Tuesday – June 7, 2016
It is Tuesday and time to remind ourselves to pray for the many governments across America not just the Federal Government. Today I am honoring the State of Alaska. Alaska was the 49th State admitted to the union on January 3, 1959 during the administration of our 34th President, Dwight D. Eisenhower. (From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia) Alaska also honors God in their State Constitution.
PREAMBLE
We the people of Alaska, grateful to God and to those who founded our nation and pioneered this great land, in order to secure and transmit to succeeding generations our heritage of political, civil, and religious liberty within the Union of States, do ordain and establish this constitution for the State of Alaska.
Praise the Lord that we live in a Covenant Nation. Now let us return to our text in Colossians.
Colossians 2:20-23 (ESV)
20 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—
21 “Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch”
22 (referring to things that all perish as they are used)—according to human precepts and teachings?
23 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.
Colossians 3:1 (ESV)
1 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.
When the Bible was written there was no chapter, verse, or punctuation. Therefore in the preceding text I have added the first verse of the third chapter for it belongs with the end of the second chapter. We have been talking about the idea of ‘asceticism’ which has to do with austerity, self-denial, simplicity, severity, starkness, frugality, harshness, and somberness. Now which of these synonyms do you think describe the Kingdom of God. Short answer ‘ZERO’. Today in the Church we might call this legalism. Today this might be in the form of not wearing jewelry, not eating meat on Friday, being immersed in water baptism vs being sprinkled, or taking a vow of poverty.
We all recognize that certain standards of behavior are necessary and lead to good order in a Church. Having said that; we must ensure that all prohibited behavior is prohibited by the Bible and allowed behavior is allowed even encouraged by the Bible. For example where in Scripture is the order of service established? In the protestant Church there is generally an opening prayer, a song service commonly referred to as praise and worship, announcements, offering, preaching, ending prayer with or without an altar service. Is that the will of God or is that a manmade tradition that may be trampling the will of God. Listen to what the Apostle Paul said to the Corinthians.
1 Corinthians 14:26 (HCSB)
26 What then is ⌊the conclusion⌋, brothers? Whenever you come together, each one has a psalm, a teaching, a revelation, ⌊another⌋ language, or an interpretation. All things must be done for edification.
I am not saying that every Church throw out all that they are doing but I am strongly suggesting that they seek God and see what He wants done and what is simply tradition passed down from the fathers not God. Our Colossians text goes on to tell that all these things are a show of wisdom, meaning they are a false display of Godly wisdom.
Colossians 2:23 (MSG)
23 Such things sound impressive if said in a deep enough voice. They even give the illusion of being pious and humble and ascetic. But they’re just another way of showing off, making yourselves look important.
By Dr. David R. Wood, Bible Teacher, Author, and Prophetic Voice
