This re-post has been edited from the original.This lesson I'm learning about the inability to manage my sin is powerful.
It is confusing as well. Paul in Colossians 2 says human regulations 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." 2:23
Does "self-imposed" mean I'm making myself worship or does it mean I worship myself? What do you think?
I have long understood this model of religion. I grew up in the Bible belt and the typical church wants it members to behave a certain way not be a certain kind of person. If you cuss, smoke, drink, fornicate, or run at church you may go straight to hell if Jesus comes back and catches you. No wonder we are leaving the church in droves after high school, what a happy message.
Think about it this way. Why do we need grace? Because we fall short of God's glory, right? Right. Well if I fall short of God's glory (which I do) then I don't just need grace once, I need it continually. Because the falling, it keeps happening.
Read the book Bo's Cafe, its a great story about how we can't fix ourselves.
http://www.boscafe.com/site/Behavior modification does hold some value, yes I understand that. But we have to understand it is a tool not the goal. I have to learn this lesson over and over again. Remember if you could fix yourself then you wouldn't need Jesus and his work on the Cross.
3 comments:
I wonder if self imposed is like saying we force ourselves into what looks like worship, but because our motive is to appear worshipful, it is a false worship that doesn't lead to godliness. I think of Jesus' words in Jn.4 that those who really worship do so in spirit and truth. Accepting the truth of God and myself in the depth of my being (spirit) is when I really worship God.
I think "self imposed" here is talking about rules etc that are man made to make the people in Colossian church look important and religious. So those regulations that do not come from God does not have value for overcoming sinful natures. We know that when we have heart change that it leads to behavior change and somehow plugs us into God's continual grace
I believe self-imposed worship has to do with our motives. In her book, "A Woman's Heart, God's Dwelling Place", Beth Moore says:
"When God says that we must worship Him in spirit, He means that the only acceptable worship is that which is motivated and controlled by our spirits. The body and soul may accompany the spirit in worship, but they can never acceptably overthrow it. Our bodies and souls may express praise as long as they only accompany a deep spiritual longing to know and reverence God. Only the spirit can provoke and control worship for it to be acceptable. We can clap our hands or lift our hands as an accompaniment to worship if we are so led by the Holy Spirit, but the body can never acceptably take the lead. We can weep, laugh, or shout hallelujah from our souls as an accompaniment to spiritual worship, but the emotion and personality can never acceptably take the lead. Any variance from this balance would be “strange incense” (Ex. 30:9). Spiritual worship comes from our very core and is fueled by an awesome reverence and desire for God. Spiritual worship is focusing all we are on all He is, both personally and universally. It is the incomparable expression of both awe and affection for God. And it is one of the highest privileges we can experience on this earth."
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