Galatians 3 – Who are you looking at?

When I was little, the adults in my life tried to help me.  One sentence that stuck in my head is “Normal people act this way, or normal people do this.”

My poor first grade teacher reached the end of her rope and decided to use it on me.  “Kimmy, you need help remembering to stay in your seat,” she said.  “This will help.”  She then placed a gigantic jump rope across my lap.  I could barely move let alone wiggle out of my chair.  Eventually, the big jump rope disappeared, and Miss Hayes used even more drastic measures – she tied me to my chair.

One thing was for sure.  The way people acted was important, and I couldn’t figure out the formula.  (I have no idea how my parents survived.)

The Galatians were much like a kid who doesn’t have the ‘formula’.  Paul taught them about grace and listening to the Spirit, a non-formulaic way of knowing God.  Then Paul left.

Soon enough, along came some people who wanted to help them look like ‘normal’ Christians.  Here, let us help you.  These are the rules to being a Christian.  First you have to look this way, abide by Jewish rules – then you can experience real grace. The Galatians wanted a full experience.  They were willing to do whatever it took.

The problem was that the people who brought in the Jewish law brought in a covenant that taught people to look at themselves as different.  Where were they looking?  At themselves.  Where did God want them to look?  At Him.  The reason Jesus died on the cross was to fulfill the old covenant so that people would be free to look at God and let Him do the work on the inside of their hearts.

New behavior now comes out of new focus and regeneration, not outward training.

In the beginning of Galatians 3, Paul asks five major questions:

• Who has bewitched you?
• Did you receive the Spirit by observing the law, or by believing what you heard?
• After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort?
• Have you suffered so much for nothing—if it really was for nothing?
• Does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you because you observe the law, or because you believe what you heard?

He is asking:  Are you crazy?  Don’t you remember why you have the Spirit to begin with?  This isn’t just another religion.  You have come so far and it hasn’t been easy – why have you fallen to trying to do it on your own?

Here are my questions today:

• When someone comes to Christ, do we rejoice in their freedom, or do we give them a month or two and then start trying to show them how to be a ‘real’ Christian?

• Do we focus on outward things, or do we teach people how to focus on God and let Him do the work?

• It is so much harder to teach people to listen to Jesus and do what He says than it is to teach them how to conform to a standard.  It is easier to get people ‘cleaned up’ and then teach them to follow Jesus than it is to teach them to follow Jesus in their broken down, falling apart lives that are usually filled with other people who don’t know Him.

• When excellent leadership teaches us to ‘duplicate ourselves’, are we trying to duplicate our ability to spend hours on our face in carpet-eating prayers because we haven’t got a clue, or are we trying to duplicate our put-together selves that we got as a result?

When a leader disappoints

Right in the middle of this letter of confrontation, Paul describes how he confronted Peter.

Have you ever been tempted to not live up to your ideals?  Have you ever been disappointed by a leader who didn’t live out what they preached?

This passage is terrific for two reasons. First, we will see the temptations of a leader, and second, we will see the incredibly gracious way that Paul confronts Peter.

Temptation of a Leader

• “before certain men came from James” – Sometimes get our brain on backwards and begin to perform for all of the voices in our lives instead of the ‘audience of One’ (God).  We view ourselves in light of how others ‘might’ see us.  We place others’ opinions in place of God so that we no longer see ourselves the way He sees us.
• “he was afraid” – we act on others opinions instead of discerning the Word.
• When you are in a position of leadership, people will follow you – no matter where you lead.  Make sure you are going where God wants people to go.

How Paul Confronted Peter

1. He reminded Peter of his allegiance to the gospel
2. He led with a question, comparing Peter’s actions to the gospel

It looks something like:  “You don’t eat wheat.  Why are you eating a scone?”  (yes, that was me on Tuesday.)  Direct, but not “you are such a hypocrite!  I can’t believe you could do this to me!… “

There is definitely a difference in these two approaches.  Leaders are people and many times they disappoint us.  God give us the grace to hold them with the respect and honor we would want ourselves and confront them in a way that brings correction instead of destruction.

What to do when you may be wrong

(This is a continuation of our Galatians series.  If you missed the rest, you will find them here.)

Paul brought the gospel to the gentiles for 14 years.  He was a tent maker, so he didn’t become a great evangelist and make great money at it, wearing the latest robes, walking through the town square letting people pay tribute.  He had a pattern.  He went into a town, talked to the Jews, if they rejected the message of Christ, he went to the gentiles.

For 14 years, he went from town to town preaching the gospel.  Barnabas was his constant companion.  Along the way, Titus joined him.  We know from Acts that he made friends in many of the towns, people valued his ministry and were willing to listen to his direction as he sent them letters from other parts of the Mediterranean world.

But then an issue arose.  Probably at first, there were some detractors, but the issue became large enough that it began to interfere with Paul’s ministry.  People began saying that Paul’s approach to the gospel was wrong.  These men were very serious.  They felt that one had to follow Jewish custom in order to partake of the grace offered by Jesus.  The tension caused by this group reached such a pitch that you can hear the juices churning in Paul’s stomach as he describes them to the Galatians:

“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.” (2:4-5)

I think it is interesting that Paul didn’t call them “warmongers” or “tools of the enemy” or something.  He called them “ones who ostensibly know Christ but don’t have Christian knowledge or piety” (false brothers).   Paul treated them as people who were ignorant and questioned their witness, but he didn’t take their arguments lightly as we will see.

With the pressure on, and stomach juices churning, Paul finally decided to do something about it.  So today, we get to learn from his example.

What to do when people say you are wrong:

1. Be humble.  Paul was willing to be wrong.
2. Find the most reputable authorities that you can and get their input.  Paul went to Peter, James and John.  He presented his entire message to them and asked for their review.  Paul told the Galatians that it wasn’t because they were important, but because they knew God best.
3. Be willing to accept the review findings.
4. Let the end be the end.  You will always have opponents.  Don’t let them get in your head.  If you have good people walking with you, keeping you on track, AND you stay in humble acceptance of their reviews, then you need to stay focused on doing what God has called you to do.

 

Discern Good Theology

So far in our study of Galatians 1, we have discovered that in order to stay focused on following Jesus, you need to:

1. Know God’s Voice

2.  Have Mentors and Let Them Speak Into Your Life.

Today, we discover that you also need to be discerning.

3.  Double Check What You Hear

Don’t blindly follow anyone. Everyone who isn’t God is fallible. If 20th and 21st Century living has taught us anything, it is that even the most connected, upright people can be royal screw ups.

Seriously, even double check yourself. Sometimes we can come up with really great theology because we went on a carb binge – then, when we bring it to the light of day and a good scripture reflection, we discover it is total rubbish.

Paul knew this. He said “But even is we… should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you.” Don’t forget to include yourself in the people whose doctrine you are double checking.

Where do you think bad theologies come from? Many of them come from (usually) wonderful people who love God, and experienced Him dramatically (either in a positive or negative situation), and want everyone else to do so as well. They then “discern” a theology based on their experience, thereby letting their experience speak to scripture, instead of letting scripture speak to their experience. We call this “experiential theology”.

When your focus become how you have experienced God, instead of God himself, you begin to miss God little by little until you have missed Him entirely.

So, spend time with God, listening to Him (reading His Word and praying), have mentors who speak into your life, and let scripture be your guide.

Rock Solid Mentor

It’s not easy to let people into your head. We don’t want people to tell us we’re wrong. Especially if our thinking is making life seem a little easier.

A mentor is an important part of keeping a balanced theology. Paul spent a long time getting to know God and listening to His voice. Then he went and found a mentor.

Paul didn’t just pick any mentor. He already had Barnabas (See Acts 9), but he deliberately looked for someone else. I don’t doubt that he trusted Barnabas, but Peter had personality traits that Barnabas didn’t have. Peter was also in Jesus’ inner circle. He had one more benefit to Paul that Barnabas didn’t have – he wasn’t in Paul’s inner circle. He hadn’t been influenced by Paul’s journey. Paul spent 15 days with Peter. He also saw James.

Who speaks into your life? What do you look for in a mentor? How do you know that they have centered theology?

How Well Do You Know God’s Voice?

This week, I’d like to start a more leisurely stroll through Galatians. Have you noticed how many people out there have a different idea how to follow God? In Galatians 1, Paul noticed too. He gave the Galatians some very good pointers on how to stay focused on Jesus and not be distracted by all the popular preachers and flavor of the month “best practices to powerful spirituality”.

Today: Know God’s Voice.

Paul knew God’s voice. There is really no substitute. If you don’t know if God is speaking to you, or if it is somebody else, you need to wait on God and ask Him.

I know that there are some times in life when God just seems to be silent. The best advice I have ever heard on this is “keep doing what God last told you, until you hear from Him again.”

What if God still isn’t talking? Is there something in your life that God told you to do or stop doing that you haven’t obeyed? This will stop His voice. You have to obey to keep the lines of communication open. The fruit of repentance is open lines of communication between you and God.

Paul spent time getting to know God. His first goal wasn’t “how to look like he belonged.” He was very good at belonging as a Jew, and he knew that following Jesus was different. So, instead of trying to fit into this new social network, he went immediately into Arabia. In fact, Paul’s whole argument in Galatians 1 is that his doctrine wasn’t formed by other Christians, but by getting to know God.

How well do you know God’s voice?

How to Confront in Love

That knot builds in the pit of your stomach.

You avoid thinking about the problem for days.  Finally, you avoid the person all together.

God has made it obvious to you that there is a problem and you are the person He want to confront your friend/loved one about it.

How can you confront someone in love?  Personally, I think there are several good models.  I happen to be reading Galatians this morning, and found a model I thought I’d share:

1. Set a background – Paul spends the first 2 of six chapters setting up his confrontation.  A full third of the book.  He reminds them of his personal story.
2. Confront succinctly – Very briefly, Paul states his frustration.
   1. Lead with a question – the majority of Paul’s confrontation is in the form of a question – “Did you receive the Spirit by observing the law, or by believing what you heard?”
   2. Address the root – Paul spent the next chapter and a half assuring the Galatians that they were Children of Promise, and didn’t need to ‘earn their stripes.”  Interestingly, he doesn’t identify their feelings for them, he just addresses the root.
3. Show them your personal concern – Although Paul comes on strong in the beginning, he now lets them know he cares for them, is concerned for their well-being, that he loves them.
4. Remind them of your history – Paul reminds them of their shared history, of their personal relationship.
5. Provide a healed vision for the future – Paul then paints a vision for the future in chapters 5 & 6.  These chapters might say “this is what victorious living looks like.”

In short:

• Set the stage
• Confront
• Confirm  Relationship
• Show Vision for a Positive Future

Telling someone things they don’t want to hear is never easy.

How do you know when you have to confront someone in love?  When it is the most loving thing to do.

Deeply Rooted Part 4

Jeremiah 17:7 says:

“But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD,
whose confidence is in him.”

In a quick review, in order to be deeply rooted, on needs to:

• be teachable,
• not have the habits of sinners,
• make sure you get your counsel from godly people
• make time for God
• consider His approach throughout your day

Today we add:

• Put your Hope in Him
• Put your Trust in Him
• Walk in Confidence
  

We looked at the physical and the mental.  Today we look at the emotional.  Where do you get your emotional strength?  Where do you take your stand?

When Israel had enemies facing them down, they had to make a decision.  Who would they trust in?  Would they trust in God, or would they run to Egypt and ask for help from the ones who had all the horses and chariots?  The outcome of this decision showed whom they really trusted.  They ‘put their trust’ in the source that they thought would save them.  (See 2 Kings 18 for more of this exciting story)

“hope”, “trust”, and “confidence” are often found together.

First, you discipline your emotions and direct them to God and not any place else, placing your hope in Him.

Then, you make the decision to put your trust in Him, cutting off other options – this usually means that you choose to stop trying to do things on your own, but you trust God for His answers to your situation.

Last, you walk in confidence.   This is an act of faith most of the time.  Think about Shadrack, Meshack and Abednego.  They said to the king – we won’t bow down, God can save us, but even if He doesn’t we will still worship Him only.  They put their Hope in God, they Trusted Him, and then they walked in the Confidence of that decision.

Deeply Rooted Part 3

Psalm 1:2 says:

But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
and on his law he meditates day and night.

Yesterday, we saw that the first part of being deeply rooted had to do with our actions.  Today, the language is primary having to do with our mind.

What do you delight in?

When the day is said and done, what is the first thing you look forward to doing?

I was watching “The Devil Wears Prada” the other night, and there was a telling line:  “the person whose calls you always take?  That’s the relationship you are in.”  Wow!  This hit me on so many levels.  First, how many times do I put my family on ignore?  Second, how many times do I put God on “ignore”?  Not because I want to ignore either of them, but because I’m sure they will all be there “later”.

I have found that in a world that rewards sacrifice, I have a tendency to sacrifice the things that are not sacrificable – my relationships with my family and my relationship with God.

“What do you delight in?”  May not be the right question today.  It may be “what do you make time for?”

Second, what do you think about day and night?  We measure everything against a matrix.  Our matrix is either a worldly standard of what ’should be’, and emotional standard of what is ’safe’, or God’s standard of ‘this is similar to x,y,z in the Bible, and this was God’s answer.’  We need to be bold enough to look outside the box for God’s answers in light of who He is.

So our second step to deep roots is:

• Make time for God
• Consider His approach throughout your day.

Deeply Rooted Part 2

Psalm 1:1  says:

Blessed is the man
who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked
or stand in the way of sinners
or sit in the seat of mockers.

The first step to having deep roots is grounded in the physical.  This verse has three primary verbs:  walk, stand, sit.  Now, this is where I find life very interesting.  You see, Jesus sat with tax collectors.  He was a friend to those where weren’t religious.  Those of his day would have certainly felt he violated this verse.  How can you be like Jesus, a friend to sinners, and still have deep roots?

Where are you walking?  Are you walking in the counsel of the wicked, or are you walking with the wicked and counseling them?

Where are you standing?  Are you standing “in the way” or do you “have the habits of” sinners, or do you stand with sinners and watch their habits change because they have become your friend?

Sitting in the seat of scorners – well, looking at the original language doesn’t help much here – it means what it says.  However, if you investigate the word scorner or mocker more, you find that it appears to be synonymous with “fool” or “unteachable” – someone who is closed minded and not willing to take in another point of view.

So, the first step to being deep rooted is to

• be teachable,
• not have the habits of sinners,
• make sure you get your counsel from godly people.