"Tell Them That It's Human Nature" A Study of Galatians (Day 2, question 1)

 

"You foolish Galatians!  Who has cast a spell on you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified?" Galatians 3:1

In November of 2015, I started to listen to the Serial podcast investigation about the arrest of Adnan Syed, a 17 year old accused of killing his high school girlfriend in 1999.  The podcast became a cult classic, with millions downloading it.  I was obsessed.  I formed my own opinion based on evidence presented--not guilty.  But the courts had found him guilty, and he served 23 years in prison.  The podcast renewed interest, new "evidence" was presented, the conviction was vacated, and Adnan was freed from prison in August of 2022.  In my mind, that was the right decision.  Yet, TO THIS DAY, I go to twitter to check on the case, and I am easily swayed by random strangers' opinions about this random-stranger-turned-infamous-possible-criminal's innocence or guilt.  

Isn't that human nature?  We believe what's right before our eyes, but often only while it's right before our eyes.  Jesus Christ had been publicly portrayed as crucified to the Galatian church. The gospel--Jesus Christ, crucified, buried, resurrected, ascended to the Father, and coming again--had been recounted before them so clearly they could see it.  They KNEW it, they BREATHED it in, they took it to HEART, and they were motivated to ACTION because of it.  They were called by God through the grace of Christ. But then.....

Others came in with new opinions.  Maybe they were also eyewitnesses who wanted to spin the scene their own way.  It could have been people who were jealous of this growing group who followed a New Way.  We know for sure the new opinions came from old beliefs--Jesus, but still circumcision; Jesus, but still certain Holy Days. Even Peter, an original disciple and apostle of Jesus Christ, fell into some hypocritical actions.  Paul boldly stood up to Peter, so sure was he that the message he received from Christ was the same one that Peter had received in real time.  (Galatians 2:11)

Paul was amazed (in a bad way) that this group was so quickly turning away from what they'd embraced so tightly.  (Galatians 1:6-7) Paul would gladly take the curse he deserved if it was he who had taught them wrongly, (Galatians 1:8) but he spends several paragraphs reminding them of his own faithfulness to the truth of the gospel.  What Paul taught to the Galatian church was not heard as through a game of telephone between several people, but from the mouth of Jesus Christ Himself.  (Galatians 1:1--that's how he introduced himself!!)  

These "new teachers" were not offhandedly sharing opinions; they were courting the new converts, but not for good.  (Galatians 4:16)  The Galatians were running well, but the confusion has them losing their footing and stumbling.  This is NOT from God, the One who called them.  God is not a God of disorder but of peace.  (1 Corinthians 14:33)  Paul pleads with them not to follow these disturbing new trends.  (He sounds like a parent--"I wish I could come and use a tone with you, because I don't know what to do about you." [Gal. 4:20] and "I wish those who are disturbing you might also let themselves be mutilated!" [Gal. 5:12] 😧😧😧)

We don't know what the Galatians thought when they read this letter.  Maybe they were properly chastised and corrected [2 Tim. 3:16]  Maybe they said "Having an open mind is good.  It's human nature to embrace new ideas."   But Paul knows human nature starts with rebellion and ends with death.  Walking according to the Spirit starts submission to the gospel of Christ and ends with life in Him.  So with large letters written with his own hand, he reminds them that he only says the hard things because he loves them.  He will speak of nothing else but the gospel, and expects nothing less from his beloved children in the faith.  He finishes the letter like he starts it.  He prays the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ--the One who gave Himself for our sins to rescue us from this present age, from our own human nature--will be with them.  To Him be glory forever and ever.  Amen.  (Galatians 1:4-5 and Galatians 6:18)

We are also susceptible to wishy-washy faith.  In an age of social media, the Holy Word of God is presented to us by influencers as cutesy, folksy, common, flowery.  In an effort to make it more relatable and modern, so many have watered down the true majesty and miracle of God with us.  Less about us, more and all about God.      I pray that Jesus--who came to rescue US from THIS present evil age--will protect us from false gospels and teachers.  I pray He will protect us from our own human nature.  And I pray He will extend His grace and peace to us as we boast only in His cross.  For His glory, our good, and for the salvation of the world.  To Him alone be glory, forever and ever.