Posted by Joseph Wilson in Theology
So I've been thinking a lot about the way I do ministry in light of where God has put me, (Acts 17.)
I've been doing a Bible study with a couple of guys from my church, going through Galatians. The whole book is about Paul refuting the Jewish believers who are forcing their rules, customs, and culture on the newly accepted Gentile believers. Although we're only in chapter 2, Paul has already argued that religion, (and the cultural customs that come along with it,) don't justify men before God, only Jesus can, through his death and resurrection.
For me this is very convicting as a 21st century Christian living in the USA, (totally cliche' right?) Being a church kid that became saved at an early age, I've been surrounded by the Christian culture most of my life. There are certain rules, I've followed, certain people I associate myself with, certain beliefs that I don't question, etc... So one thing I struggle with is being judgmental of my fellow bros & sis who are Christians but haven't been brought up in the same religious culture I have. Most of them have a lot more baggage, (although that's pretty relative!) and just "don't get it," when it comes to "living" the Christian lifestyle. I struggle with converting them to Christian culture instead of discipling, and loving them.
I struggle being a modern Judizer.
So here are a few questions:
How many of us struggle with this if we were honest with ourselves?
How does this effect the way we share the gospel with people?
How does this effect those we are in community with (Christian and non?)
In what ways can we change?
I'll leave you with this passage, gal 2 17-21
Have some of you noticed that we are not yet perfect? (No great surprise, right?) And are you ready to make the accusation that since people like me, who go through Christ in order to get things right with God, aren’t perfectly virtuous, Christ must therefore be an accessory to sin? The accusation is frivolous. If I was “trying to be good,” I would be rebuilding the same old barn that I tore down. I would be acting as a charlatan.
What actually took place is this: I tried keeping rules and working my head off to please God, and it didn’t work. So I quit being a “law man” so that I could be God’s man. Christ’s life showed me how, and enabled me to do it. I identified myself completely with him. Indeed, I have been crucified with Christ. My ego is no longer central. It is no longer important that I appear righteous before you or have your good opinion, and I am no longer driven to impress God. Christ lives in me. The life you see me living is not “mine,” but it is lived by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I am not going to go back on that.Is it not clear to you that to go back to that old rule-keeping, peer-pleasing religion would be an abandonment of everything personal and free in my relationship with God?
I refuse to do that, to repudiate God’s grace. If a living relationship with God could come by rule-keeping, then Christ died unnecessarily.
