16 So don’t let anyone judge you about eating or drinking or about a festival, a new moon observance, or sabbaths. 17 These religious practices are only a shadow of what was coming—the body that cast the shadow is Christ. 18 Don’t let anyone who wants to practice harsh self-denial and worship angels rob you of the prize. They go into detail about what they have seen in visions and have become unjustifiably arrogant by their selfish way of thinking. 19 They don’t stay connected to the head. The head nourishes and supports the whole body through the joints and ligaments, so the body grows with a growth that is from God.
20 If you died with Christ to the way the world thinks and acts, why do you submit to rules and regulations as though you were living in the world? 21 “Don’t handle!” “Don’t taste!” “Don’t touch!” 22 All these things cease to exist when they are used. Such rules are human commandments and teachings. 23 They look like they are wise with this self-made religion and their self-denial by the harsh treatment of the body, but they are no help against indulging in selfish immoral behavior.
Reflection
My birthday is tomorrow, July 29. I grew up Catholic but didn’t consider myself a Christian until 1979. So, I’ve been a Christian more than 45 years. I write this because my thinking about what it means to be a Christian has changed a lot during those 45-plus years.
Much of it has to do with today’s verses. While I print this in the CEB I grew up reading the NIV and I’ve use that translation, though it is similar to the CEB.
We’re told in verse 16 not to let anyone judge us by what we eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. I’ve never practiced a New Moon celebration, or many of the other things, with the exception of a Sabbath day. I always thought we didn’t have a Sabbath day, which to my way of thinking is on Saturday. We have church services on Sunday, though now many churches celebrate church on Saturdays, mine included.
We’re told in verse 17 that these things are a shadow of things that were to come, with the reality found in Christ.
In verse 18 it tells us not to let anyone who delights in false humility or the worship of angels to disqualify us, telling us they are puffed up with idle notion in their unspiritual minds.
I don’t know if you’ve met such people, but I have. In fact, I was one at one time. No more, at least it is my hope.
We’re told we’ve died with Christ, but they want us to do what the world says, “Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch”—rules based on human commands and teachings. We’re told they have the appearance of wisdom because of the way they treat their bodies but lack any value in stopping sensual indulgences.
I’d rather do what God commands of us. Love him, love our fellow men and women. I think that’s what God wants. So that is what I try to do.
by Rick Reed
For Pondering and Prayer
It’s really quite simple. Do not let false teachers teach you to stray. Love God, love others. If we do that, we’ll be OK.
Prayer: My Lord Jesus, help me never to stray from your teachings. Help me to seek after you with my whole heart, and soul and mind. In Jesus name, Amen.
