Avoid Self-Made Religion

Note from today’s Bible reading: Colossians 1-2

Paul warned the brethren in Colossae about “self-made religion” (Colossians 2:23) or “will worship” (KJV) – worshiping God according to our will rather than His will. This is still a common problem in religion today.

In this context, Paul reminded these brethren that they had “died with Christ to the elementary principles of the world” (Colossians 2:20). In other words, they were no longer to follow after the ways of the world; they were to follow Christ.

However, the “ways of the world” are not only those things that involve a defiant repudiation of all things religious. They can also include commandments and instructions of a religious nature, but are in addition to the teachings of Christ.

Paul asked them why they were submitting to man-made commands that prohibited certain things in the name of religion (Colossians 2:20-22). These prohibitions may have had “the appearance of wisdom,” yet because they went beyond what the Lord required, they were “of no value against fleshly indulgence” (Colossians 2:23). Our religion – if our purpose is to please the Lord – should not be about following the “strictest” set of rules; instead, it should be about closely following Christ.

So avoid self-made religion. We belong to Christ; therefore, we need to follow Him. No matter how “wise” some set of instructions may seem to us or to others, they will not help us please the Lord if they were not given by Him.