Scripture Text (NRSV)
Galatians 6:(1-6), 7-16
6:1 My friends, if anyone is detected in a transgression, you who
have received the Spirit should restore such a one in a spirit of
gentleness. Take care that you yourselves are not tempted.
6:2 Bear one another's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill
the law of Christ.
6:3 For if those who are nothing think they are something, they
deceive themselves.
6:4 All must test their own work; then that work, rather than their
neighbor's work, will become a cause for pride.
6:5 For all must carry their own loads.
6:6 Those who are taught the word must share in all good things
with their teacher.
6:7 Do not be deceived; God is not mocked, for you reap whatever
you sow.
6:8 If you sow to your own flesh, you will reap corruption from the
flesh; but if you sow to the Spirit, you will reap eternal life from
the Spirit.
6:9 So let us not grow weary in doing what is right, for we will
reap at harvest-time, if we do not give up.
6:10 So then, whenever we have an opportunity, let us work for the
good of all, and especially for those of the family of faith.
6:11 See what large letters I make when I am writing in my own
hand!
6:12 It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh that
try to compel you to be circumcised--only that they may not be
persecuted for the cross of Christ.
6:13 Even the circumcised do not themselves obey the law, but they
want you to be circumcised so that they may boast about your flesh.
6:14 May I never boast of anything except the cross of our Lord
Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to
the world.
6:15 For neither circumcision nor uncircumcision is anything; but a
new creation is everything!
6:16 As for those who will follow this rule--peace be upon them,
and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.
Comments:
In this letter, Paul insists that all people are made right with God
through faith in Jesus Christ. Here Paul offers practical advice about
how people who believe this truth will live, exercising common concern
for one another in "the family of faith."
Those "foolish Galatians" (3:1) were being "bewitched" (3:1) by a
"different gospel" (1:6). These and many other invectives were hurled
by Paul against the very "friends" (6:1) to whom Paul had originally
proclaimed "a person is justified not by the works of the law but
through faith in Jesus Christ" (2:16). Paul's opponents said
otherwise, that righteousness before God is by means of godly works,
the outward works of the law (Torah)—and by implication not by faith
in Christ alone. Devout Christianity, these opponents said, means
getting circumcised and getting others to be circumcised as well.
Literally so for males, figuratively for females. By altering their
flesh, they said, one shows oneself to be a good Christian, a strong
Christian, a devout Christian. Does this sound familiar? What do
others impose upon you, that purportedly show you to be a true
Christian—and by implication others not so? Is it tithing, or
laying-on-of-hands, or public prayer, or simply being good? Indeed,
what do you impose upon yourself, in order to avoid ridicule or the
stigma or "persecution" for being a (Pauline) Christian? Regardless of
the reason for such add-ons, they add nothing to one's righteousness
before God. Devout Christianity is bewitching but altogether foolish.
Paul's opponents believed that all male Christians needed to be
circumcised in obedience to the law of Moses; that, in effect, one
must become Jewish in order to be Christian. What they failed to
realize is that being Jewish or being Gentile is, in and of itself, of
no consequence to faith-in-Christ (5:6; 6:15). Worse yet, they failed
to see that circumcision and other such diversions (the add-ons) will
always, always, seek to take the place that belongs only to Christ.
Because the add-ons are always something that we do, they tend to lift
us up and put others down, even if ever so politely, like adding on
ministries or political correctness or church members (they do make us
look good)! By this means, the old creation is perpetuated and Christ
is removed, either to the periphery or altogether. Those who believe
in the add-ons, Paul says, are chained to the law of add-ons (3:23).
Such faith (so-called) can only sow to the flesh (vv. 7-8): piling up
law upon law, without end.
The perpetuation of the law is a "curse" (3:10, 13) reaping death's
dark "corruption" (v. 8a). No matter how much Christ is preached to
add-oners, Christ only becomes a de facto add-on to the add- ons, and
the law continues to dominate. No wonder that Paul, who wants his
Galatian friends to reap Christ, would have his opponents "castrate"
themselves (5:12, figure of speech), for the law of add-ons only "cuts
us off" from Christ. Paul's opponents no doubt had bragging rights to
many pounds of flesh—their harvest of flesh. But, finally, it is
corrupt flesh: without faith-in-Christ, without Spirit, without love.
And, like all corrupt flesh, will die the eternal death that the law
and the law's God demands.
God indeed has put an end to the law, but that end is only in Christ
(5:18; see Rom 10:4) whom God the Father "raised from the dead" (1:1).
Christ, that is, the person Jesus of Nazareth who was crucified and
risen and promises to return at the end of days, is himself the law's
termination and fulfillment. In him, there is no law of add-ons,
period. In him, the law's demand for uncorrupt faith is completely
fulfilled. In him, the old creation and its desire for
self-aggrandizement (sin) is crucified, put to death. Contrary to the
add-oners, "in Christ" there is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither
circumcision nor uncircumcision. The only thing that counts before God
is "faith working through love" (5:6) which is a "new creation" (v.
15). Such faith is entirely new. The law had heretofore merely
glimpsed it by way of anticipation, as proclaiming the promise of
Christ to Abraham and to Abraham's spiritual children (3:28-29). But
now that Christ has arrived, the law proves its own limitation. How
"foolish" of the Galatians (and us), then, to want to add-on the law
yet again!
By faith-in-Christ alone, one "sows to the Spirit" and reaps the
promise of eternal life (v. 8b). Paul's opponents were boasting in
their circumcised converts to the law. Paul, however, preferred to
boast (if he had to) in the cross of Christ which ended the law of
circumcision and all other add-ons. "Sowing to the Spirit" means a
circumcision of the heart (4:6; see Rom 2:29), a crucifixion of the
flesh's desires (5:22). It means that the old Paul is dead to the law
and alive to Christ (2:20). This is true freedom (5:1), not the
freedom to choose among the infinite variety of add-ons but the
freedom not to be bound by them! So long as we "sow to the flesh" (v.
8a), we indeed must choose among the add-ons; but this is a false
freedom. True freedom is "sowing to the Spirit" (v. 8b) insofar as we
are free from the curse of the law.
For those who depend on Christ alone rather than the law of add-ons,
doing good is truly "good" (v. 10) when it is exclusively for the sake
of others (i.e., "for the sake of Christ," the quintessential other).
Paul prefers to boast in the cross of Christ because it signifies a
"work" wholly for the benefit of others; thus, Paul is "crucified" to
the world, "dead" to the law's demands (v. 14). To "bear one another's
burdens" is work sown in the Spirit because it is directed away from
oneself. Such work, wholly removed from the law (5:22-23), is what
Paul calls the "law of Christ" (v. 2). It is also called "love"
(5:6)—Paul's "rule" (v. 16) or principle or guide for those "in
Christ" no longer chained to the law of add-ons. Love is not an add-on
because love adds nothing to one's own standing before God. But love
does illicit "crucifixion," "persecution," the "stigma" of Christ, the
"marks" of Jesus (6:17), which Paul's opponents so desperately sought
to avoid.
I am preaching this Sunday, and concentrating on this Galatian
passage. The subject is "God Dependent." I might be independent, and
even interdependent with other human beings , but I must strive to be
God dependent in order to effectively be the first two.
Members of the congregation will be leaving immediately to participate
in a July 4th parade. They will be passing out flyers about a future
event at our church. I feel the community and congregation will be
concentrating on our country's events, and so I am need to speak to
the situation.
I have been looking at the original arguments of John Hancock in the
declaration of independence, and reflecting on the 13 colonies'
decision for independence. I must reflect on my feelings that my
foreparents did not come here independently, so not everyone comes to
the fourth of July from the same perspective. I see a parallel between
the Judaizer's insistence on the Gentile's being circumcised, thus
following Jewish law, some Gentiles going along with this, and Paul's
reaction in this Epistle for Gentile Christians even considering it.
I'm also going to mention the Lucan passage regarding the sending out
of the 70, since our congregation is going out in the parade to pass
out flyers. But what we share is "God dependent" These thoughts are
just my beginning.
I will be preaching several times in the next few weeks. I am
concentrating on the Epistles.
Shalom
bammamma
v. 13 - how can someone boast on another person's flesh???
Sally
Bammamma,
Wow! Your sermon sounds really awesome! Best of luck as you continue
your preparations, and I would love to hear how it goes!
All, If anyone has any good liturgical material (Calls to Worship,
Opening Prayers, etc.) that would go well with Independence Day, would
you mind posting it in the Calls to Worship and Prayers forum? I'm a
little stuck.
Not sure yet where I'll go with this Sunday's sermon, if I'll use
Galatians or Luke, but thanks again to Bammamma for providing some
great ideas.
Peace and grace, California Preachin'
Sally According to the notes from the New Interpreter's Bible, Paul is
suggesting to the Gentiles who would be circumcised, that those Jews
urging them to do this might not be circumcised themselves, but would
brag to other Jews that they had got them (Gentiles) to be
circumcised, which would be using the Gentile's "flesh". Hope that is
clearer(?) (smile?)
Shalom
bammamma
OK, from where was the large post?
Communion Sunday. Independence Day. Lotsa presure here to sing
patriotic songs. I've been reflecting about the fact that the things
that really thrill me about our tradition, heritage, way of life, etc.
diminish in splendor for me when I concentrate my rage against
warmongers here, and my fury against the neglect of the poor here, and
my resentment for all the "my country right or wrong" patriotism here.
I've let superpatriots steal my pride in what's wholesome and splendid
about the country of my birth. How to preach that?
One of our anthems is "Good News, America, God Loves You" and the very
title sets my teeth on edge. I'm not sure anyone else in this church
shares my irritation. How do I preach?
I think all this has more to do with Galatians than with the OT or
Gospel. Any help?
kbc in sc
kbc in sc:
I'm with you! Ugh! I looked at the two lectionary texts for this
Sunday: Galatians is "you reap what you sow," and Luke is about
"enemies." I so want to preach what I really feel and believe (and
where I feel God is calling me to believe) about our current world
situation, the war, etc. But I feel like my hands are tied. I am in a
church that tends to avoid politics altogether, and I readily admit
that I have been too scared to preach what I really feel would be
prophetic sermons. This is my first church. This past Sunday I was
somewhat less subtle when talking about "freedom," and I actually did
preach more of what I thought and believed. But this 4th of July thing
is going to be a tough one. My church will expect a somewhat
Independence-Day-themed sermon, but not only do I think it is
inappropriate to preach a totally patriotic sermon from the pulpit --
this is church, not a political soapbox -- I could not bring myself to
preach such a sermon, because I do not feel that way right now. Like
you, I feel like a certain type of patriotism that this warmongering
has robbed me of the patriotic feelings I DO have. I do feel blessed
to live in this country and am grateful for much of our history and
the freedoms I know I enjoy.
With regards to hymns, I am beginning with "America the Beautiful" --
a slightly less offensive choice, in my opinion. You could -- and I
may -- put something in your sermon about how some of these historical
hymns, that began with very humble roots, have been changed by modern
interpretations, by those who use them as war anthems. I think I chose
a couple of "normal" hymns in the middle of the service, though they
are fairly diversity-oriented. We will close with "Lift Every Voice
and Sing." The church I serve is interracial -- about 60% African
American, 35% white -- so this particular hymn has special meaning,
being that is the African American national anthem. But I think it
fits as a semi-patriotic hymn that is more oriented toward peace and
is also more world-oriented.
I am still undecided whether or not I will use Galatians or Luke, but
I may simply decide to be honest and admit from the pulpit what a hard
time I had this Sunday. I tend not to express my particular political
views openly from the pulpit, as some of my views differ from those of
my congregation, and I also believe in letting people make their own
decisions. But I occasionally will lift up both views on an issue --
for example, this past Sunday I spoke briefly about the battle about
whether or not the Ten Commandments should be displayed in public
places, that occurred earlier this year, and I gave both sides of the
story. I may, for the first time (I am rather ashamed to say),
actually talk about the war, and about how these two scriptures
(Galatians and Luke) seem to be coming at relationship from different
angles. Yet both seem to lead ultimately to reconciliation and inner
peace. I will need to look more to make sure I'm right on this.
Hmmm...as I write this I am getting some ideas. I may also talk about
how we have a tendency to interpret scriptures to our own liking --
"you reap what you sow" has likely come to mean something entirely
different than what Paul meant when he wrote the words.
...I wonder if the "turnover" of Iraq back into Iraqi hands that took
place this week will make any difference in the way I interpret
things...
I hope some of my rambling thoughts have helped. And I would love to
hear your ideas too. This will be a tough Sunday, no doubt about it.
(I can distinctly hear God's laughter that these particular scriptures
fell on the 4th of July! Grr!)
Peace, California Preachin'
kbc in sc -
I share some of your aingst about the 4th of July and any nationalism
in a Christian worship service; and yet I, too, think it might be an
opportunity to reflect on what is good and wholesome and godly about
out country and its ideals. Civil religion is scary - some in my
church wouldn't hesitate setting a flag on the communion table, I bet
- but over my dead body. (See Nazi Germany, circa the 1930's).
I think Galatians could also be Paul's letter to the church in the
USA.
-Paul admonished the Galatians to hold those who slip accountable.
Maybe we should remind our congregation that we should also hold our
nation and leaders accountable to their principles when they slip into
transgression. We need to be accountable for what our consumeristic
society really does to people in other parts of the globe.
-Paul also reminds us that real freedom is not autonomy (last week's
reading) but that what the faith and church is all about is community
- bearing each other's burdens. I"m reminded of the Pilgrims who came
here for freedom and autonomy, but would've starved but for the
benevolence of Native American brothers. Ben Franklin's advice to the
colonists that "if we do not all hang together, we will all hang
separately" is similar to Paul's advice to uphold and correct each
other.
-And we need to rely on each other for help, because in the end, we
are all individually accountable to God. We need community so we can
hang together as faithful servants; separately, I fear each of us
would "hang."
This nation and it's churches need to realize that "God is not mocked"
when it comes to religion, either. Where are we sowing? What is our
nation going to reap?
I think verses 9 and 10 are where I"ll end up (I'll skip 11-16)
because they are great words to a nation and to the church in America:
"Let us not grow weary of doing what is right" - the true principles
this nation was founded on - liberty and justice for all; freedom for
all peoples (physical, social, economic, spiritual). And the church in
America can be finally reminded that "whenever we have an opportunity,
let us work for the good of all" - no matter what country they call
home. If we are blessed - it is so that, like Abraham, we might be a
blessing to all nations. The world was not created for America - but
America, for the world.
All this should carefully avoid the sense that America is God's chosen
nation or agent. But we in this nation do have great freedom to carry
forth Jesus' job description - to preach Good News to the poor; to
procalim release to the captives, and recovery of sight to the blind;
to let the oppressed go free; to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor
- Luke 4: 18-19
Sorry for rambling, but this is where I'm going,
Peace,
RevKinOK
Perhaps the OT reading may give a different angle about those who are
certain about how God "ought" to work?
At the risk of being flamed....
As a Canadian, reading those struggling to bring American patriotism
into celebrations, I think verse 14 is apt: May I never boast of
anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.
There's nothing wrong with loving one's country and being grateful for
the privilege in living it it, but as we were reminded last week, our
first calling is always to be a citizen of God's kingdom; everything
else is secondary, or even tertiary.
Canada Day is tomorrow. I will be including prayers for Canada, having
just elected a new government, in our service. But we don't tend to
get as worked up her as my friends south of the border do about our
national heritage. But then, maybe I'm now boasting about our lack of
boasting!!!!
sorry if I've offended, Heather in Sharon
Thanks so very much Heather. Your words spoke deeply to me. I wonder
if something I have written would keep other countries from
pariticpating thinking this was USA's site, and not God's site? My
eyes are opened.
Shalom
Bammamma
California Preachin' and anyone else who wants to respond:
I, too, would like to sing "Lift Every Voice and Sing." One problem
will be that most of my folks won't know it ... the other is this:
Our congregation desires (for the most part) to be more diverse and we
do have a few black folks there (not AFrican American; one is from
Ghana, the other from Panama) plus one African American family. OUr
musician is AFrican American as is our newly-hired associate. One
thing I most definitely don't want to do is communicate to ANYone "Oh,
let's be good liberal white folks and sing this hymn to make everyone
feel included."
On the other hand, I think it does us all well to consider more than
one point of view and maybe this hymn is a tiny way that we can "try
on" a history of our people we don't think we share until we consider
it. Does that make any sense at all???
frankly, the hymn makes me cry at the verse about "the slaughtered
..." much the way pictures of the Holocaust do. I'm neither AFrican
American, black, Asian, Jewish, Middle-Eastern... Northern European (7
of my nationalities) and Native American (the other one)!
My question, to get to the poitn: how condescending would it really be
to sing that particular hymn?
Sally in GA
Sally
I would suggest you use the hymn. But also begin to use other
unfamiliar hymns in the hymnal, such as hispanic and Korean hymns.
This is a good way for a congregation to grow culturally.
One way to familiarize the congregation with the hymn is to have the
organist play it during the prelude. Then the congregation gets use to
the melody.
But then compromise. Be sure to use favorite hymns also.
Shalom
bammamma
Heather in Sharon,
Good for you for "risking being flamed." You certainly won't get that
response from me, but your beautiful comment made me wonder if I
should "risk being flamed" from the pulpit this Sunday. Hmmm...I was
planning to skip verses 11-16, as they don't appear in the lectionary,
and I thought them too harsh when I read over them, but I haven't
printed the bulletins yet, so I just might reconsider that. I have
been having a heck of a time trying to "meet my congregation where
they are" -- 4th of July parades and all -- a congregation that has
several WWII veterans and is almost all well over the age of 60 with a
different worldview than their 27-yr-old pastor. Your comment has
given me some beautiful food for thought, about a possibly more
pastoral way to "say what I have to say."
Thank you. And may this site remain a place for open discussions,
where we can all feel free to share our thoughts and beliefs without
fear.
Blessings, California Preachin'
I too have the whole patriotism in the pulpit struggle, though I'm
lucky that my congregation doesn't expect much in that way. I recall
that a Southern Civil War General, Braxton Bragg, used the sow and
reap imagery in a post-war letter--we have sown so we must reap, he
wrote. I'm hoping to weave that into my sermon and talk about our
history of sowing and reaping as a nation. I'm just having to remember
to keep Paul involved in the whole thing.
Ger in SF
By the way, in regards to the discussion about hymns, there is a
wonderful hymn entitled "This Is My Song" which appears in the
"National Songs" section of my hymnal (Chalice Hymnal) and is fairly
common that talks about God being the God of all nations and how this
is my land but there are other lands too that other people love. It
will follow my sermon.
Ger in SF
As another Canadian contributor (on occasion) and having read the
comments here and under the Gospel reading, I must admit I too was
having difficulty in seeing some connection to the readings and our
national holidays. We have a number of Americans who join us in the
summer here, so Sunday is a dual-national holiday.
Perhaps our beginning point can be found in verse 15: "but a new
creation is everything!" Both our countries were new creations at
their foundings (both as colonies and as nations). We share similar
ideals, which in American terms would be: life, liberty, and justice
for all. Have we succeeded? Harldy, but we sure are on the right
tracks!!
As verse 10 says, "So then, whenever we have an opportunity, let us
work for the good of all." God was ready to heal Naaman (an outsider),
Jesus sent his seventy to the world (with no restrictions), with the
ideal of working for the good of all. It is a wonderful ideal. We are
blessed with so much in our nations in terms of resources and
freedoms, but we must not cower. We must reach out and share God's
love for all humanity, but know that not all will receive the message
of His Good News. We do not rain destruction down on those who reject
us and His message; we pray for them and we continue to love them, as
God loves us (and them).
We need to ask ourselves if we are using God's gifts wisely. Are we
furthering God's plan or are we seeking our own? Are we being faithful
to His calling of us to use our resources to make a difference in this
world? I know this can open a can of worms and lead some to political
debates, but that isn't my intent.
What are we sowing and what are we reaping? As Christians, are we
reaching out unconditionally or are we ready only to help those who
are willing to accept the Gospel message? Lately I've felt like I'm
stagnating in this posting, having little effect. Nevertheless, I keep
on preaching God's love and mercy. I continue to love these people and
pray that God will open their hearts and minds to receive His Good
News and respond positively.
It is through my own brokenness and healing experiences that I have a
passion for sharing God's mercy. My spiritual healings have come
through the power of the cross, and not of my own doing. I feel like a
new creation; not perfect by any means, but a product of God's mercy
and healing. Like our two nations, God has blessed me with new
(eternal) life, the liberty to live it and share it, and the desire
for justice (God's mercy as given at the Cross) for all.
Happy Canada Day and God bless America!! Don in Ontario
Heather and Don, (Canadian Friends)
You can just apply this to you closest to July 14th Sunday, O.K.
Especially, if you got french people in your Congregations.
HAPPY BASTILLE DAY!!!!!!!! JULY 14th!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Clerically Blonde in West Ohio
I'm thinking of using this with the kids on Sunday. It may be a little
over their heads but I think I can involve them in saying and defing
words like independence, dependence and interdependence. Admitting
also to them that this is hard stuff. DKQ in Minnesota children's
time... Parade… are any of you going to go to the parade? What do you
like best about the parade? About the Fourth of July. Why do we
celebrate July fourth? - celebration of our independence of freedom!
When the declaration of independence was signed.
I have a copy of the declaration of independence that I found on the
internet. The original declaration of independence is worn and hard to
read - it's old because it was written in 1776 - how old does that
make it? It's 228 years old.
The declaration states that each "one" of us - individuals - has the
right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
We are exerting one of those freedoms this morning - the right to
worship God. Katie Lewis told us during VBS that in Vietnam they don't
have the freedom. So we are fortunate that we can believe in God and
worship God by coming to church.
I couldn't just tell you this morning that we have all these great
things that other countries don't and gee aren't we lucky and they're
not. Because I don't believe that God wants us to act like that.
(6:14)
6:10 So then, whenever we have an opportunity, let us work for the
good of all, and especially for those of the family of faith.
Interdependence - mutual dependence
6:14 May I never boast of anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus
Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the
world. Dependence - rely on another - We rely on God.
So, today we celebrate our independence as a nation. And we should
have fun and remember the freedom that we have and be thankful.
However, what I need for you to do for me is to remember these other
verses. Let's remember the people all around the world who don't have
the freedom of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Each one of
us can rely on God, and together we can work for the good of all -
Today we celebrate independence day - yet really everyday is
interdependence day as we are dependent on God.
