The Death of Dogma

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Colossians 2:14-23

Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;  (Verse 14)

What the heck is this verse saying?  I’ve heard it taught as being similar to the truth of Isaiah 40:

Speak comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned; for she has received of the Lord’s hand double for all her sins.  (Isaiah 40:2)

The custom of dealing with bankruptcy in those times is hereby compared with God dealing with our sins.  At the entrance into a city the names and debts of those bankrupt individuals unable to pay their debts were published, so that people would know not to do business with them.  Then if someone (say, an old family friend) were to come along and pay off all the debts of one of these people, the list of debts would be “doubled,” that is, folded over to hide those debts, and marked “paid” (with the name of the individual still visible) so that people would know that person was now free and clear of all debt.

But this is not what Colossians 2:14 is saying,  To “blot out” means to smear or to plaster over.  “Ordinances” is the Greek word dogmata, from which we get our word “dogma.”  Dogma is an unproven belief, a belief which has not yielded any fruit.  Dogma is the opinion of man which carries a spiritual force of law, though it is not of God.  This verse in Colossians reinforces the truth that this dogma is of man by using the word “handwriting.”

Some examples (there are thousands) of dogma are:  When you sing in Church you should raise your arms.  We should pray before meals.  Christians should vote Republican.  Family first.  A person who has graduated from a seminary is a man of God.  We must give 10% of everything we earn to the church we belong to.  We should be nice to our neighbors.  We should always be polite.  None of these things is commanded or stated by God.  Though none of these things is written down as a commandment, (though thousands of pages have been written by man concerning these things as being needful), yet these concepts rule people’s lives as if commanded by God.  They carry a force of law though they are the opinions of man.

Notice I am not saying here that these things are evil.  I am only saying that God has not commanded them; but man has.  If there has been any fruit in subjecting ourselves to any of this dogma, that fruit has come, not in obeying the dogma, but by coming into fellowship with God; by coming into Christ; by walking in the leading of His spirit within.

Now verse 14 goes on to say that this dogma of man is “against us” and is “contrary to us.”  This is a figure of speech, stating the same truth twice, which is meant to emphasize that this dogma is our enemy.  “Against” means opposite.  If I’m going up, the dogma is pulling downward.  If I desire to be in, the dogma is calling me out.  If I’m moving forward, the dogma is demanding I go backward.  It is opposed to me and the direction and the way I want to go.  “Contrary” means adversarial by stealth; that is, it acts like a friend, but is an enemy.  This word in the plural is translated “adversaries.”

In Christ God has made us free.  But the devil does not want us to enjoy that freedom which is now rightfully ours, so he works in people, or even just in our minds directly, to throw up spiritual roadblocks to our freedom under the guise of rules that are beneficial to us, but which in reality keep us from realizing our full potential.  Some of this dogma is self-imposed.  For example, you need to read the Bible for 15 minutes every morning before you leave for work, or God will not be able to bless you.  You need to pray for everyone you know every day lest something bad happen to someone.

God plastered over all these opinions, all this dogma.  He smeared it, meaning it’s clearly stated intent has been rendered illegible, powerless, unnecessary.  God nailed all of this dogma to the cross of His son, so that when Jesus died, any need to conform to the forceful (and religious) opinions of man died with him.  In their place the clear simple light of truth bursts forth in Christ.  What was a maze of rules and regulations which introduced themselves to us as friends and helpers on the path to God but were in reality hindrances on that path, now have become dead to us.  In Christ are found no such dogmatic rules or regulations.

And having spoiled principalities and powers, He made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it.  (Verse 15)

To “spoil” is a term of warfare that indicates the taking away of anything of value.  This verse is powerfully connected with the previous, indicating and exposing the powers and influences which were responsible for this dogma which sought to cozy up to us as friends, but which in truth were our enemies from the start, keeping us from coming into and walking in the presence of God.

Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of a holy day, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days; Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.  (Verses 16, 17)

See, the influence is devilish, but it comes so often through a man.  Because the cross of Christ has buried this dogma, we have to stand against it, wherever and whenever it tries to make our flesh conform to its devilish judgments.  “You really ought to go to church.”  “We have to respect others’ opinions.”  “We have to keep an open mind.”  The real thing, Christ, has come.  Why then continue to serve shadows and representations of the real thing?  The devil seeks to rob us of what Christ has rightfully bought for us, by making us believe we haven’t yet earned it!

Let no man beguile you of your reward (defraud you by acting as an umpire) in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels (messengers), intruding into those things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, (Verse 18)

Christians judge other Christians.  This is good enough, that isn’t.  What you did wasn’t right.  You ought to be doing more of this.  The judgments are endless.  “We ought to” and “We should” seem to dominate the Christian landscape.  But God says, “You have” and “You can” and “You only need Christ.”  If we accept the dogma and judgments of man, we subject ourselves to the devil and his ways, which keep us from walking in the completed work of Christ and keep us from the presence of God.

And not holding the head, from whom all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increases with the increase of  God.  (Verse 19)

Rather, hold to the head, Christ.  Never let any influence, rule, dogma, opinion, man or spirit get in the way between you and Christ.  Christ is not the most important thing, he is the only thing.  We grow into Godly beings by being nourished by the spirit of Christ.  If we are not in Christ, we can not be nourished by him.  He is the answer to all our needs, all our questions, all our desires, all our purposes.  In Christ we are completely complete, fully realized, wholly individual.  In Christ we become completely, uniquely, powerfully ourselves!  Don’t let anything or anyone get between you and Christ.

Wherefore if you be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are you subject to ordinances (Touch not; taste not; handle not; Which all are to perish with the using;) after the injunctions and teachings of man?  (Verses 20-22)

What dogma influences your life?  What religious beliefs do you hold true that are not taught by the rightly divided Word of God (that which is addressed to you and to be believed and applied by you who are saved by grace today)?  What opinions of man carry the force of law in your life and heart?  What beliefs do you hold powerfully to that have failed to ever produce spiritual fruit in your life?  You keep them, it feels like, simply to stave off the wrath of God.  They have acted as friends, but have been your enemy, keeping you from enjoying your life in Christ.   If you can identify them, you can stand against them, turn your back on them and freely cling to Christ where before you could not.  Do not be afraid to be different, to be “other than” the vast herd of conforming Christianity.  Come completely into your own and be the glorious individual God has called you to be and Christ enables you to be.

Which things (injunctions and teachings of man) have indeed a show of wisdom in will worship and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honor to the satisfying of the flesh. (Verse 23)

Forget trying to argue with these influences, you can not win.  Simply hold them up to the light of Christ.  Either they are of Christ or they are not.  And then choose Christ, and let his spirit deal with all this adversarial dogma, the need for which has died on the cross with Christ.

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Note from Steve:  If you enjoyed how this study challenged your thinking and opened up your understanding of Christ, there are over 100 other studies on this website which can do the same.  There is so much more the Bible can give us than we have been led to believe.  Consider browsing the website when you have the time.
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