away, Jesus draws us to Himself. Folks sure have a strange way of walking and being like the Lord….He draws US to HIMSELF!!! I heard a story and there was a prostitute in Ohio, she went in to the building and the women were outraged with her looks, they had a man usher her out. She left a note on the steps and killed herself….I wont apologize for this but for the most part people in buildings have strongholds and strongmindsets they have learned and has been passed down by the tradtions of men. Ive heard many stories of people being judged by appearance and being discarded because of such…What a shame, such a SHAME!!!
Yes it is when it happens, but many things are changing…
btw I called the pastor of that building and told him of the woman who came up to me and said Bless God he will change you, he will get you more clothes. I said maam, I have nice clothes, I just chose to come comfortable. She looked at my earrings and looked me up and down. I could feel the Holy Spirit within me, as if telling me to flee and not to come back. I didnt go back. However weeks later a woman came up to me and said ever since I left the pastor has been preaching on judging. However they still do it, I met a man whom was also judged for having a beard, WOW!!! the traditions of men and regulations and rules…all man made…or taken out of context in the written word of God. I never went to look for another building because Gods people r the church , made without hands:)))
My sister has a similar story! I hope you will find your way into a thriving community of believers who worship in love, without the dumb rules, judging and all the rest. They are out there, more than ever before in my lifetime, and are a blessing beyond measure. God bless!
Oh we have and they truly are precious, rare gems indeed:D ty so much for the encouragement:)
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I started to write a comment. It grew… like the Chicken Heart that Ate New York City… boom-boom… boom-boom… boom-boom… So I moved it into it’s own post on The Postmodern Mystic. But *psst* don’t tell anybody… the post is really just a comment for here! Grace to thee! — LM