Galatians 2:11-14 Picking battles that truly matter

Galatians 2:11-14 Picking battles that truly matter

11 But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. 12 For prior to the coming of certain men from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he began to withdraw and hold himself aloof, fearing the party of the circumcision. 13 The rest of the Jews joined him in hypocrisy, with the result that even Barnabas was carried away by their hypocrisy. 14 But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas in the presence of all, “If you, being a Jew, live like the Gentiles and not like the Jews, how is it that you compel the Gentiles to live like Jews?

Background

After the private meeting in Jerusalem where the pillars of the church acknowledged Paul’s apostleship to the Gentiles, Peter made a visit to Antioch. In this incident, Paul related his confrontation with Peter because of his conduct that threatened to compromise the gospel. Today’s devotion teaches us to pick battles that truly matter.

Observation

But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned.

The word “condemned” ordinarily means “condemned to death” before God or a tribunal. Paul judged Cephas (Peter) in response to the damage and confusion that his actions could have caused to the young Gentile mission. In judging Peter, a pillar of the church, Paul held him accountable to the word of truth. Notably, Peter (and the others) did give Paul the “right hand of fellowship” on his second visit to Jerusalem (v2:1, 9). Peter’s vacillation (especially in the presence of emissaries from James) if not addressed will incur grave consequences towards world evangelism.

For prior to the coming of certain men from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles…

Peter, on arrival at Antioch saw Jewish and Gentile Christians fellowshipping and eating together without regard to Jewish dietary laws. Because Peter himself had received prior revelations (see Acts 10:9-15, 28), he felt free to eat with the Gentiles. This beautiful picture of unity of Jew and Gentile was short lived when the party of the circumcision arrived from Jerusalem. Notwithstanding that these came from James, they were really Judaizers who insisted that Gentiles, to be approved by God must practise the Law. So powerful was the party of circumcision that even Peter, Barnabas and the other Jewish Christians were pressured to separate themselves from the Gentiles. Indeed, the early church was rife with divisions and inconsistencies in their core beliefs. And the introduction of Gentiles into the church had put further strain on the already fragmented leadership in Jerusalem. Peter’s actions had shed invaluable light on the influence the party of circumcision wielded in Christendom at that time.

“If you, being a Jew, live like the Gentiles and not like the Jews, how is it that you compel the Gentiles to live like Jews?”

Determined not to allow the party of circumcision to sabotage the mission to the Gentiles and for the unity of the church, Paul rebuked Peter openly. For Peter’s visible withdrawal of fellowship has translated into matters of grave theological significance. Paul’s accusation: Peter, by caving in to fear betrayed the spirit of the gospel: not straightforward about the truth of the gospel. His error, demonstrated by hypocrisy, through his act of separating himself from the Gentiles is condemnable and indefensible.

Truth

Picking battles that truly matter

In the spirit of Jesus, quarrels and conflicts should first be handled in private before bringing matters to the open (see Matthew 18:15-17). It seems Paul had violated both Jesus’s and his own counsel regarding the restoration of others in a spirit of gentleness and humility (see Galatians 6:1). But a closer examination reveals otherwise. Paul had in an earlier visit to Jerusalem resolved the theological matter in a private meeting (v2:9). But Peter’s withdrawal from fellowship (as pillar of the church) had regrettably thrown matters into confusion that could sabotage the mission of the gospel. Thus, in defence of the gospel, it is right that Paul lays a higher claim of truth over rank by rebuking Peter openly.

Paul has shown us the way to confront injustices and covert practices at the workplace, church or family. In matters of secondary importance, and when the impact is narrow and limited, we may deal with it privately or just ignore it altogether. But in matters that sets an important precedence; which carry grave and irreparable consequences that are far-reaching, we must bring the matter into the open. But only when we have exhausted all channels of influence. Open confrontation brings the matter to the hearing of the people so that they may participate in the restoration of justice and righteousness. However, things could also spin out of control bringing greater divide among the parties.

Many people when it comes to dealing with conflicts choose to fight the battles that are inconsequential while walking away from matters of great significance. They are accustomed to fighting for their personal benefit rather than for the good of all. That said, Jesus shows us the battles that are worth fighting: righteousness and the souls of men, not petty materials things of this world.

While we believe that Paul’s action was justified, we do not know how the situation was resolved, if ever at all in the church there. Nevertheless, the omission of this important information may lead readers to conclude that Paul may have actually lost and Peter triumphed at Antioch. The tone throughout the letter appears to indicate that Antioch was siding more with Peter than with Paul at the time Galatians was written. But the later writings of Luke in Acts of the Apostles as well as the letters of Ignatius showed a great number of Gentiles eventually adopting Paul’s Law-free gospel. Indeed, the battle belongs to God. Our fight for the truth may not seem significant now, but it will bear fruit worthy of eternal glory if we do not give up.

Application

Are you often embroiled in conflicts that have no real or lasting significance? Do you often get upset over petty things that concern your ego and personal benefits? If your goal is to hurt or just to express your anger, you are fighting for the wrong reasons. The below are considerations when picking a battle:

• What is the core issue at hand? If the issue is legitimate, do not let it fester.
• What is your end-game or desired outcome? Is it achievable?
• Can you take your ego out of the equation and choose the high road of truth and love.
• Deal with the person in conflict privately and in a level-headed manner. Do not engage while you are angry.

Dear Lord, I ask for wisdom to see my current conflicts from your perspective. I believe that all battles belong to you. Help me suspend my personal ego and selfish concerns while fighting your battles. Use me as an instrument to establish your righteousness in my family, church and workplace. In Jesus’s name I pray. Amen.