I recently visited with a colleague who lamented the instructions given to them by a parishioner just before worship. The pastor was told to "not get political."
Personally, that directive seems to assume there is little that is political about our faith. You don't get far in the Bible's story before you realize that idea doesn't hold up. Someone might say that politics were different in the ancient world. To that I would agree, but different politics are still politics. My experience has been that the don't-get-political demand means not saying something I might disagree with.
And here's why this is worth reflecting on. It too often leads to something we see in Galatians.
Some in the Galatian church had not rejected Jesus outright. They still had some of the right language. They still talked about faith. But somewhere along the way, the gospel had been adjusted, to use a nice word. Paul says it was perverted. It had been reshaped just enough to feel manageable or comfortable.
That means the gospel had been lost, not because of rebellion but through a revision. And that is the danger every generation and culture must guard against.
Telling a preacher not to get political is just one example. We rarely wake up ready to abandon Christ. Instead, we add to him. We attach conditions to grace, blending the good news with our fears, our politics, and our desire for control. The result is a "different gospel" or a Jesus that bears little resemblance to the one we see in the Bible.
Paul reminds us that the issue is not only whether we believe in Jesus, but which Jesus we are trusting. A Jesus who only helps us succeed is not the same Lord who calls us to surrender. The gospel is not merely a doorway to faith but the ground we stand on each day as believers. So, when we distort it, even slightly, our freedom turns to pressure, and grace becomes performative.
Stay blessed...john | 
No comments:
Post a Comment