“I am shocked that you are turning away so soon from God, who called you to himself through the loving mercy of Christ. You are following a different way that pretends to be the Good News but is not the Good News at all. You are being fooled by those who deliberately twist the truth concerning Christ. Let God’s curse fall on anyone, including us or even an angel from heaven, who preaches a different kind of Good News than the one we preached to you. I say again what we have said before: If anyone preaches any other Good News than the one you welcomed, let that person be cursed. Obviously, I’m not trying to win the approval of people, but of God. If pleasing people were my goal, I would not be Christ’s servant.”
Galatians 1:6-10 NLT
The Galatians had allowed a false doctrine of works into their system of belief. They had imported a non relational Judaism into their messianic fulfillment in Christ. This could not stand. God’s relationship with men was never supposed to be focused on the law or works. These things were meant to show man his need for God’s grace and to point him to faith in God and reliance on his character. Yet, here, the next iteration of interaction was already beginning to carry over these toxic elements and Paul couldn’t let it stand. He was bold and spoke with conviction about the toxicity and inappropriateness of importing works into grace. In his method, he goes so far as to say that the things taught outweigh the teacher, once they are received. This includes himself or an angel. This is an important standard for discernment. In todays struggles, one might say that the things taught outweigh culture and feelings. In any case, it is clear that there is a proper time to speak with conviction. The truth beyond us must stand if we mean for it to support us.
JOSH McGARY. COM 