storiesofvalue

Yet not even Titus, who was with me, was compelled to be circumcised, even though he was a Greek.  This matter arose because some false brothers had infiltrated our ranks to spy on the freedom we have in Christ Jesus and to make us slaves.  We did not give in to them for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might remain with you. (Galatians 2:3-5 NIV)

At the beginning of our study, I promised I would try to offer some unique perspectives on the book of Galatians, avoiding the obvious issue of circumcision and its place in the debate between Jews and Greeks.  But there are some passages that are so rooted in this issue, it cannot be ignored.

Now we have an insight into the reason Paul might have brought Titus with him to Jerusalem.  He had evidently been a point of contention with the Jewish troublemakers who had come to Antioch.  Titus was certainly not the only one being challenged with the subject of circumcision, but because he was an associate of the apostle Paul, he was especially vulnerable.  Once in Jerusalem, Paul would be able to say, “See…here is one of the young men they were talking about.  Interrogate him to see if there is some reason to doubt the sincerity of his faith.”

I have a question:  In another letters the apostle Paul talks about his willingness to meet the cultural demands of both Jews and Greeks to engage them with the gospel.  If Paul was careful not to put roadblocks in front of the message of Jesus, why didn’t he have Titus circumcised to keep from offending others?  Instead, he said, “We did not give in to them for a moment.”  This sounds like a stubborn act to me.

There was a time when Paul actually did have one of his young leaders circumcised for expediency’s sake.  The young man’s name was Timothy.  Timothy, however, was only half Greek, and because his mother was a Jew he had certain privileges in the Jewish community that provided inroads for the gospel.  Being uncircumcised would have limited his ability to take advantage of these opportunities.

Paul was reluctant to have a full Greek circumcised, even though it would have made his life and Titus’ life easier.  Or would it have?  Had he given in to the wishes of those who wanted to add to the requirements of the gospel, He would have sent a flawed message to the church then, and today.  He would have encouraged legalism: the adoption of man-made rules for the purpose of achieving righteousness with God.

This was a test case, and Paul had to stand his ground.  Be thankful he did.  His example stands as a testimony to fighters of legalism everywhere.

We are saved by grace, through faith…not of ourselves, lest any of us brag about our own self-righteousness (Ephesians 2:8).

This is the truth of the gospel.

Dear God, help me stay in the heart of the gospel.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Fourteen years later I went up again to Jerusalem, this time with Barnabas. I took Titus along also. I went in response to a revelation and set before them the gospel that I preach among the Gentiles. But I did this privately to those who seemed to be leaders for fear that I was running or had run my race in vain. (Galatians 2:1-2 NIV)

The chronology of Paul’s ministry is not a perfect science.  A good number of people believe the reference in this morning’s passage is to Paul’s participation in something called “The Jerusalem Council.”

The Jerusalem Council was a gathering of church leaders (which, of course, took place in Jerusalem), to address issues relating to Gentile Christians.  Were they to be circumcised to fulfill the sign of the Old Testament covenant?  What else might need to change in their practice or lifestyle for the cause of Christ.

Paul and Barnabas attended the council as a result of some trouble others from Judea had caused in Antioch (Home base for Paul and Barnabas).  In the end, the council concluded they should request that the Gentiles avoid sexual immorality and abstain from eating meat sacrificed to idols, of strangled animals and blood.

To make things interesting, Paul took Titus to the council meeting.  Titus was an uncircumcised Greek believer.  I will let you speculate as to whether Paul wanted Titus there for his personal growth as a leader, as a thorn to toss into the debate, or both.  One thing is for sure: it was harder for Christian leaders to carelessly address issues relating to Gentiles when they had one in their midst.

It is always harder to dismiss what God is doing when it is standing right before us…

When I was a kid, I had a distant relative no one wanted to be around.  It wasn’t that he was a bad person.  In fact, he was very friendly.  It’s just that…well…he never took a bath.  He didn’t have a bath.  He didn’t have running water.

Sometimes my relative would try, unsuccessfully to get someone to give him a ride.  Then he would ask my grandparents and they would say yes.  They would complain.  Oh, they would complain!  But they never said no.  And when he rode with us, we treated him like one of the family.

My relative would attend church too.  He would sit near the front.  And he would sing at the top of his lungs.  His voice wasn’t too bad.   But he smelled…really bad.  A lot of people complained about the smell.  Yet, they sat near him.  Some even sat next to him and held a song book with him.  They talked with him, smiled at him and treated him like one of the family…the church family.

It is really hard to ignore the heart of God in someone, even if there is something about them we don’t like.  That’s why the worse thing we can do is put a wall up between ourselves and the people God needs us to love.

Titus was a problem.  He was a good problem…but a problem.  I can’t help but think Paul knew exactly what he was doing.

Dear God, keep my eyes open to the things You are doing.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

And they praised God because of me. (Galatians 1:24 NIV)

This verse sounds a little egotistical out of context, don’t you think?  Paul is “too spiritual” for his own good.

Not really.  You will remember, in our earlier devotion, Paul talked about his spiritual journey following his conversion in Damascus.  After leaving the city of Damascus, under the cloak of darkness, he went to Arabia for three years of reflection and ministry retooling.  Then he returned to Damascus and prepared for the most critical visit of his life: Jerusalem.

In Jerusalem, Christians remembered Paul’s approval of the stoning of Stephen, an early leader in the church.  In Jerusalem, they recalled his threats, persecutions and murders.  And in Jerusalem, they knew the young Pharisee would stop at nothing to prove his worth to the enemies of the cross.

When Paul reached Jerusalem, he tried to join with the disciples there.  “Hey guys, it’s me, Paul!  Remember when I was Saul and I persecuted you?  But I don’t do that anymore!  Come on now… ‘group hug’ everyone…”

Ok, so we aren’t told that’s what Paul said, but maybe that’s what he hoped would happen.  But it didn’t.  In Acts, Luke tells us the believers in Jerusalem were afraid of him, and didn’t buy his story that he was a follower of Jesus (9:26).

Fortunately, a man by the name of Barnabas intervened.  Barnabas knew the story of Paul’s conversion and his bold proclamation of the gospel in Damascus.  And he had enough respect among the believers in Jerusalem to put their fears at ease.  From that point on Paul moved about freely in the city and preached the message of Jesus.  This doesn’t mean everyone liked him.  But the church supported him.  This is why he wrote, “and they praised God because of me.”

They praised God because Paul was a changed man and was being used mightily for the sake of the gospel.  They praised God because Paul was on their side, instead of trying to destroy them.  And they praised God because Paul was obviously a well-educated man with a bright future, and could make a major contribution to the kingdom.  But most importantly, they praised “God” because they credited Him with the transformation.

As I reflected on this passage, I was convicted of the fact I spend too much time focusing on the people God calls, and not enough time thinking about His role in the process.  I don’t mean we should fail to encourage those who turn their lives around and use them for the Lord.  In fact, that’s what this morning’s passage is about: the feeling of encouragement Paul felt from the believers in Jerusalem.  It’s just that the credit for the work being done ultimately goes to God.  It takes courage and resolve to change, but it takes grace and the regenerative power of the blood of Christ to cleanse.

Offer praise when lives are changed.  Hug new believers and tell them you are proud of the steps they have taken in their lives.  But give God the greatest praise.  Without the gracious gift of His Son Jesus, a clean heart would be impossible.

Dear God, open my eyes to the work You are doing.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

…nor did I go up to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before I was, but I went immediately into Arabia and later returned to Damascus.  Then after three years, I went up to Jerusalem to get acquainted with Peter and stayed with him fifteen days.  I saw none of the other apostles–only James, the Lord’s brother.  I assure you before God that what I am writing you is no lie.  Later I went to Syria and Cilicia.  I was personally unknown to the churches of Judea that are in Christ.  They only heard the report: “The man who formerly persecuted us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.” (Galatians 1:17-23 NIV)

This passage is a treasure because it gives us insight into the Apostle Paul’s post-conversion activities.

It is a little hard to discern the exact length of these activities in Paul’s timeline.  We know he was on his way to Damascus when Jesus appeared to Him, and it was in that city Ananias came to explain the special ministry Paul was going to have to the Gentiles.  After this Ananias led Paul away to be baptized.

We are also told in Acts 9 that Paul began to boldly proclaim the message of Jesus in Damascus, and that the other believers had to help him escape in a basket through the city wall by night.  The difficulty comes as we try to figure out how long Paul was actually in Damascus before his hasty departure.  His personal account suggests he went away “immediately,” but Acts reminds us he still had time to stir things up with the gospel before he left.

Paul traveled to Arabia after his escape from Damascus.  Why?  One writer has suggested he did so in the spirit of the great prophet Elijah, who went into the desert to escape the wrath of Ahab and Jezebel.  The desert gave him time to commune with God, cleanse his soul and contemplate a strategy for ministry.

I personally think it is interesting that Paul waited three years to go to Jerusalem.  Jerusalem was the nerve center of the early church, and certainly he would have wanted to have conversations with the leaders there about his calling from God.  But remember, Jerusalem was where Paul had supervised the murder of Stephen as he was stoned like a dog in the streets.  He was probably wise to wait as he established his reputation and gave the pain of the Jerusalem Christians time to subside.

This important thing I see here is the fact Paul didn’t leave a life of zealously persecuting the church and begin leading the church overnight.  It took time.  His salvation was instantaneous, but his ability to influence others came later.

Perhaps you have heard the phrase, “forgiveness is immediate, but trust takes time.”  Sometimes people who have hurt others deeply as a result of a sin can’t understand why others don’t trust them.  They reason, “Jesus said we should forgive.”  Yet, truly forgiveness does not demand trust.  Don’t get me wrong: trust can be restored.  It’s just a different thing.  And those with the wisdom of the Apostle Paul do what they have to do to regain it.

Dear God, teach us to have the right expectations of others.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

But when God, who set me apart from birth and called me by his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not consult any man, (Gal 1:15-16 NIV)

How is someone set apart from birth and called by grace?

Obvious issues swirl around this question.  If we are set apart from birth, then why do we need grace?  If God has already chosen us for a purpose, do we really need anything else?

And if we are called by grace, does that mean we were predestined to find grace because we were set apart from birth?  As well, are the only people who are called by grace those who have also been set apart from birth?

In my humble opinion, and in full recognition of the fact I am dabbling in one of the most profound theological debates in human history, we can be set apart for a purpose from birth, but our decision to live for God and step into that purpose is a choice.  In other words, I am convinced many people have not fulfilled the purpose for which God set them apart because they insist on living for themselves.

When we make our decision to live for God, we need grace.  Imperfect human beings cannot face a holy God without it.  In addition, grace involves more than forgiveness.  It includes everything God gives to equip us for our mission.

Thus, I would say the apostle Paul was set apart from birth to be a special minister to the Gentiles.  God brought circumstances together in his life to prepare him specifically for that purpose.  However, had Paul refused Jesus on the road to Damascus, or ignored Ananias who later said, “And now, what are you waiting for?  Arise and be baptized!” he would have missed out.

That’s right…I think one can miss his destiny.  Oh, we will all have a destiny, as we will all arrive at a destination.  But the decision to make it the one God has in mind is up to us.

Admittedly, even after we accept the saving grace of Jesus, it can be hard to discern the purpose for which God has set us apart.  And I personally believe not everyone has a single purpose for which they have been called.  For example, God might have set me apart at birth to show compassion on the broken-hearted.  But he may have left it up to me to figure out where and how I was going to do it.  On the other hand, He might have designed an entire ministry for the needy and given me the passion and gifts to start it.  It is possible I might miss the plan because I reject grace, or because I fail to consider any of the promptings God has brought into my life.

The bottom line is God has plans.  He has all kind of plans.  In most cases, I think He even has options, all of which are honorable.

So how do we figure out where He wants us?  Well, first, we give ourselves completely to Him and let Him wash us with His grace.  Then we start the process of discernment.  I don’t know about you, but I’m still processing.

Dear God, reveal Your plan to me.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

For you have heard of my previous way of life in Judaism, how intensely I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it.  I was advancing in Judaism beyond many Jews of my own age and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers. (Galatians 1:13-14 NIV)

This may go without saying, but it is important that we not equate Judaism with Paul’s persecution of the church.  Not all Jews persecuted the church.  In fact, the first church was distinctly Jewish.  Jesus was Jewish.  His family was Jewish.  His apostles were Jewish.  The first three thousand believers baptized into Jesus on the Day of Pentecost were Jewish.

Yet, in Jesus’ day, the Jewish Sanhedrin and other prominent leaders were clearly against Him.  Their hatred wasn’t racist, since He was thoroughly Jewish, descended on His human side from the line of King David.  Rather, it was theological and political.  Theologically, Jesus wasn’t the kind of Messiah the leadership had been expecting.  They assumed He would come to overthrow their Roman oppressors and join them in condemning the unrighteous.  Instead, He warmed up to sinners and tax-collectors and criticized them for their hypocrisy.  No, Jesus wasn’t anything like what they expected.  Politically, Jesus was a threat to the system of self-righteous bullying some of the Jewish leaders had spent their life constructing and upholding.  The crowds were chasing after Him, and they were losing their credibility one miracle and parable at a time.

This is why, following the death and resurrection of Jesus, and the birth of the church, Paul found people ready to embrace his zeal.  He was one of the brightest of the young Pharisees, and what better way for a budding Sanhedrin leader to show his abilities than to persecute the church?

I am thinking today of how multiple pieces of an evil influence can come together at a point and time, and line up to bring pain into other’s lives.  Why?  Because people who are determined to hurt others seem to have special radar that brings them together, and once they become kindred in spirit, they set out on their path of destruction.  Bullies, persecutors and antagonists rarely come together to do good although they will may claim they are merely trying to set things right.  And in their madness, they sometimes proceed with a blind zeal that loses any sense of compassion for those they are hurting.

This was Paul, or perhaps I should say “Saul” as he was called before his conversion.  He found a star to attach his career to in the Sanhedrin, and they found a vehicle for their hatred.  And the rampage that ensued was merciless.

I have always sensed Paul took these walks down memory lane so his Jewish brothers would understand he knew what it was like to be in their sandals.  He “got” the logic behind their tirades, and was willing to admit how he too had lost his perspective.  I don’t know how much effect these kinds of discourses had on enemies of the cross, but they certainly made some stop and reflect on their actions.

Reflection is a good thing.  We can easily lose perspective and find ourselves working against the very things God is trying to do through us and around us.  Zeal is a good thing too.  We just need to remember it is not inherently good.

Dear God, help me be zealous about the right things.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.     

I want you to know, brothers, that the gospel I preached is not something that man made up.  I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ. (Galatians 1:11-12 NIV)

Paul preached salvation by grace, not works.  He reached out to Gentiles and Jews alike and drew them to the cleansing blood of Jesus.  Those who wished to make Old Testament ceremonial rules binding on Christians were ignoring the significance of the cross.  They were also promoting man-made rules that had been heaped on God’s original directives.

But Paul’s words were a reflection of his experience with Jesus in a vision on the road to Damascus.  His motivation was pure.  He merely wanted people to know the Savior, and discover His peace.

This morning’s passage reminds me of a song written by Rich Mullins many years ago.  It was based on the Apostle’s Creed, a centuries old statement of faith outlining the New Testament gospel.  As a matter of clarification, the word “catholic” in the creed doesn’t refer to a specific religious body, but simply to the universal church.  Here is the creed:

The Apostle’s Creed

1. I believe in God the Father, Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth:

2. And in Jesus Christ, his only begotten Son, our Lord:

3. Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary:

4. Suffered under Pontius Pilate; was crucified, dead and buried: He descended into hell:

5. The third day he rose again from the dead:

6. He ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty:

7. From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead:

8. I believe in the Holy Ghost:

9. I believe in the holy catholic church: the communion of saints:

10. The forgiveness of sins:

11. The resurrection of the body:

12. And the life everlasting. Amen.

Here is a refrain added by Rich in his song, based on this morning’s passage:

“And I believe what I believe is what makes me what I am.  I did not make it no it is making me It is the very truth of God and not the invention of any man”

And here is a YouTube video of Rich:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9LR2hFP1yb4

It is the very truth of God!

Dear God, thank You for revealing Your truth.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ. (Galatians 1:10 NIV)

Some criticisms are nonsensical.

Perhaps you heard the recent story of a lifeguard who was fired for helping save a life.  It turns out he disobeyed company policy by responding to a need outside of his watch.  I think most us can understand why such a policy would exist.  If lifeguards had no parameters for their service, lives could be lost when they were not where they needed to be.  But in this case, it was discovered the lifeguard in question did not leave his assignment abandoned, and upon further review the company offered to rehire him.

Sometimes a little research will exonerate good people.  And in the end we are reminded how important it is to give people who have proved to be trustworthy the benefit of the doubt.

It is obvious to me, the apostle Paul had been the victim of criticism.  His work with the Gentiles had produced some deep and meaningful relationships, but also created some vicious enemies.

When we disagree with others, it is common to judge their motives.  After all, there must be some selfish reason behind their insistence on doing something we don’t like.  Therefore, it appears there were those who were suggesting Paul’s was ignoring Old Testament ceremonial regulations to win a popularity contest with the Gentiles.

Paul’s answer struck this nonsensical note: “If I wanted to please men, do you think I would be a servant of Christ?  Do you think I would allow myself to be beaten, imprisoned, mocked, hunted and…criticized?” (My paraphrase)   Of course not…

Criticism has many causes and kinds.  We call some criticism “constructive” when it attempts to make people or the things they do better.  I am thankful for constructive criticism in my life.  In fact, over the years I have learned to embrace and even yearn for it.  I still get defensive at times (especially when I know I am right), but more and more I look forward to the advice and input of people I respect who care about me.

But some criticism is born out of jealousy, greed, resentment and a host of other heart issues.  If someone has what we want, we tear them down with criticism.  If they don’t give us what we want, we seek to eliminate them as obstacles through gossip and slander.  More than one good person has been destroyed for saying “no” to someone or something he believed in his heart to be wrong.

Jesus once said before we pick the speck out of our brother’s eye we should remove the beam from our own.  I have noticed some people interpret this to mean once they think the beam has been removed they have the “all clear” to start picking.  I don’t think this is Jesus’ point.  I think His point is, “it is always easier to tear down what we don’t like than it is to be honest about why we don’t like it, and whether we are justified in our perspective.

Have a critical mind, but not a critical heart.  If you aren’t careful, in the heat of the moment you might destroy a faithful servant of Christ.  And I feel sure that is a bad thing.

Dear God, help me give people credit.  In Jesus’ name, Amen. 

But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned!  As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let him be eternally condemned! (Galatians 1:8-9 NIV)

Could an angel preach?

They have before you know.  The birth narrative of Jesus is packed full of angelic proclamations, including the appearance of the angels to Mary and Joseph, and the announcement to the shepherds on the hillside.  And it was angels who first said, “He is risen!”

Of course, we don’t find angels being sent as traveling evangelists, moving from town to town with the gospel.  This was a human vocation as God chose “jars of clay” to share His good news.

I promised I would try to look for unique messages in our study of Galatians.  Since the obvious message in this morning’s passage is clear, permit me the opportunity to take us in a little different direction.

The word used for the science of Biblical interpretation is “hermeneutics.”  Actually, this word is the general word for any kind of textual interpretation, but you will find it most commonly referenced in Biblical scholarship.  I encourage you to spend some time with this importance science.  Whether we realize it or not, our chosen “hermeneutic” greatly influences how we understand the Bible.

Within the subject of hermeneutics are terms that describe methods of communication.  These terms help us sort through difficult passages in the Bible.  One such term is “hyperbole.”  A hyperbole is a statement that is highly unlikely or impossible, but one that is used to capture the reader’s attention or make a point.  My mother used to tell me if I didn’t behave she was going to discipline me and added, “There won’t be anything left but a little grease spot on the floor.”  Would she have really reduced me to a dab of Crisco?  I never pushed her far enough to find out.

My mother was using hyperbole to make her point.  Jesus used it too (I will let you think through some of His teachings and identify your own examples).  And we find it this morning in Paul’s letter to the Galatians.  Yes, an angel could have come down from heaven and preached.  But it probably wasn’t going to happen.  However, had it happened, even the very angels of heaven would not have been able to escape the wrath of God should they distort the gospel.

The message is: If angels aren’t safe, then what do you think God is going to do to you?

Message received.

This little grease spot doesn’t have to be told twice.

Dear God, thank You for making sure I understand Your point.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel–which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. (Galatians 1:6-7 NIV)

“Some people” are those who wanted the Galatians to practice Old Testament ceremonial laws as criteria for righteousness.  The result was confusion.

Why would people who had received the good news of salvation by grace, through faith, “quickly” revert to a righteousness based on works?  Didn’t they know they had been made righteous by the blood of Jesus?

I am certain they did.  So why were they so easily misled?

I have some theories, based on my observation of human nature:

1.  We are easily led into things that are comfortable.  It is comforting to do all of the things we used to do with the same familiar people, in the same familiar places.  This is why we enjoy holidays and reunions.  Many familiar things are enjoyable.  But just because we enjoy something doesn’t mean it is necessary, or binding on others.

2.  We are easily led into things that others are doing.  We are usually fine on our current path until a good friend says, “Hey, you are missing something over here.”  Given a choice between our closest relationships and our commitment to a cause, our relationships often win out.

3.  We are easily led into things that build up our ego.  I will be very honest with you.  I will put up with a lot of pain if it means I am going to be the center of attention.  And there are other ways we feed our ego besides being center stage.  Works-based salvation, for example, can give us the false impression we are good enough to earn God’s favor.

There were certainly people in Galatia who honestly felt, after second thought, that they needed to follow Old Testament practices for righteousness’ sake.  Realize, I am not talking about the moral principles found in the Law, but rather the ceremonial rules and regulations associate with the sacrificial system that existed before the cross.  Yet, I suspect, this theological error could have been corrected had it not been for some of the human factors I have mentioned here.

Humans are highly irrational for rational beings.  We do what we don’t want to do, because that’s what we decide we want.  We go where we don’t want to go because we decide to go there.  And we choose what we know we don’t need because we can’t live without it.

These lines of logic sound bizarre, I know, but they make perfect sense to us when we are in the midst of making decisions.

During our study of Galatians, I believe we will learn some lessons about holding our ground in the face of irrationality.  But for now, I will simply say if something doesn’t make good sense to us, there is a good chance it is indeed senseless.

Dear God, help me think clearly.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.