Pastor Tricia's Ramblings

(Colossians 2:16–23)

Have you ever felt like being a Christian was about keeping a list of “do’s and don’ts”? Don’t wear that. Don’t eat that. Don’t listen to that. Make sure you go to church every time the doors are open. Make sure you look the part. Somewhere along the way, what was meant to be a relationship with Jesus can start to feel like a performance review.

That’s exactly what Paul is addressing in Colossians 2:16–23. The believers in Colossae were being pressured by false teachers to add rules, customs, and mystical practices to the gospel. But Paul pushes back hard: “Don’t let anyone disqualify you. Don’t let anyone judge you. Don’t submit to rules that Christ already set you free from.”

This passage speaks directly into our lives today, because if we’re honest, many of us still carry the weight of religion instead of the freedom of Christ.

Shadows and Substance

Paul writes:

“Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ” (Colossians 2:16–17, ESV).

This imagery of shadow versus substance is so powerful. Rules and rituals were shadows—pointers to the real thing. Christ is the reality.

Imagine waiting at the airport to pick up your best friend. You see their shadow stretch across the floor as they approach, but when they finally appear, you don’t stop to hug the shadow. You embrace the person. The shadow served its purpose, but the substance is far greater.

In the same way, the Old Testament festivals, food laws, and rituals were shadows pointing toward Jesus. Once He came, the shadows had served their purpose. Why cling to them when you have the real thing?

We can fall into the same trap today when we let external practices define our faith. Church attendance, devotional habits, even serving in ministry—these are good things. But if we cling to them as the substance, we miss the Person they point to: Jesus.

Misplaced Worship

Paul continues:

“Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, going on in detail about visions, puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind, and not holding fast to the Head…” (Colossians 2:18–19, ESV).

Here we see the danger of misplaced worship. The false teachers in Colossae promoted mystical practices—visions, angel worship, harsh self-denial. These practices seemed “spiritual,” but they disconnected people from Christ, the Head of the church.

And isn’t it the same today?

• Some people chase spiritual “highs” in worship services but never pursue steady faithfulness.
• Others look for hidden knowledge in podcasts, books, or online teachers instead of grounding themselves in Scripture.
• Many of us slip into performance—serving in church not out of love but out of fear of what people will think.

Paul reminds us that anything—even good things—can become distractions when they replace Christ. The question isn’t “Does this look spiritual?” The question is “Does this connect me to Jesus?”

Dead to the World’s Rules

Paul asks:

“If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations—‘Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch’…according to human precepts and teachings?” (Colossians 2:20–22, ESV).

In other words: “Why are you still living as if you’re bound by the world’s rules when Christ has already set you free?”

I love the image of training wheels here. Training wheels are helpful for a time, but once you’ve learned to ride, keeping them on actually slows you down. Rituals, rules, and regulations may shape us in small ways, but they were never meant to carry us into full maturity in Christ. We are free to ride in His grace.

My Story: From Rule-Keeping to Grace

This passage hits home for me. Early in my walk with Christ, I equated holiness with rule-keeping. I believed God’s love for me rose and fell depending on my “spiritual scorecard.”

• Did I read my Bible long enough today?
• Did I pray with the right words?
• Did I avoid worldly influences?
• Did I dress in a way that others thought was holy?

When I succeeded, I felt proud. When I failed, I felt ashamed and unloved. And in both cases, my eyes were on myself—not on Jesus.

It wasn’t until I encountered the depth of grace that I realized: I was already fully loved, fully forgiven, and fully accepted in Christ. My rule-keeping couldn’t add to His love, and my failures couldn’t take away from it.

This shift—from striving to rest—changed everything.

Religion vs. Relationship

Paul isn’t telling us to abandon prayer, Scripture, or worship. Those disciplines are vital. But the danger comes when we mistake the tools for the goal.

Think about relationships. I don’t spend time with my family out of fear that they’ll stop loving me if I don’t. I spend time with them because I love them. The relationship is the foundation, not the result.

In the same way, spiritual practices are meant to flow out of our relationship with Christ, not replace it. They’re not how we earn God’s love. They’re how we enjoy it.

Jesus Himself warned about religious appearances:

“This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men” (Matthew 15:8–9, ESV).

God doesn’t want outward performance. He wants our hearts.

The Trap of Appearances

If we’re honest, appearances are still a big deal in the church today. We may not be judged for Old Testament food laws or festivals, but how often do we compare ourselves to others?

• She posts Bible verses every day—why can’t I be that spiritual?
• He serves in three ministries—I should be doing more.
• That family looks perfect at church—I must be failing.

Comparison is just another kind of rule-keeping. It enslaves us to expectations that God never placed on us.

Paul’s words remind us: our salvation and worth are in Christ alone. Not in appearances. Not in performance. Not in other people’s approval.

Christ Is Enough

The heart of Paul’s message is simple: Christ is enough. We don’t need Jesus plus rules. We don’t need Jesus plus mystical experiences. We don’t need Jesus plus appearances.

It’s Jesus plus nothing. And Jesus plus nothing equals everything.

When we live in that truth, we’re freed from the exhausting cycle of striving. We’re freed to love God and love people—not out of obligation, but out of gratitude.

Application: Living in Freedom

So how do we live this out?

1. Examine your motives. Are you serving, reading, praying, or giving because you feel pressured—or because you love Christ?
2. Release comparison. God isn’t measuring you against anyone else. He’s looking at your heart.
3. Rest in grace. When you fail (and you will), remember your worth doesn’t change. You’re already fully loved.
4. Focus on Jesus. Practices, traditions, and disciplines have value, but only if they connect you to Him.

Conclusion: Not About Religion, But Jesus

Paul closes this section by pointing out that rules may look wise, but they lack power to change hearts (Colossians 2:23). Only Jesus transforms us.

So don’t let anyone judge you. Don’t let anyone disqualify you. Don’t put yourself back under rules Christ has already freed you from.

The gospel is not about appearances. It’s not about rituals. It’s about Jesus.

And when you rest in Him, you’ll discover the freedom and joy you were made for.

💬 Have you ever struggled with rule-keeping or comparison in your walk with Christ? How has God reminded you that you’re free in Him? Share in the comments—I’d love to hear your story and pray with you.