The Mona Lisa is a marvelous work of art. It conveys a beauty though its subtlety and understatement. She seems to have a hint of a smile and you just know that she is thinking about "something"; but what could it be? She seems almost "alive"! I wonder, I wonder, Does art imitate life or does life imitate art? What really is reality? Since we are created beings and art is created, at what perspective do we understand the point of reference to be? Today, I read that "performance art" is going to new "heights": a woman is actually going to have her baby in a public exhibition of "art". Pretty messy performance! Conceiving (no pun intended here) of art like this can lead to absurdity. What's next, a hemorrhoidectomy at your local library? Now, apply these things to the concept of religion and you come to this chapter of the book of Colossians.
Colossians 2:1-23 (WEB)
1) For I desire to have you know how greatly I struggle for you, and for those at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh;
2) that their hearts may be comforted, they being knit together in love, and gaining all riches of the full assurance of understanding, that they may know the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ,
3) in whom are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge hidden.
4) Now this I say that no one may delude you with persuasiveness of speech.
5) For though I am absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, rejoicing and seeing your order, and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ.
6) As therefore you received Christ Jesus, the Lord, walk in him,
7) rooted and built up in him, and established in the faith, even as you were taught, abounding in it in thanksgiving.
8) Be careful that you don’t let anyone rob you through his philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the elements of the world, and not after Christ.
9) For in him all the fullness of the Godhead dwells bodily,
10) and in him you are made full, who is the head of all principality and power;
11) in whom you were also circumcised with a circumcision not made with hands, in the putting off of the body of the sins of the flesh, in the circumcision of Christ;
12) having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.
13) You were dead through your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh. He made you alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses,
14) wiping out the handwriting in ordinances which was against us; and he has taken it out of the way, nailing it to the cross;
15) having stripped the principalities and the powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
16) Let no one therefore judge you in eating, or in drinking, or with respect to a feast day or a new moon or a Sabbath day,
17) which are a shadow of the things to come; but the body is Christ’s.
18) Let no one rob you of your prize by a voluntary humility and worshipping of the angels, dwelling in the things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,
19) and not holding firmly to the Head, from whom all the body, being supplied and knit together through the joints and ligaments, grows with God’s growth.
20) If you died with Christ from the elements of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to ordinances,
21) “Don’t handle, nor taste, nor touch”
22) (all of which perish with use), according to the precepts and doctrines of men?
23) Which things indeed appear like wisdom in self-imposed worship, and humility, and severity to the body; but aren’t of any value against the indulgence of the flesh.
1) For I desire to have you know how greatly I struggle for you, and for those at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh;
2) that their hearts may be comforted, they being knit together in love, and gaining all riches of the full assurance of understanding, that they may know the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ,
3) in whom are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge hidden.
4) Now this I say that no one may delude you with persuasiveness of speech.
5) For though I am absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, rejoicing and seeing your order, and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ.
6) As therefore you received Christ Jesus, the Lord, walk in him,
7) rooted and built up in him, and established in the faith, even as you were taught, abounding in it in thanksgiving.
8) Be careful that you don’t let anyone rob you through his philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the elements of the world, and not after Christ.
9) For in him all the fullness of the Godhead dwells bodily,
10) and in him you are made full, who is the head of all principality and power;
11) in whom you were also circumcised with a circumcision not made with hands, in the putting off of the body of the sins of the flesh, in the circumcision of Christ;
12) having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.
13) You were dead through your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh. He made you alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses,
14) wiping out the handwriting in ordinances which was against us; and he has taken it out of the way, nailing it to the cross;
15) having stripped the principalities and the powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
16) Let no one therefore judge you in eating, or in drinking, or with respect to a feast day or a new moon or a Sabbath day,
17) which are a shadow of the things to come; but the body is Christ’s.
18) Let no one rob you of your prize by a voluntary humility and worshipping of the angels, dwelling in the things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,
19) and not holding firmly to the Head, from whom all the body, being supplied and knit together through the joints and ligaments, grows with God’s growth.
20) If you died with Christ from the elements of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to ordinances,
21) “Don’t handle, nor taste, nor touch”
22) (all of which perish with use), according to the precepts and doctrines of men?
23) Which things indeed appear like wisdom in self-imposed worship, and humility, and severity to the body; but aren’t of any value against the indulgence of the flesh.
How do you balance what you do to serve God, how you feel about HIM and what you think about him? People come up with all sorts of standards of behavior and make that the overriding feature. Others say that the mind is everything and even the pain of something like the pain you experience with a broken leg is all imaginary. A different group looks to the emotions we experience and place an emphasis on "speaking in tongues". The correct balance is found in the example of Jesus. Read Matthew chapters 5 to 7 commonly referred to as the "Sermon on the Mount" and you will see a logical progression of thought interlaced with both real life feelings and expected actions. First the thought, second the feeling and lastly the action. We are thinking, feeling, real life people. God designed us this way. Remember, Jesus told someone to Love God and your neighbor. Both involve thought first and a decision (both mental and emotional) and then an action to be complete. Jesus just didn't think about loving us, He taught us how to by his own example. We are made in the image of God, so why not act like him? What is reality and what is religion? There is no difference. What? Think that doesn't make sense? Look at Jesus, HE had a practical understanding of concept, feeling and action; and so should we. People will come up with all sorts of Philosophies and ideas of how to please God (religion), but I say... listen to Jesus.... remember this:
Matthew 17:1-5 (WEB)
1) After six days, Jesus took with him Peter, James, and John his brother, and brought them up into a high mountain by themselves.
2) He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his garments became as white as the light.
3) Behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them talking with him.
4) Peter answered, and said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you want, let’s make three tents here: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”
5) While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them. Behold, a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Listen to him.”
1) After six days, Jesus took with him Peter, James, and John his brother, and brought them up into a high mountain by themselves.
2) He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his garments became as white as the light.
3) Behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them talking with him.
4) Peter answered, and said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you want, let’s make three tents here: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”
5) While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them. Behold, a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Listen to him.”
Point of Reference is Jesus; listen, learn, do. Enough said.