Bible Study from July 6, 2020 - Colossians 2:16-23 Part 2

This podcast focuses more on the issues of “eating” and “drinking“ as mentioned in Colossians 2:16. Paul in Colossians simply says not to judge one another about these issues. He is emphasizing the freedom that we have now in Christ, but does not go into more detail or talk much about why we have this freedom. We looked at Romans 14 last week, which also emphasized that freedom and that we ought not to be condemning each other about that freedom. At the same time, we should not abuse our freedom in a way that hurts others and their faith, who may be confused about this freedom.

In general, the Scriptures warn us about abuse of eating and drinking in a way that we go to extremes - gluttony and drunkenness, both of which can harm us and others. (See Scriptures like Proverbs 23:20-21.) There are also warnings about extreme judging about these issues too, no matter what people do. Jesus points out that people judged John the Baptist because of his unusual Nazarite vows and criticized Jesus because he seemed to have too much freedom about eating and drinking. (See Luke 7:33-34.)

In the Scriptures most of the conflict came because of Old Testament rules about eating and the idea that there were “clean” and “unclean” foods (and unclean people and other unclean things) and ideas about these that gradually went far beyond the OT Scriptures, too. They were important in the OT, but when Jesus came, He freed us from these rules and distinctions. He taught that all foods were now clean and that none would pollute us spiritually by our eating them. Rather, it is what comes out of our own sinful nature, in evil thoughts, words, and deeds, that pollute us and others. (See the conflict Jesus had with Jewish religious authorities in Mark 7:1-23, and especially v. 15-23, and v. 19, in particular. See also Peter’s struggle to overcome the OT rules about food, for himself and to allow non-Jews to eat freely, without fear, too, in Acts 10-11.)

With regard to “drinking,” the primary conflict has revolved around drinking wine or other beverages. The Old Testament does not forbid the use of wine, the primary alcohol of ancient times. It was used by Melchizedek in Genesis 14:18ff and in Old Testament offerings and rituals. It is spoken of positively in Psalm 104:14-15 and other places. It is pictured as being used in the heavenly banquet to come, when death is overcome and all tears are washed away. (See Isaiah 25: 6ff.) Jesus turns water into wine in abundance at the wedding at Cana, as His first sign of the coming of the Kingdom of God. It is used in the giving of the Lord’s Supper. Paul tells Timothy to use it for medicinal purposes in 1 Timothy 5:23. And so on.

At the same time, abuse of wine or other alcohols is consistently called wrong. See Proverbs 20:1 and examples of Noah and others who became drunk. See Ephesians 5:18 and the lists in the New Testament which warn of behaviors which are sinful and which can lead us out of the Kingdom of God, which include drunkenness. See 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 and Galatians 5:19-21, as examples.

Paul and the Scriptures say we have freedom about eating and drinking, as long as we do not abuse these in ways the Scriptures warn about. At the same time, we are free in Christ and do not have to eat or drink as others do. For example, there is much pressure to drink alcohol in certain places. We can choose not to drink, if we wish. We are to take care of our bodies, but we do not have to follow every dieting fad or pressure to look or eat in a certain way. And Scripture tells us to obey our government; and so we should not break laws about use of alcohol or drugs in a way that is illegal.

At the same time, we should not feel compelled to eat and drink in ways that certain religious organizations tell we must do, especially if they tell us we are sinning and salvation depends on our doing what they say about these issues. The old Methodist view against all alcohol and the refusal of some to use anything but grape juice could be examples of this problem. The Mormons and other cultic groups have their own unique dietary rules, which they insist people must follow. Jewish people still follow OT rules, of course, in rejecting Jesus as Messiah and the whole New Testament. 7th Day Adventists and the United Church of God and other groups want to drag us back into following OT regulations on foods and other rituals. Even the Roman Catholic Church has at times added prescribed rules: Lenten rules, required fasting, no meat on Fridays, etc. See 1 Timothy 4:1-4 for a warning about such additions, including the forbidding of marriage to some, as the Roman Catholic church has done with priests. There is much more background we could look at, but this gives us an idea of what Paul was talking about and warning about, when he simply said, “Therefore, let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink” (Colossians 2:16).