Being who I am . . .

Most parents are dismayed if they see their children put on different personas, depending on who they are with. We tell them to “be yourself” forgetting what peer pressure is like and how we all struggle with our identity from time to time. It can happen to adults too. I remember a couple of teens telling me that when their father answered the phone, they could tell who was calling just by the way he talked.

Peer pressure happens to Christians too. One pastor retired and became an insurance salesman. I remember him saying that people talked to him differently than when he was a pastor. He was shocked; the difference was extreme.

Back in the early church, a group that called themselves Christian were pressuring others to be circumcised. This was a mark of faith for the Jews and this group became insistent. They influenced Peter to the point that he changed his behavior when they were around. He had no problem fellowshipping with Gentile believers, but if one of that group was around, he would not do it. Paul rebuked him . . .

But when Cephas (Peter) came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. For before certain men came from James, he was eating with the Gentiles; but when they came he drew back and separated himself, fearing the circumcision party. And the rest of the Jews acted hypocritically along with him, so that even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy. But when I saw that their conduct was not in step with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas before them all, “If you, though a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you force the Gentiles to live like Jews?” (Galatians 2:11–14)

My first thought is the courage of Paul, a relatively new Christian, to confront and correct one of the original twelve disciples. This reveals how important the Gospel was and still is. Better to risk a rift than to compromise the truth. Yet this did not cause a rift. Paul went on . . .

But if, in our endeavor to be justified in Christ, we too were found to be sinners, is Christ then a servant of sin? Certainly not! For if I rebuild what I tore down, I prove myself to be a transgressor. For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose. (Galatians 2:17–21)

He makes sense and speaks logically in his rebuke. He humbles himself to admit that he was crucified with Christ and now lives only because of Christ and faith in Him, the One who gave His life for Him. His righteousness is not his own but a gift from God.

The stronger thought for me today is to behave according to who I am in Christ. If I live according to the flesh, I am not only sinning against God, but confusing people. The flesh is a prideful monster that will put forward my best foot and hide my shortcomings and weaknesses. If I say I am saved by faith and crucified with Christ as Paul did, then behaving otherwise brands me as a hypocrite.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Lord Jesus, we are driving south for a funeral, seeing cousins that I’ve not seen for a while. This is an important time to be transparent and walk by faith, as is every other time! Fill me with Your Spirit and grant grace and wisdom to represent You well. Help me to say and do what will most honor You and bless these family members as we say goodbye to one of us.

Today’s thankful list . . .

Safety on the road; we are halfway there.

A nice visit with my sister who is unable to travel with us.

Talking to both my brothers this morning.

Good conversation on the drive with my hubby.

Not raining too much.

Chocolate eclairs!

A deeper definition of hypocrisy . . .

This morning God gives insight into hypocrisy beyond my usual thoughts about it. For the most part, I’ve considered saying one thing (I am a Christian) and doing another (behaving as if I am not) earns me that label. Today’s Scripture reading gives a slightly different perspective.

Some background is needed. In the early church there were some who claimed to believe in Jesus Christ yet added circumcision was necessary for salvation. Their background as Jews contributed to this for in the Old Testament era, circumcision was a sign that they were in a covenant relationship with God. It did not put them into that relationship — it was a sign that they were already in it. However, some Jewish believers got it backwards. This issue was in constant debate in the New Testament. Paul wrote to the church at Rome . . .

For circumcision indeed is of value if you obey the law, but if you break the law, your circumcision becomes uncircumcision. So, if a man who is uncircumcised keeps the precepts of the law, will not his uncircumcision be regarded as circumcision? Then he who is physically uncircumcised but keeps the law will condemn you who have the written code and circumcision but break the law. For no one is a Jew who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and physical. But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God. (Romans 2:25–29)

He is saying that being a true or genuine Jew is not a matter of outward or external things, such as wearing phylacteries, paying tithes, or being circumcised. Genuine circumcision is not the physical rite itself but an inward matter of the heart and a work of the Holy Spirit. In other words, this ritual was a symbol for a changed life.

It is the same for Christian faith. We have actions that signify that we believe such as baptism and attending church services, but those actions do not save us. They are intended to show that we have God’s redemptive life.

In the early church, circumcision was not the only Jewish tradition. Another was separation from Gentiles who were considered pagans. However, Christ came to save all who believe, including Gentiles. Certain Jews had a problem with this. The Apostles were including Gentile believers, but those who wanted circumcision frowned on their inclusion and wanted them circumcised. Paul wrote about it . . .

But when Cephas (Peter) came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. For before certain men came from James, he was eating with the Gentiles; but when they came he drew back and separated himself, fearing the circumcision party. And the rest of the Jews acted hypocritically along with him, so that even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy. But when I saw that their conduct was not in step with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas before them all, “If you, though a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you force the Gentiles to live like Jews?” (Galatians 2:11–14)

Peter was eating with Gentiles but didn’t want the Jews see him doing it. Paul called this hypocrisy. I try to think of a modern parallel such as if I gladly ate at our non-believing neighbors but didn’t want my Christian friends to know it, or if I joined the library book club and read books that my Christian friends didn’t approve of, so hid that from them? The hypocrisy is not in the eating or the reading — it is in the hiding! It is in acting as if my salvation is about doing ‘Christian’ things and not doing any ‘outside the church’ things.

Paul writes about the freedom of salvation by faith. I am justified by faith in Christ, not what I do . . .

We ourselves are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners; yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified. (Galatians 2:15–16)

Faith changes the ‘I wants’ of my heart. I desire to do ‘Christian’ things, but so I desire to reach sinners — by eating with some, by reading with some, by playing Scrabble with some — and being open about it with my Christian friends so they can pray for me and for those unsaved friends. Some may shake their heads and say tsk, tsk, as if Christians should not do that, but Jesus ate and drank with sinners and was criticized the same way.

^^^^^^^^^^^^

Jesus, I hear You telling me to be who I am with whoever is around me. Do not hide my life and actions for fear of others with a conception of Christianity that is so narrow that they cannot include or be friends with the ‘sinners’ in their lives. Instead, I know You want people to hear about You and see You in action in the life of Your children. May my life be an open book and may others see You it its pages. Amen!