This is a question of motives.

As Believers, we can get caught up in what we ought to do, or ought not to do. We try to justify our feelings about actions we should be or shouldn’t be taking. All of this is in order to achieve a type of holiness through self-imposed regulations.

In years past, this may have been centred on playing cards, going to moving theatre, and other supposed rules for holiness. However, any behaviour based on self-denial and self-mortification can be the outcome of false humility, guilt and pride. They will achieve nothing other than a loss of experience within this wonderful earth that God has created. It becomes an odd state of modern asceticism.

In Colossians 2, we find that Paul addresses the problem of asceticism in the church.

“Since you died with Christ to the elemental spiritual forces of this world, why, as though you still belonged to the world, do you submit to its rules: “Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!”? These rules, which have to do with things that are all destined to perish with use, are based on merely human commands and teachings. Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.” (Col. 2:20-23)

What’s the alternative?

Instead of choosing the path of modern asceticism, we should wholly focus on falling deeper in love with Christ. In turn, enjoying permissible pleasures, where we read the Scriptures and allow the Spirit to convict us and change us when necessary.

That being said, as I think about our culture today, I see and have felt the temptation to take this passage and swing the pendulum completely in the other direction. If we’re not careful, we may read Paul’s challenge to let go of religious regulations that attempt to achieve holiness, and inwardly state, “See, I can do what I want when I want!“

This stems from pride.

During my college years, I struggled with this self-righteous attitude in order to obtain rebellious pleasure. For a time, I had decided to take part in some of the less-destructive yet still not beneficial activities of this world, explaining my actions away within this concept. My defence was simple:

“I’m not under the rules and regulations of the law or this world, and I am free in Christ.  Therefore, I will do what I want, when I want.“

What an abuse of the freedom I have in Christ! It’s so embarrassing to write that now, but regretfully, it’s where I was at. And this continues to happen each and every day within the church. Some of the typical borderline actions are inappropriate media, drunkenness, gambling, drug use, and let’s not forget smoking. (Because C.S. Lewis smoked a pipe, so I can smoke too!)

It’s at this point where Paul’s Corinthian letter rebukes our desire for self-gratification. In 1 Corinthians 10, we read,

“‘I have the right to do anything,’ you say—but not everything is beneficial. ‘I have the right to do anything’—but not everything is constructive. No one should seek their own good, but the good of others.“

So, are we free to do what we want when we want?

Our actions are not going to save us, nor condemn us. However, for the good of others and more importantly, flowing out of our love for Christ, we should let each action and behaviour be ruled by the Spirit’s leading. When guilt and pride cause us to impose too many rules or no rules at all, we should seek the kind of balanced freedom that can only come from our deep love for Christ.

Join the Conversation; Share Your Thoughts

• When’s the last time you found yourself saying, “I can do what I want when I want“?
• How did that situation end? Was it a productive conclusion to the situation?