20 If you have died with Christ to the elementary principles of the world, why, as if you were living in the world, do you submit yourself to decrees, such as, 21 “Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch!” 22 (which all refer to things destined to perish with use)—in accordance with the commandments and teachings of men? 23 These are matters which have, to be sure, the appearance of wisdom in self-made religion and self-abasement and severe treatment of the body, but are of no value against fleshly indulgence.
Cutting across the “religiousism” that pervades many people’s church experience, Paul takes direct aim at living life legalistically. Why settle for a cheap substitute for walking “in Him” that does not satisfy? There is something strangely addicting to running life by a set of rules. It is so universal, so pervasive, that people assume it to be an elementary principle for life, a basic truism. Of course, religion should define what a person can’t do–everyone knows that, right? Paul disagrees!
First of all, Christians have “died with Christ.” Those are not just words, but it is true and has significant implications. Among other things, having died with Christ means we are dead to this world. Truly, we are “dead men walking,” not in a ghoulish sort of way but in a spiritual way. The rules change now, in that we are no longer subject to the “elementary principles.” Things which others take for granted no longer apply to us.
Paul in a memorable way sums up those principles as, “Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch.” True, there were Old Testament laws given by God that ordered similar practices. But religionists replace them with man-made versions that are not a means of understanding the holiness of God (as they were in the OT), but which have become a means of attempting to attain righteousness. Therefore, these misapplications of the Law became man’s efforts to turn the Law into achievements, failing to understand that they “are of no value against fleshly indulgence” (vs. 23).
The goal is not to keep a set of rules, but to live Christ-like lives. That kind of living begins with, and cannot be sustained apart from, the knowledge that as believers in Christ we are dead with Him. Without that, our efforts are reduced to “self-made religion and self-abasement.” Even the most rigorous self-denials and self-imposed sacrifices don’t suppress the desires of the flesh in reality, but only drive them underground. They may give the impression of godliness and wisdom, but in the end they bring us no closer to being like Him.
Lord, I confess that sometimes I fall into living according to religious notions of self-sacrifice that are really efforts to appease my flesh rather than defeat it. Please give me the strength to embrace the death of Christ for daily living.
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