Their ulterior motive was to reduce us to their brand of servitude. We didn’t give them the time of day. We were determined to preserve the truth of the Message for you.
As for those who were considered important in the church, their reputation doesn’t concern me. God isn’t impressed with mere appearances, and neither am I.
Galatians 2:5-6
That Dangerous Freedom Talk
Precious sisters, why do we do this to one another? Why is it done to us? This imposing of some condition as a prerequisite to God’s freely given acceptance? This freedom talk is dangerous. We walk a thin line. Why can’t we simplify and demonstrate that God’s acceptance IS the freeing and foundational word?
Our partial acceptance of those who are not us or those who have only accepted us in part (based on conditions) are, in fact, rejections. Oh my! Such harsh words. There are others on the path traveling back up that are not us. They are bound in their own “non-freedom” ways that differ from ours. This journey of freedom is not “one size fits most.” Sweet sisters, that is not freedom. Our journey is a journey of originality.
Then when freedom rushes into the soul, a spiritual, moral, and responsible life develops!
The gospel reverses that process. Acceptance first! Then when freedom rushes into the soul, a spiritual, moral, and responsible life develops!
In Paul’s letter to the Galatians, we see that the church leaders had plans for him. They thought he should take the good news to the Jews. However, Paul’s calling was to the Non-Jews. How often does that happen now? Do we forget that God calls individually and directly? We think we know God’s strategy for ministry so well that we can write the script for one another. Have we forgotten that one of the greatest freedoms the gospel releases among us is the freedom to love and serve originally, apart from form or format? How we live out that uniqueness cannot be assigned by another, no matter how wise or authoritative.
one of the greatest freedoms the gospel releases among us is the freedom to love and serve originally, apart from form or format
God created us uniquely, and we must creatively work out our calling in faith responses to the Spirit. We are carbon copies of no one. God hand-crafted us to serve according to His design.
Paul was free to resist. We are free to turn down the mold, the calling of others that is not us. We have unique gifts, and it is ok not to fit the format of expectancy. God is the author of our calling, and we will find our passion and purpose in Him.
So, my sisters. As we travel, please realize some well-meaning folk want to slide up and tell us we aren’t doing it right. They want to help us “fit the freedom mold” correctly.
We have objectors who simply don’t want us to be free. They don’t want us to be free before God, accepted just as we are. They don’t want us to live originally or creatively. Some would even seek to control our freedom or use us as a means to their own ends. If we are not careful, we will listen and soon watch our freedom fade away. We slip back into worrying about what others think; we walk into the script of what someone else would like us to be. We may survive as a religious community, but we will not experience what it means to be human—-fully alive. We must be vigilant and remain firmly rooted in Christ to continuously cultivate our unique calling. Be faithful to He who created!
Oh! This spoke to me!! I’ve felt God’s tug toward a new kind of ministry. I haven’t talked about it, so no one is putting pressure on me yet. Your words underlined the importance of earnestly listening to God and following his leading. Thank you for writing and posting this.
Hi Miss Anne! Thank you so much for taking the time to read so many words written on a page! I pray for you that you hear God’s voice and have the courage to follow His leading!
Thank you for your prayers.