I’ve been pondering something I read in Colossians a couple days now.
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.
It seems to me that Paul says something that actually seems like it doesn’t make a lot of sense.
The context around this thought is that Paul is writing to the Colossian church to warn them bad teaching. Basically, there were some folks who slipped into the Colossian church that were spreading a teaching that would lead people back into a Jewish-esque traditionalism, as well as some other weirder things.
Basically, these people had come and attempted to take the Colossians captive by claiming that while Christ was a good starting point, he wasn’t the end-all. They had some special, secret, wisdom that was also necessary for them to know and adhere to. They attempted to place strict rules on the little church’s head.
Paul swoops in to correct the problem.
He says basically, “You’re dead to this world. You’re on a whole different plane of thinking and living. You’re so beyond all this. So what’s up with you submitting to all these human, earthly rules? Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch."
He’s talking about Christian freedom. But here’s what doesn’t make sense right away. ”They are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh”.
No, surely violating our Christian freedom isn’t good, but on some level it must prevent us from indulging in the flesh! Legalism isn’t a good thing, but on some level it prevents sin, right? Well, not according to Paul.
This whole set of verses got me thinking about the way the church pushes accountability. Now, before I get tarred and feathered, hear me out. Accountability is totally a good thing. But, I don’t think that it ever has the power to prevent our fleshly indulgence. Perhaps postpone. But not prevent.
Romans 8:13 says that we have to put the death the deeds of the body by the Spirit. But it seems that all to often, the teaching sounds more like we’re to put to death the deeds of the body by the accountability and support of other people. I completely disagree with that.
And here’s the reason.
Our sin is first and ultimately found in our affections. When we desire something more than we desire God. we’re committing idolatry. When we long to sin, we sin. So, for another person to forcefully to keep us from that sin does not effectively stop our sinning. It is of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh. All it’s really done is temporarily delayed the outcroppings of it. Generally speaking, if a person wants to do something, given enough time they usually will. Our accountability is going to need to be a lot better if it’s actually going to work.
Now, I’m not bashing good Christian accountability, I’m just suggesting that we’re talking and teaching about it out of order.
I think we ought to be kept accountable by God, in the Spirit. Think about it. It makes perfect sense. He’s the only accountability partner that is with you constantly. He’s the only one who can keep track with your deepest longings. And he’s the only one who can actually produce in us power to do what is right.
So where’s the church accountability? I think it’s only genuinely good place is in a place of support, encouragement and reminder.
