Friday, October 10, 2008
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...because he was clearly in the wrong!
Last night at home group, we were working our way through Galatians 2. Our theme for the night was justification through faith.... not really what I want to blog about now.
An aside to that theme, but a crucial part of the passage we were looking at is the interaction between Paul and Peter. We were quite fascinated in trying to nut out if this particular passage below has any relevance for our lives today.11When Peter came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he was clearly in the wrong. 12Before certain men came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he began to draw back and separate himself from the Gentiles because he was afraid of those who belonged to the circumcision group. 13The other Jews joined him in his hypocrisy, so that by their hypocrisy even Barnabas was led astray.14When I saw that they were not acting in line with the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter in front of them all, "You are a Jew, yet you live like a Gentile and not like a Jew. How is it, then, that you force Gentiles to follow Jewish customs?
Way back in Acts chapter 10 when Cornelius sent for Peter because of a dream, Peter had his own revelation regarding the Mosaic food laws of that which was clean and unclean and was challenged in regards to his interactions with the Gentiles. Yet here in Galatians 2 we find Peter going back to his old ways and we hear about Paul's direct opposition to the teaching that Peter was beginning to re advocate.
By today's standards this is a pretty bold move. Not only is it politically incorrect in our day and age to say that another 'person' is clearly in the wrong, but it is also considered somewhat rude within the Christian community as well.
Peter who by Jesus was called the rock upon which the church would be built (Matthew 16:18) was being accused by Paul of being lead astray by false teaching.
I would have to say I came away last night quite challenged in my world view. I don't really like making those kinds of judgments upon people, or their ministries. I would find it very difficult to say that somebody is clearly in the wrong. It is something that I really struggle with.
Yet it is there in black and white Paul did it. Paul went straight to Peter and got to the source of what he saw was a problem, a deviation from the gospel of Christ Jesus.How do you believe we are to act when we believe another Christian is not only being lead astray, but leading others astray by not acting in line with the truth of the gospel?
Is this simply a recount of something that happened between two biblically historical figures, that has no bearing on our lives today?
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Comments (5)
i listened to a teaching yesterday that i think may answer you question...
we are to use harsh words in the right context, at the appropriate times, towards certain people, with the right frame of mind...
words of comfort are to be spoken to the sheep
words of correction at swine (sheep who act like pigs)
words of violence at wolves (false teachers and heretics)
words of mockery at dogs (religious and pious nutjobs)
Comfort and grace are to be spoken to the sheep in such that if a guy who's reading his Bible asks a question, you answer gently and kindly or if a person who loves Jesus is hurting, you comfort, mourn with, weep with, embrace, protect etc.
Corrective words must be spoke to pigs or people who aren't acting rightly. The Bible makes fun of women who walk in excess, live w/o care or kindness, and are naggy and Scripture goes on to say that God will replace their riches with rags etc (look for the statement Cows of Basha)
Harsher words are to be aimed at the wolves. These are people who would come into a flock and lead them away from Jesus like false teachers and heretics. Martin Luther asked God to curse a heretic and he also made a big deal about the crap of the Papacy
Mocking words are to be dealt towards the religious types. Jesus did it to the Pharisees by making fun of the way they tithe, pray, fast, and even how they lead people. It was also to the point He loaded the verbal shotgun and fired it at the Pharisees (Matthew 23)
i think we are to act accordingly like Jesus did to various people... to the sheep we comfort, to the swine we correct, to the wolves we kill and to the dogs we mock and laugh at...
Paul did just that with Peter... Peter didn't live right and Paul had to see it and called him out on it... it's gotta be done because I know Paul didn't want Peter to end up like a blind guide the Pharisees were accused of.
and think, all of this is considered love... Read Galatians 5:11 on and see what goes on there for harsh shocking words...
I think this needs to be featured. I'm reccing.
And I'll answer later when I have more time.
I kind of had a blog melt down. Sorry.
But I missed your posts.
I think the bible is so candid it is refreshing. It could have made all the players seem perfect. But only one is perfect. And I think that is the point.
I am so imperfect that if I come off as all knowing, all spiritual, I am doing Christ a disfavor. If I can be perfect, I don't need Christ. If some one else can be perfect, none of us need Christ.
@bubbadirt@xanga - ((((((((( hugs )))))))))))) I am sorry about that. I am reminded constantly how much I need Jesus...... I just seem to stuff it up all the time.
x