Immovable

03.14.13

Galatians 5.1 1 For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. (ESV)

Sometimes it is difficult to tell which is harder: resisting the flesh or guarding one’s freedom. In this masterful argument, Paul told the Galatians that by giving into the flesh in one part of their lives, they gave into it in all of the rest of their lives: there is no compartmentalization, there is no segmentation; there is only freedom, or slavery.

Religious slavery doesn’t always look that bad either; unless one understands what is behind it. And what is behind religious slavery is always, always, always man’s attempt to save himself, or measure himself worthy before God.

The Judaizers who were troubling the Galatians were insisting that faith in Christ was important as long as the Galatians held to the Mosaic Law. Simple faith in Christ wasn’t enough, there had (according to them) to be circumcision, animal sacrifice, rituals, and celebrations in order to make their faith in Christ complete. It still happens today: Faith in Christ + ________________.

Religious slavery is doing anything to try to impress God and merit His favor. Religious slavery is doing anything to show God that although the sacrifice of Christ was huge, (after all, isn’t that why we have Easter eggs and bunnies?) is wasn’t huge enough unless I prove to God I do the right things, say the right things, and attend the right meetings: I can prove by my actions that although all those others are just lame sinners, I have arrived all on my own skill, talent, and devotion; and Christ’s sacrifice is for them, but not for me. With an attitude like that, who needs God at all?

And so in the face of this, Paul told his readers: stand firm. Standing firm means tenaciously holding to the truth, and doggedly withstanding the objections to holding so firmly to the truth.

The subtle excuses will come: why do you have to be so rigid; relax, it’s just a ceremony! Oh, come on, you’re just embarrassing yourself – don’t be so narrow! Look, if you’re going to be so dogmatic, I simply cannot be around you anymore.

Listen, on that day when we stand before Christ it won’t matter what the subtle excuses and reasoning sounded like; all that will matter will be the sound of His voice saying: Well done, good and faithful servant! Pleasing Jesus is found in doing what He asks; it’s that simple. The difficulty may be in overcoming the temptation to give ground but that is why the apostolic admonition. If it wasn’t such a big deal, Paul wouldn’t have spent the energy he did trying to convince the Galatians otherwise!

The lesson for me today is to carefully consider where or how I might be giving into religious slavery and then getting the heck out! And then standing immovable on this truth that: my faith is built on nothing less that Jesus’ blood and righteousness. I dare trust the sweetest frame but wholly lean on His dear Name. On Christ the Solid Rock I stand, all other ground in sinking sand; all other ground is sinking sand. Amen.