You have died with Christ, and he has set you free from the spiritual powers of this world. So why do you keep on following the rules of the world, such as, ‘Don’t handle! Don’t taste! Don’t touch!’? Such rules are mere human teachings about things that deteriorate as we use them. These rules may seem wise because they require strong devotion, pious self-denial, and severe bodily discipline. But they provide no help in conquering a person’s evil desires. Colossians 2:20-23

 

Fear and religion.  The two often go hand in hand.

Jinger was raised in an ultra-conservative family that was featured on a reality TV show. Now an adult, Jinger has spoken against the family’s intensely strict teachings, primarily based on fear, sharing how they left her crippled with anxiety and made her terrified of everything, including God.[1] Adara grew up in an entirely different culture, yet she was terrorized by vivid depictions of hell the religious leaders of her faith emphasized, to gain compliance with religious requirements.

Many religions come with a long list of rules to show how to earn eternal blessings. Rules function as a source of power, emphasizing that compliance leads to victory.

It might surprise you to know this is not what Jesus taught. The Bible says: “You have died with Christ, and he has set you free from the spiritual powers of this world. So why do you keep on following the rules of the world, such as, ‘Don’t handle! Don’t taste! Don’t touch!’? Such rules are mere human teachings about things that deteriorate as we use them. These rules may seem wise because they require strong devotion, pious self-denial, and severe bodily discipline. But they provide no help in conquering a person’s evil desires” (Colossians 2:20-23).

We do need to know what is sinful, but rule-following doesn’t give us the power we need to live Godly lives. Spiritual teaching should point us to Jesus, inspiring us to know Him and live our lives as He did. The law of Jesus is called the law of love because knowing Him and responding to His love compels us to live differently (John 14:15).

[1] Vuolo, Jinger, and Corey Williams. Becoming Free Indeed: My Story of Disentangling Faith from Fear. Thomas Nelson, 2023.