Colossians 2:13-23 Freedom of Worship

Id like to share just a few words with you tonight about worship. Weve been doing it, well continue to do it. But Id 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 womens 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 didnt 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 dont worry about it. And I got to thinking about worship in the life of a believer. In these Sunday night services, weve 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 Gods 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. Its 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. Its about loving Him. Its 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 isnt right. These people insist on things that are not clearly stated. Its false humility, insisting they beat themselves up to feel good. Its 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 youre wrong, have an unspiritual mind. Theyve 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: Im 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, youre free. You dont have to worship in a certain format. Jesus said in spirit and in truth. As in, mean it, and be honest before God while youre doing it. That means, just because somebody tells you to worship a certain way doesnt mean you have to do it that way. Dont do it because someone tells you. Do it because its right. Listen: you dont 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, Im 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 cant 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, thats what song leaders are supposed to do as well. You dont 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 whats going on. You may not unspiritual if you dont, but its 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 dont do? Do we not dance because its un-biblical? No, dancing isnt unbiblical. Do we not dance because we are afraid of how we will look? Well, thats not a good enough reason for anything. Or do we not dance because we arent made that way? Well, to me, thats different. I enjoy dancing before the Lord privately, but not publicly. Its not so much a fear of what others will say. Its just, to me, a private thing. There are lots of things a person does in private that they dont do in public, not because of fear but because of other reasons. Let me say, its OK to worship differently in private from in public. But, if what you do in public isnt actually worship, as in, youre 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, dont 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. Thats walking in the Spirit. Whether its clapping or dancing or moving or standing or kneeling or bowing or shouting or being quiet, dont let others judge you for it. Do it for God.

And the other thing is, dont judge others for how they worship. Davids wife Michal hated him for his spontaneity in worship, for his energy and enthusiasm. Theres a point there. What someone else does in worship, dont condemn or criticize. Dont figure theyre just putting on a show. Frankly, its none of your business. We love to judge and point fingers and call what they do a farce. But its not our business. Our business is to be right with God ourselves. And again, quite frankly, if you are busy judging other peoples worship, youre not worshipping either. Its 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. Lets continue to do that, then. You are free to worship. You are free to be with Him without worrying about others opinions