‘To be or not to be ….’
Galatians 6:11-18
11 Notice what large letters I use as I write these closing words in my own handwriting.
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. 13 And even those who advocate circumcision don’t keep the whole law themselves. They only want you to be circumcised so they can boast about it and claim you as their disciples.
14 As for me, may I never boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of that cross, my interest in this world has been crucified, and the world’s interest in me has also died. 15 It doesn’t matter whether we have been circumcised or not. What counts is whether we have been transformed into a new creation. 16 May God’s peace and mercy be upon all who live by this principle; they are the new people of God.
17 From now on, don’t let anyone trouble me with these things. For I bear on my body the scars that show I belong to Jesus.
18 Dear brothers and sisters, may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.
When you think of what a ‘good Christian’ might look like what springs to mind? There are groups who suggest certain clothing styles only are appropriate, or encourage Christians to speak a certain way or use fancy Christian words to prove their faith. This promotes exclusion rather than inclusion and is not focussed on the inner person but only the external image. Paul was writing to a group who were being persuaded that certain body modification was proof of conversion. If you didn’t have it then you weren’t in ‘the club’. The good news is that it is acceptance of the sacrifice of Christ on my behalf alone that is proof of my faith. Vs 14-15 are both the good news and the bad news! I do not need to be concerned with man-made rules that try to conform me to a certain image. But to be inwardly transformed is not as easy as it might seem, and pretty much takes a lifetime in Christ. We are free to be who God created us to be, our authentic selves, and must be careful not to get caught up in Christian trends or fad, particularly those that try to say our salvation is dependent on certain things other than the cross of Christ. It is my experience that our authenticity is often the thing that attracts others towards faith in Christ. Let’s not waste time worrying about artificially imposed conditions of faith. But let us be true to the calling of Christ on our lives, and to be open to welcoming everyone to faith just as God does.
Heavenly Father thank you for your great love and sacrifice for my and all mankind. Help me to be open to your transformative power in my life. Help me be my authentic self that you created me to be. I pray you will help me to welcome others to faith in Christ. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.
Written by Christine Knight