Growing up in Faith

Summary

Our passage for today from Galatians 3 follows on Mark’s from last week and dives right into Paul’s response to the troubles in Galatia. Remember that the churches in Galatia were getting caught up again with what outward symbols were necessary to be a Christian, specifically questions around circumcision.

Mark Baker, in the Anabaptist Community Bible, says that Paul is responding to their “line-drawing judgmentalism.” (Anabaptist Community Bible, 1414) The people are trying to draw a line in the sand- who’s in, who’s out, whose status is above that of another. And it’s hurting their community. Paul would say it’s moving away from faithfulness in Christ.

Now let’s take a moment to consider this posture of line-drawing judgmentalism. I’m guessing you’re familiar with it. Who’s in? Who’s out? Who is getting it right and who is clearly getting it wrong? Who do we feel superior to?

Now Paul wants to remind the Galatians, and us, that unlike those status distinctions that were prevalent then and now, even in religious spheres, “those in Christ are one.” (ACB, 1414). And today’s passage, a very familiar one, will bring that out again.

Last week you explored this posture of unity and of openness to what God was doing, the all in. Today we will explore several additional postures that continue to bring us into deeper communion with Christ, or help us to continue to grow up in our faith, if you will.