November 26

Letter to the Galatians -- Galatians 1:1-24, 2:1-21, 3:1-29, 4:1-31, 5:1-26, 6:1-18

This is the book where our minister John Risse gets his phrase "the right hand of fellowship."  [Galatians 2:9]  Of course, he uses it as a euphemism for smacking someone who needs smacking.  

I like it that all James, Peter and John, the pillars of the church, ask Paul to do is "remember the poor."  [Galatians 2:10] Service to the poor, not building buildings and setting up programs, seems central to the gospel.  The other things we do should be a tool to service.  Too often, I think we do things that make us more comfortable.  All it takes to serve is willingness and time.  they are tools to make us comfortable.  If the age of miracles has past so has the age of buildings and tabernacles for God's glory.  He sent His son for His glory and His disciples met from house to house.  In the end, I think we do what we want to do, what culture encourages us to do, and God forgives us.  

A lot of the human character of the apostles exhibited here.  They didn't become perfect on the Day of Pentecost.  Their examples aren't without fault.  In this reading, Paul rebukes Peter from drawing back from the uncircumcised for fear of  those Jewish Christians who thought the Gentiles should be circumcised.  Then Paul writes a sarcastic, brutal little remark that makes me laugh and consider whether this crass comment is divinely inspired.  Of those who want the Gentiles to be circumcised, Paul writes "As for those agitators, I wish they would go the whole way and emasculate themselves." [Galatians 5:12]  Ah, Paul, can  you tell us how you really feel?

I must watch my own sarcasm and criticism of the congregation I'm apart of -- never mind that a preacher mentioned twice in derision in his last sermon people setting in front of their 48-inch flat screen televisions -- this in a church populated with various flat screen televisions throughout the building -- there I go again.  I must watch my critical eye because Paul lists dissensions in a list of acts of the sinful nature that also includes sexual immorality, idolatry and witchcraft.  [Galatians 5:19-21] And so it goes.