Commandments and Doctrines. Colossians 2:22. There are ways I can determine if a command comes from men or from God. Often, there are differences of opinion, and each side claims to be based on God's Word. So, I had to run some tests to see which ones are correct. I must reject what is wrong and commit to walking in the light myself. If man-made rules and taboos are emphasized more than grace, I am sure it is a works-based religion, not one of faith in Christ and rooted in the word of God. If it encourages a critical spirit against others and always involves complaints contrary to discreet discipline and love that employs spiritual restraint, then I know it is not from God.
Sometimes, people claim to have visions or knowledge that are known only to them. They insist they have a special formula not known by anyone else. This contradicts the Word of God, because the Bible is an open book and is not subject to “private interpretation” or making it say what we want. God's intentions are revealed in it if people simply take the time to look, read it for themselves, and apply its teachings in a way that fits the context in which it was written.
Any commandment or teaching that elevates self rather than exalts Christ, even if taught by someone who is very kind and nice, is wrong. It is undoubtedly wrong because God still resists the proud and gives grace to the humble, so evidence of God's grace may abound. Claiming to be the only ones who do right and that everyone else is wrong shows that their commandment or doctrine does not believe in what God has done. Such people are not believers in Christ; they are not Christians. God has been using believers worldwide for many generations to declare the Gospel of the grace of God and teach the way of salvation.
Asceticism is another false teaching that often appeals to sincere people. They try to humiliate themselves or go somewhere where no one is around to distract them from their thoughts. Others abandon their families, believing this is what God requires. All these rules and doctrines are simply burdens imposed on others by man.
We should turn away from such “forms of godliness” that lack power or biblical foundation and not be “carried away” by teachings that diminish the grace of God and the sacrificial work of Christ. Some people don’t know what God’s word says and aren’t aware of their ignorance. Others know they don’t know but choose not to seek understanding. The “appearance (show) of wisdom” by following rules and regulations may make people seem holy, but disobedience is driven by pride in one’s supposed ability to be righteous. The underlying belief behind that mindset is, “I do the best I can, so God is obligated to take me to heaven.”