When Religion Masquerades As Wisdom
“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.”
People often use "wisdom" or rules to help keep us away from the things that could make us sin: stay away from all alcohol, from sex, from bars, from all non-G-rated movies. "Don't look, don't taste, don't touch." What's sad is they seem to think that sin and addiction has a greater power over us, who have been made alive in Christ. The power of God that raised Jesus from the dead is now in you. Does this mean your ability to not give into sin is in your ability to keep rules? Of course not! That's preposterous! Your strength is not in your decision making abilities but the fact that you are in Christ, the power and person of the Holy Spirit is inside of you.
All things are permissible but not all things are beneficial. You can do all these things, but is it beneficial for you? The issue above is thinking rule keeping or self will or strict adherence to someone else's convictions is what will keep you. The Person and power of the Holy Spirit in you, because you are in Christ, will keep you. Perhaps we should stop looking at the rules and start becoming friends with God inside of us, the Holy Spirit.
