Colossians 2:13-23 – Freedom of Worship
I’d like to share just a few words with you tonight about worship. We’ve been doing it, we’ll continue to do it. But I’d like to share a scripture with you tonight to help you along in it. Turn with me to Colossians 2:16.
The idea of this message flows from a conversation Michelle and I had the other night after she came home from a women’s worship service she had on Grand Manan. The leader had them stand and clap and so on. Nothing wrong with that. But when one of the songs mentioned bowing down before God, she didn’t lead the women to do that. It seemed like a bit of a double standard, you know: “The song says clap so you should clap. The song says bow, but don’t worry about it.”
And I got to thinking about worship in the life of a believer. In these Sunday night services, we’ve been looking at Walking in the Spirit, and worship is part of that.
Our scripture tonight deals with what a believer is, and how he or she should live. Because of what Christ did for us, how should we live? V13 – we are forgiven. The slate is clean. We are OK in God’s sight. V14 – the record of charges against us is wiped out. The written code, the list of things that we have done wrong, is gone. It is useless. What we did in our previous lives no longer matters. V15 – and whenever we are reminded what we were, we can stand in the truth that Satan is defeated, we are on the winning side, and the past is not counted against us. The cross cancelled out our past with its sins.
V16 – Therefore. Because of this. In light of what we have just heard. Because God no longer counts our sins against us, we do not have to let others judge us either. What kind of judgements do we make? In the area of worship.
V16 lists things that all deal with worship, with how we speak to God, how we get along with God, how we connect to Him. The foods and drinks were about what was appropriate for believers. The religious festivals were about worship and thanksgiving. The New Moon celebrations and Sabbath days were about the right way to worship, the right day to worship.
But v17 helps us out. V17. It’s not about these – these are only shadows, only pictures, only reflections of something better. Worship is not about the right way or the wrong way. Worship is about Christ. It’s about loving Him. It’s about putting Him first instead of the forms and traditions of it all.
Then v18-19 help us even more. V18-19. They are about people, teachers, leaders, who insist that things have absolutely got to be done a certain way, or else it isn’t right. These people insist on things that are not clearly stated. It’s false humility, insisting they beat themselves up to feel good. It’s angel worship, insisting that you need more than you already have. Listen: people who insist that you have to worship a certain way, their way, or else you’re wrong, have an unspiritual mind. They’ve lost connection to Jesus. And whatever growth that happens in their churches or their lives happens because they did it, not because Jesus did it.
Please understand: I’m not talking about one particular church or denomination. I mean, people who insist that you have to worship a certain way. You have to clap. You have to shout. You have to dance. You have to have communion. You have to have bulletins. You have to have a certain liturgy. I mean, rule-givers and law-makers.
But Paul goes on: v20-22. He says, you’re free. You don’t have to worship in a certain format. Jesus said in spirit and in truth. As in, mean it, and be honest before God while you’re doing it. That means, just because somebody tells you to worship a certain way doesn’t mean you have to do it that way. Don’t do it because someone tells you. Do it because it’s right. Listen: you don’t have to worship a certain way. You are free to worship in your own way, as God made you. Feel free to worship as you see fit.
There are all kinds of forms of worship. The Bible lists many. Psalm 95:6 says to bow down. Psalm 47:1 says to clap. Psalm 95:6 says to kneel. Nehemiah 9:5 says to stand. And Luke 6:23 says to leap. Psalm 134:2 says to lift your hands. Psalm 150:3-5 says to use musical instruments, and Psalm 147: 1 says to sing. Psalm 66:1 says to shout, while Habakkuk 2:20 says to be silent. Psalm 96:8 says to bring an offering, and then of course, Psalm 149:3 says to dance.
Now, I’m not sure these are all commands, or just suggestions. Either way, the Bible is giving you permission and freedom to worship. You see the difference? Some would say you can’t worship in such a way, while the Bible seems to say “do what you think is OK.”
In the same way that the Bible gives permission, that’s what song leaders are supposed to do as well. You don’t have to stand up when they tell you, but you sing better when you stand, you get a chance to stretch your legs, you give your bottom a break, and you involve your body in what’s going on. You may not unspiritual if you don’t, but it’s there as permission and freedom to worship in a different way.
Now, the problem is motive. Why do we do what we do? Do we clap because the song tells us to, or because the leader tells us to, or because we want to? In the same way, why do we not do what we don’t do? Do we not dance because it’s un-biblical? No, dancing isn’t unbiblical. Do we not dance because we are afraid of how we will look? Well, that’s not a good enough reason for anything.
Or do we not dance because we aren’t made that way? Well, to me, that’s different. I enjoy dancing before the Lord privately, but not publicly. It’s not so much a fear of what others will say. It’s just, to me, a private thing. There are lots of things a person does in private that they don’t do in public, not because of fear but because of other reasons. Let me say, it’s OK to worship differently in private from in public. But, if what you do in public isn’t actually worship, as in, you’re just going through motions or something like that, then you need to fix it. Whatever it takes, give your heart to worship in church.
The thing is, don’t let others judge you or look down on you for how you worship. Make sure that what you are doing is real and heart-felt and genuine, and never mind how others react. You are striving to please the Audience of One, not the audience of those around you. That’s walking in the Spirit. Whether it’s clapping or dancing or moving or standing or kneeling or bowing or shouting or being quiet, don’t let others judge you for it. Do it for God.
And the other thing is, don’t judge others for how they worship. David’s wife Michal hated him for his spontaneity in worship, for his energy and enthusiasm. There’s a point there. What someone else does in worship, don’t condemn or criticize. Don’t figure they’re just putting on a show. Frankly, it’s none of your business. We love to judge and point fingers and call what they do a farce. But it’s not our business. Our business is to be right with God ourselves. And again, quite frankly, if you are busy judging other people’s worship, you’re not worshipping either. It’s impossible to worship God and criticize others at the same time.
So the point is, we were meant to worship publicly and privately. Time and again, in the NT and OT, believers spent time talking to God, listening to Him, learning from Him, committing their love and their lives to Him, both by themselves and with others. The pattern of the whole Bible is that we were made to love Him, both corporately and individually. Let’s continue to do that, then. You are free to worship. You are free to be with Him without worrying about others’ opinions.
