The Pride of the Starving

Paul says something interesting in Colossians 2:20-23 -  

"20 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— 21 “Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch” 22 (referring to things that all perish as they are used)—according to human precepts and teachings? 23 These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh."

He is referring to particular food and other strict religious rules that were seeping into the Colossian church and claiming to take people to a new level of righteousness. What I find interesting about this is what he says at the very end there: "These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh."

These rules will appear religiously wise, but essentially they are no good at slaying the flesh. 

This is particularly interesting with regard to being severe about restricting what you eat. How does this not help stop the indulgence of the flesh? You would think that regular fasting would be an aid in this area. But if it is done in the flesh and for fleshly reasons there is no way that it can help combat the flesh and make you more righteous. 

A book I am reading right now, Crazy Like Us, by Ethan Watters helps to explain this. He spends the first chapter discussing those who suffer from Anorexia. He notes that traditional Anorexics see ordinary people as inferior. They see normal, healthy people as addicted to food and ruled by their bodies because they eat regularly, while they see themselves as having mastery over their body, and control of their flesh. They get a sense of euphoria about being able to deny themselves, and actually begin to feel better about themselves for denying themselves in extreme ways. 

So, they have denied the body, by being severe to it, but they have not defeated the flesh, they have simply redirected their sin and their pride. The entanglement of sin is nefarious and deep, and can attack from many directions. Which is precisely what Paul is warning us about here. 

You can defeat certain sins by strength of will and the flesh, but you can't defeat sin or the flesh, you will just allow another aspect of your sin and pride to rule you. Anorexia sufferers describe feeling trapped in their way of life, like they are on a train and need to ride it to the end, which is death. Often the pride of sin directs people in this way, but for different reasons and in different ways. Flesh cannot defeat the sin of flesh, no matter how severe. 

Control over your body can only go so far, submission to Christ and recognizing your need to be found in him by faith, is the only way to truly fight sin.