Spiritual Detox #7: “Do I Have to Become a Boring Christian?” — The End of the ‘Do’s and Don’ts’ List and True Holiness

by | Jan 12, 2026 | uncategorized

Estimated reading time: 20-25 minutes

Series: Myths and Truths of the Christian Life (Final Episode)

Keywords: legalism in the church, can christians drink alcohol, secular music, tattoos and the bible, colossians 2, romans 14, christian liberty, holiness inside out, christ and culture.

Introduction: The Panic of the Wardrobe Inspection

You have accepted Jesus. Your heart is light, your soul is saved, and you feel a joy you have never felt before. You are in the “honeymoon phase” of faith. But a few days or weeks later, the “inspection” begins. Maybe it comes from a well-meaning friend at church, a religious relative, or even your own uninformed conscience. Someone looks at you—at your playlist, your Netflix history, or your lifestyle—and says (or implies):

  • “Do you still listen to that band? That is secular music, it’s from the world.”
  • “Christians shouldn’t watch those kinds of movies.”
  • “A godly woman wouldn’t wear that kind of outfit.”
  • “You have a tattoo? Or you’re thinking of getting one? Oh, mercy…”
  • “You drank a glass of wine with dinner? Don’t you know that’s a sin?”

Suddenly, the Christian life, which seemed to be a relationship of love with a Father, turns into a minefield of rules. You begin to feel that to please God, you must become a “culturally dead” person. You feel like you need to throw away your record collection, stop going to the cinema, dress like someone from the 19th century, and speak only using Bible verses or “Christianese.”

A genuine fear arises: “If I am ‘myself,’ will God be offended? Do I need to become a religious robot to go to heaven?” Many new believers give up on their walk right here. Not because they don’t love Jesus, but because they cannot bear the crushing weight of the religious culture imposed upon them. They think: “If being a Christian means being this boring and judgmental, I can’t do it.”

If you are feeling suffocated by an endless list of “Do’s and Don’ts,” this article is your letter of emancipation. Today, we will end our Detox series by fighting the oldest villain in religion: Legalism. We will open the Bible to discover that God is not interested in the length of your skirt or the genre of your music, but in the inclination of your heart. We will learn the vital difference between Holiness (which attracts) and Moralism (which repels).

1. The Diagnosis: The Pharisee Virus (What is Legalism?)

First of all, we need to define the enemy. Legalism is the belief (conscious or unconscious) that I can gain God’s favor, achieve holiness, or maintain my salvation through the keeping of external rules and human codes of conduct.

Legalism is attractive to our human nature because it is measurable.

  • It is easy to measure if you drank a beer or not.
  • It is easy to measure if you have visible tattoos.
  • It is easy to measure if you attended the R-rated movie.

But it is impossible to measure, with the naked eye, if you are proud, envious, greedy, or if you lack love for your neighbor. That is why religious people love external rules. They provide a false sense of holiness and a convenient way to judge others. Jesus confronted this head-on with the Pharisees. They were the world champions of “usage and customs.” They tithed even on their garden spices (Matthew 23:23), but inside, Jesus said they were “whitewashed tombs”: white and beautiful on the outside, but full of dead men’s bones and impurity on the inside.

The Liberating Truth: God does not want your performance; He wants your love. Rules change behavior, but only Grace changes the heart. If you change on the outside without changing on the inside, you are not a Christian; you are just a tamed rebel.

2. The Biblical Vaccine: The Study of Colossians 2

Many people think this discussion about “can I or can’t I” is a modern issue. But the first-century church already suffered from this. In the city of Colossae, there were “faith inspectors” who told new converts that to be truly holy, they needed to follow strict diets, observe specific calendar days, and practice rituals of asceticism (severe self-discipline and avoidance of all forms of indulgence).

The Apostle Paul, annoyed by this slavery that was creeping into the church, writes one of the most brilliant defenses of Christian liberty in Colossians 2:20-23:

“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.”

It sounds like Paul is reading the “internal bylaws” of many modern legalistic churches. “Don’t touch, don’t taste, don’t do.” And he continues in verse 23, giving the verdict on the effectiveness of these rules:

“Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom… but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.”

Wow. Paul is saying that legalism is useless. You can forbid a teenager from listening to secular music, but you cannot rip the desire for sin out of their heart with that prohibition. On the contrary, prohibition often awakens desire (Romans 7). True holiness does not come from the outside in (rules), but from the inside out (Holy Spirit).

3. The Root of the Issue: What Really Defiles? (Mark 7)

Jesus went straight to the point when the Pharisees criticized Him because His disciples did not wash their hands ceremonially before eating (a breach of religious custom of the time, not a hygiene issue). Jesus called the crowd and said something revolutionary in Mark 7:15:

“Nothing outside a person can defile them by going into them. Rather, it is what comes out of a person that defiles them.”

And later He explains to the disciples:

“For it is from within, out of a person’s heart, that evil thoughts come—sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy…” (Mark 7:21-22)

Pay attention to Jesus’ list. He did not cite “eating pork,” “listening to drums,” or “wearing makeup.” He cited things of the heart. The problem is not the music that enters your ear; it is the malice that was already in your heart and that the music might feed. The problem is not the wine that enters the mouth; it is the drunkenness (lack of self-control) that comes out of the heart.

Legalism tries to clean the cup on the outside. The Gospel cleans the cup on the inside. And when the inside is clean, the outside naturally reflects that.

4. The Grey Zone: How to Handle What the Bible Doesn’t Forbid? (Romans 14)

“Pastor, but the Bible doesn’t specifically say if I can get a tattoo, or if I can play video games, or if I can smoke a cigar.” Exactly. The Bible is not a civil code with a law for every modern situation. It is a book of Principles.

For the “grey zones” (things that are not sin in themselves, like murder or adultery, but that generate doubt), Paul gives us the ultimate guide in Romans 14. At the time, the fight was about “eating meat sacrificed to idols” and “observing holy days.” Today, the fight is about culture, entertainment, and lifestyle.

Paul establishes three principles for navigating freedom:

A. The Principle of Personal Conviction

“Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind.” (Romans 14:5) If you think listening to a certain artist is a sin, for you it is a sin. Do not listen to it. If you violate your conscience, you are sinning because you are not acting in faith. But—and here is the catch—do not impose your conscience on the brother next to you. What is sin for you (because of your life history, past addictions, or weakness) may not be for him.

B. The Principle of the Stumbling Block

“Make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister.” (Romans 14:13) Do I have the freedom to drink a glass of wine? Biblically, yes (Jesus drank wine; Psalm 104 says wine gladdens the heart). But if I am having dinner with a recovering alcoholic who is struggling to stay sober, do I drink? No. Out of love for him, I give up my freedom. Christian freedom is not “I do what I want.” It is “I am free to serve and protect my brother.” If my freedom destroys someone for whom Christ died, it has ceased to be love and has become selfishness.

C. The Principle of Mastery

Paul says in 1 Corinthians 6:12: “I have the right to do anything, but not everything is beneficial. I have the right to do anything, but I will not be mastered by anything.” The test is: Does this master me? Is playing video games a sin? No. But if you stop praying, stop working, and stop paying attention to your wife to play 10 hours a day, it has become an addiction. It has become idolatry. The problem is not the game; it is the throne of your heart.

5. Practical Filters: How to Consume Culture Without Being Contaminated

So, how do we live in the world, listen to music, watch movies, and dress without being a “Gospel alien” and, at the same time, without contaminating ourselves with evil? Use the Philippians 4:8 Filter (“Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure… think about such things”).

Here are 3 questions to ask before consuming anything:

1. Does this work glorify sin? It is one thing for a movie to depict sin (the Bible depicts sin: David committed adultery, Cain killed, Lot got drunk). It is another thing for the work to glorify or encourage sin. Does the movie make you root for the adultery? Does the music make you want to objectify women or use violence? If the content is shaping your affections to love what God hates, stop consuming it.

2. Does this draw me closer to or push me away from God? This is the golden question. There are things that are neutral (not sin), but that cool down your spirit. They are “weights” (Hebrews 12:1). Maybe that friendship or that habit won’t send you to hell, but they prevent you from running fast toward heaven. Do you just want to be “saved,” or do you want to be “intimate”? Intimacy requires finer choices.

3. What is my motivation? Why do you want to wear that outfit? Is it because it’s stylish, or because you want to attract sexual attention and feel validated by lust? The clothes are the same, but the intention changes everything. God judges the intention. Why do you want to post that photo on Instagram? Is it to share a moment, or to cause envy?

6. The Danger of the “Annoying Christian”: Pushing People Away from Jesus

We need to talk about the damage that legalism causes to Evangelism. When we become the “Annoying Christian” or the “Fun Police” who only knows how to say “you can’t do that,” we distort the image of God to the world. The world looks at us and thinks: “God is a grumpy old man who hates joy, art, and pleasure.”

This is a lie! God invented colors, sounds, taste, sex (within marriage), laughter, and beauty. The Christian should be the most joyful and creative person in the world. C.S. Lewis (Narnia) and J.R.R. Tolkien (Lord of the Rings) were devout Christians and created incredible fantasy worlds. Bach composed music for the Glory of God.

You don’t need to isolate yourself from culture to be holy. You need to be Salt in the culture. Salt doesn’t stay in the salt shaker (in the church). Salt enters the meat (in the world) to give flavor and preservation. If you isolate yourself in a “Gospel bubble,” listening only to Christian music, watching only Christian movies, and talking only to Christian people, how are you going to influence the world? Jesus dined with sinners, went to wedding parties, and talked with outcasts. He was in the world, but He was not of the world. He did not get contaminated; He contaminated others with His light.

Conclusion: Holiness is Attractive

The summary of our Detox journey is this: Holiness is not a list of rules; it is a Person. Holiness is becoming like Jesus.

And do you know what is curious? Jesus was the holiest person who ever walked the earth, yet “sinful” people loved being near Him. Children ran to His lap. Outcasts sought Him out. The only people who felt uncomfortable around Jesus were the religious legalists.

True holiness is attractive. It shines. It smells like life. Legalism (false holiness) is repellent. It smells like mothballs and judgment.

Don’t be afraid to live. Don’t be afraid to appreciate good instrumental music, a classic movie, or a good conversation about sports or art. Just keep Jesus on the throne. If Jesus is the King of your heart, you can walk anywhere, and the Holy Spirit will be your internal “sensor.” When something is wrong, He will whisper: “Child, this doesn’t fit with us. Shall we leave?” And you will obey, not out of fear of hell, but out of love for His Presence.

You are free. Use your freedom to love.

Hearing Him Org — You will know the Truth, and the Truth will set you free.

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Now that you have completed the Spiritual Detox, you have cleared the ground. The debris of religiosity is gone. Now it is time to build the house. Our next step is the “Real Life” series, where we will learn to apply this freedom in your family, your work, and your finances.

But, so you don’t lose your rhythm, I recommend that you start reading the Bible with the eyes of Grace, not the Law. We have prepared a reading plan for beginners that will help you hear His voice without filters:

👉 Download the “Hearing the Voice” Reading Plan

Biblical References Used

  • Colossians 2:20-23 (Rules of “do not touch, do not taste” have no value against the flesh).
  • Mark 7:15-23 (What defiles is what comes out of the heart).
  • Romans 14 (The manual of Christian liberty and conscience).
  • 1 Corinthians 6:12 (Everything is permissible, but not everything is beneficial or should master me).
  • Matthew 23:23 (Pharisees strain out a gnat but swallow a camel).
  • Philippians 4:8 (The filter of what is pure, lovely, and admirable).
  • Hebreus 12:1 (Throwing off everything that hinders).

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