13 For even those who are circumcised do not themselves keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may boast in your flesh.
In The Scarlet Letter, by Nathaniel Hawthorne, we witness the downfall of the Puritan minister, Arthur Dimmesdale. What makes this so satisfying to many readers is the minister’s affiliation with the moralist Christians. His guilt at his duplicitousness does not change the glee with which the enemies of the Church celebrate his plunge. Paul told the Galatian churches that, though the Judaizers preached an obedient lifestyle along with circumcision, they, as with everyone, could not keep the law. It seems they wanted to control the Christians in the churches more than disciple them. They wanted to show off their handiwork to their fellow Judaizers so their boasting would have the maximum effect. They simply wanted to be approved by their peers, a trait they share with us. Paul sought to oversee their downfall as well.
There is nothing worse than a preacher pointing at his congregation, preaching down to his flock, calling them worthless sinners, only to fall in a sex scandal, or an embezzlement scheme, or inmany cases, both. The cases in the 80’s of Jim Bakker and Jimmy Swaggart seemed like the low point. That is until recently, when entire denominations fell under the wheels of their own moralizing train. Perhaps we would do better to preach less about what is wrong with society, and more about what is right and true. Let us allow the gospel of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit to do the work of convicting others of sin. Let us look at ourselves like Paul looked at himself; as one who suffered a downfall and…
Was lifted up.
Pastor Brad Boyer
Cape Community Church