Pursuing That Which Matters

This morning I have been looking at and thinking about the following passages from Paul's letter to the Colossians 2:16-23 NIV:

[16] "Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. [17] These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ. [18] Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you. Such a person also goes into great detail about what they have seen; they are puffed up with idle notions by their unspiritual mind. [19] They have lost connection with the head, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow."

[20] "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: [21] “Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!”? [22] These rules, which have to do with things that are all destined to perish with use, are based on merely human commands and teachings. [23] 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."

These verses are such an interesting study, especially when we have been looking at the paradigms we have been raised in within the Church.  A few months ago the Lord took me through an examination of that which is required and that which is optional or man-made in our worship of Him, as defined by many churches.  Paul is commenting on something very similar here, for many of the expressions of Christianity were being combined with Jewish observances, and he was trying to help the people in Colossae identify those things that were not necessary, and in some cases even harmful.

Paul identifies several things as harmful - strict rules for living, strict rules for gatherings, false humility, worship of angels, (I think we could add here super-spirituality), the "don't" lists, self-imposed worship, harsh treatment of the body (ascetics such as severe fasting), and the like.  As I look at all these, they seem to me to be self-focused, rather than Christ-focused.  The people are either trying to please others (not Christ) or compare themselves to others in the quest to appear holy.  Paul correctly ascribes no real value to these things, for they gain us nothing in a relationship and faith based pursuit of God. Intimacy with Christ Jesus is our goal, not attendance, not observances, not programs, not fasting, not visions and knowings.  There are some who are always trying to understand the secret things that God is speaking to a few select individuals, as if He favors them, and by understanding these things becoming a member of a select group that are "in the know".

Paul, calls the church back to the reality that is found in Christ.  Again, it is intimacy with Him, real relationship that is the goal.  We are called to experience and understand connectedness to the head (Christ) and each other as members of the Body of Christ.  Intimacy with Him and unity with each other.  I am reminded of the following verses from Matthew 22:37-39 NIV:

[37] "Jesus replied: “ 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' [38] This is the first and greatest commandment. [39] And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'"

Let us not make this complicated, nor allow ourselves to buy into the comparative mindset of many.  Christ desires us to be in relationship with Him, first and foremost.  Secondly, He desires us to be in relationship with each other, learning to love and encourage, embrace, empathize, and celebrate each other's uniqueness and significance.  We are not in a race, nor in a competition, we are in relationships.  We think that our external actions can cover over or make up for our internal lack, and in personal relationships this can work for a while, but in the end activity is not a lasting foundation for relationship.

So this morning, I am encouraged to look at my life, to consider what I am doing, and how I think about my relationship with Christ, and with others.  Am I pursuing actual relationship or am I just going through activities and acting a certain way to maintain my status in other's eyes?