Col 2:20 If then you have died with Christ to material ways of looking at things and have escaped from the world's crude and elemental notions and teachings of externalism, why do you live as if you still belong to the world? [Why do you submit to rules and regulations?--such as]
Col 2:21 Do not handle [this], Do not taste [that], Do not even touch [them],
Col 2:22 Referring to things all of which perish with being used. To do this is to follow human precepts and doctrines. [Isa. 29:13.]
Col 2:23 Such [practices] have indeed the outward appearance [that popularly passes] for wisdom, in promoting self-imposed rigor of devotion and delight in self-humiliation and severity of discipline of the body, but they are of no value in checking the indulgence of the flesh (the lower nature). [Instead, they do not honor God but serve only to indulge the flesh.]
Linda and I have been discussing this for some time now. She is the one who coined the phrase, CONTROLLED BEHAVIOR. Much of what we see today is in the above category. It is people, controlling their behavior by following a list of rules. Those rules may be in the Bible, may be taught us by our parents, Sunday school teachers, our pastors and other preachers, or they may have come from what we have learned in our personal studies.
CONTROLLED BEHAVIOR is NOT Salvation! Nor is it Deliverance! In fact, controlled behavior is nothing more than selfishness refined! You think I am wrong. Let us look at the reality of our lives.
We have been taught for many years that stealing, lying, idolatry, adultery, murder, etc, are all sins and very wrong. Most of us would NEVER think of doing ANY of those things. They are ingrained in us and a part of our personalities. Yet, how many of us have told a little white lie? Even on an application? To our friends? When we relate an experience from our lives, do we embellish the truth?
How about taking some office supplies from work? How many of us would think about stealing money from a bank if we KNEW we would not get caught? ( I mean it was guaranteed!) How many of us go to church because it is the thing to do? How many of us tithe because that is what we are expected to do?
How many of us get angry at others for their stupid behavior? We never do anything about it, of course, that would put us in bad light! How many of us would do many things that are illegal IF WE KNEW THERE WAS NO WAY WE WOULD EVER BE FOUND OUT? How many of us look on someone of the opposite sex and do not fantasize even a little?
I am NOT asking for answers on these questions. But according to much of what is taught today in the church, even though the vast majority of us would NEVER DO any of these things, WE HAVE DESIRED TO DO THEM IN OUR HEARTS!
My friends, THAT IS controlled behavior. Look at some of the strictest religious followers of any religion, the Hindus, Muslims, Mormons, etc. Many of these people lead lives that are far more pure, far more restrictive than ANY Christian’s, yet they do it from their own minds by their own force of will! I tell you the truth, they STILL HAVE THESE DESIRES!
THAT IS NOT TRUE OF REAL CHRISTIANITY! If it were, then why would Paul write what he did in Colossians? Or for that matter, have you read Romans lately? Have you read the book of James or Hebrews? They all say the same thing in different ways.
If our hearts have not changed so that we no longer desire those things, we are only exhibiting controlled behavior. We are NOT walking in righteousness. We are NOT abiding in Christ Jesus.
Some would say, “That is IMPOSSIBLE!” Yes, they are correct, it IS IMPOSSIBLE for man to live in such a manner. But it is NOT impossible for Jesus to live that life thru our own!
I heard many say that Christianity is about a heart attitude. This is true, but then they ignore the truth that our hearts actually MUST CHANGE. Look at what Jeremiah writes>>>
Jer 31:31 Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah, [Luke 22:20; I Cor. 11:25.]
Jer 31:32 Not according to the covenant which I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, although I was their Husband, says the Lord.
Jer 31:33 But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel: After those days, says the Lord, I will put My law within them, and on their hearts will I write it; and I will be their God, and they will be My people.
Jer 31:34 And they will no more teach each man his neighbor and each man his brother, saying, Know the Lord, for they will all know Me [recognize, understand, and be acquainted with Me], from the least of them to the greatest, says the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will [seriously] remember their sin no more. [Heb. 8:8-12; 10:16, 17.]
THIS is the New Covenant that Jesus brought. Many ignore this, but Jesus HIMSELF said it.
Mat 26:27 And He took a cup, and when He had given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, Drink of it, all of you;
Mat 26:28 For this is My blood of the new covenant, which [ratifies the agreement and] is being poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. [Exod. 24:6-8.]
So we see that we live with a new covenant and that in the new covenant God promises to write His laws on our hearts. It will NOT be something that we have to be taught, it will be a natural expression of the life within us! How do I make this clearer? According to the scriptures, it is NOT by learning, it is NOT by following a list of rules, it is NOT by our controlling our behavior, but rather we will live the way God desires because HE placed the very “rules” inside of us and they WILL bear fruit!
Please do not get me wrong, we cannot sit back and wait for the Holy Spirit to make us live in the manner God desires. It does NOT work that way. There are things we MUST do. We are commanded to renew our minds in Romans 12:1-2.
Rom 12:1 I APPEAL to you therefore, brethren, and beg of you in view of [all] the mercies of God, to make a decisive dedication of your bodies [presenting all your members and faculties] as a living sacrifice, holy (devoted, consecrated) and well pleasing to God, which is your reasonable (rational, intelligent) service and spiritual worship.
Rom 12:2 Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you]. (emphasis added)
I will not get into this here, for that is another article all together. But, if we really believe what the Bible actually says, then it is telling us that the Lord put these new ideals and attitudes in our hearts and minds. We must learn to rely on them NOT control what we do by the force of our will. If we do the latter, then we will always have those evil and sinful impulses within us. We will NOT have put to death the flesh, but rather we will cause that flesh to gain strength due to the battle of wills within us and we WILL eventually lose!
It is for this reason we have seen so many “mature” and “strong” Christians seemingly all of a sudden succumb to a terrible sin. It is not that out of the clear blue sky, they suddenly decided to sin in that manner. NO! It was always there inside of them, festering and growing stronger because they did not put it to death (or rather did not allow the Lord to put it to death). Therefore, it grew and grew, biding it’s time until suddenly the person’s will could no longer hold it back. Then it became evident for all to see.
If anyone is honest with themselves and the Lord, they will KNOW this to be true in their own lives, unless they have received total sanctification. (this too will be another subject)
I pray that all who read these things will take the time to lay down their own preconceived notions and ideas and allow the LORD to speak to them about this. Please do not react to this just because you have been taught different. Take your time, Ask the Lord HONESTLY! Do not react out of emotion. If an emotion of anger or resentment rises up in you as you have read this, then STOP! Pray. Ask to Lord to remove the offensive reaction. Rather be calm, relaxed, resting in Him. Allow the Lord to speak the truth to you and be willing to be wrong, to have been taught by man instead of by the Lord. Do not believe me, but rather listen to Him who is the TEACHER of all truth. He will confirm His truth to you!
A bondslave in Christ Jesus, Dirk