November 14
Galatians 3:24-6:18; Acts 15:1-21
Notice the clear message of what unifies us in Galatians 3:28, "There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus." Understand, those were the obvious external distinctions that argue that we have not evolved since then, but have devolved. In sheer arrogance we point our fingers at the "other side" within the body of Christ and cast judgments about their faith based on a whole new set of externals or laws. Those who have chosen to vaccinate point their fingers at those who have chosen not to, labeling them as uncaring and unloving. They make the false assumption that if they truly cared they would want to protect those they state they love. While those who have chosen to not vaccinate often point their fingers at those who did and question their faith or their level of fear. Those who claim to be "woke", or who adhere to the "critical race theory" have created a long list of externals that label those who do not agree with these theories (which is all that they are, they are not truths), as hateful, backward, somehow evil. This is happening all across our nation within churches. This should never be, brothers and sisters. Since I am not you and you are not me, we will always disagree on many externals or non-essentials, but these disagreements should never divide the body of Christ. God knows what is in our minds and our hearts, we don't. To point our fingers and make assumptions about others based on where we stand is to be playing God. As Augustine said so long ago, "In essentials unity, in non-essentials liberty, and in all things charity". Every time we raise a non-essential to essential status and judge others as a result, realize that it is Satan who is smiling, not God.
Look at how straightforward Paul puts it in Galatians 3:26, "For you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus." We read what sets us free in 5:1, 6, "So Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don’t get tied up again in slavery to the law...For when we place our faith in Christ Jesus, there is no benefit in being circumcised or being uncircumcised. What is important is faith expressing itself in love." He then issues a warning from what he heard, in 5:7-8, "You were running the race so well. Who has held you back from following the truth? It certainly isn’t God, for he is the one who called you to freedom." He goes on further in his warning in 5:13-15, "For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love. For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you are always biting and devouring one another, watch out! Beware of destroying one another." He warns in 6:12, " Those who are trying to force you to be circumcised want to look good to others. They don’t want to be persecuted for teaching that the cross of Christ alone can save."
This was a significant debate. It was the difference between law and grace. It was being deemed righteous by our works or Jesus' perfect work. It was unifying the body of Christ under the Lordship of Jesus Christ, or dividing the body based on something, anything else. So, Paul brought out the division between those who deemed circumcision as essential, and in so doing following the law first, as opposed to those who refused not to distinguish the body of believers based on this. We should simply place our new distinctions in this place: distinctions like vaccination status, mask wearing, being woke, accepting of Critical Race Theory. Do these distinctions bring unity or divide. You decide. We should all look in the mirror and decide what it is that we are showing the world in our demeanor and disposition, for Paul clearly states what should be coming out from us who are in Christ in Galatians 5:22-23, "But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!" If this does not describe you, it is time for a little self-evaluation and change.
Messages from Pastor Lloyd Pulley: