Stand Firm - Standing for Truth

Galatians 4:8-20 NIV 

[8] Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods. [9] But now that you know God—or rather are known by God—how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable forces? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again? [10] You are observing special days and months and seasons and years! [11] I fear for you, that somehow I have wasted my efforts on you. [12] I plead with you, brothers and sisters, become like me, for I became like you. You did me no wrong. [13] As you know, it was because of an illness that I first preached the gospel to you, [14] and even though my illness was a trial to you, you did not treat me with contempt or scorn. Instead, you welcomed me as if I were an angel of God, as if I were Christ Jesus himself. [15] Where, then, is your blessing of me now? I can testify that, if you could have done so, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me. [16] Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth? [17] Those people are zealous to win you over, but for no good. What they want is to alienate you from us, so that you may have zeal for them. [18] It is fine to be zealous, provided the purpose is good, and to be so always, not just when I am with you. [19] My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you, [20] how I wish I could be with you now and change my tone, because I am perplexed about you! 

(Read the full passage at: https://bible.com/bible/111/gal.4.8-20.NIV)

When my daughter was small, we'd often visit the Philippines in January. It was a practical choice: I could get the time off work, Scotland was cold, and the Philippines offered milder weather with typhoon season safely behind us.

January also meant fiesta time. Both her village and Cebu, the nearest city, burst with celebrations. Fiestas were a lot of fun: basketball competitions, lively (and often rigged) beauty pageants, marching bands, roadside food stalls, and energetic dance displays and a disco that sometimes lasted until 7 AM. I particularly enjoyed watching the children from the local elementary school perform Latin, ballroom, traditional, and street dances in a transformed school playground.

But amidst the joy, something always unsettled me. During some dances, the children would bow to a small statue of the Christ child. This tradition, originating from Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan who carried a similar statue, was deeply ingrained. For all my appreciation of the culture and the dancing, as a Scottish Baptist, witnessing children pledge worship to a statue felt profoundly unnerving.

I imagine Reformed believers in the Philippines face a similar dilemma every year: To what extent should they participate in these culturally rich fiestas when, at their core, there's an act of idolatry?

Christians in Islamic nations face similar challenges with celebrations like Ramadan and Eid, or the daily call to prayer. They must choose how to navigate festivities that aren't rooted in their faith. This becomes even more complex for former Muslims who once observed these traditions.

This is precisely the issue Paul addresses in his letter to the Galatians. He sees the grave danger in these Christians reverting to practices they once observed. In our modern age of Diversity and Inclusion, we might casually dismiss a Christian observing Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, or even pagan holidays like Halloween.

But Paul viewed things differently. He saw these practices as a direct threat to the liberty of these first-generation believers. Do you wonder why? Let's explore this further by examining three key areas: their former slavery, Paul's heartfelt love, and the unwavering truth.

Slavery: Breaking Free from the Past

Galatians 4:8-11 NIV

"Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods. But now that you know God—or rather are known by God—how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable forces? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again? You are observing special days and months and seasons and years! I fear for you, that somehow I have wasted my efforts on you."

(Read the full passage at: https://bible.com/bible/111/gal.4.8-11.NIV)

Human trafficking is one of the most difficult crimes to prosecute. We might struggle to understand why, given its grossly abusive and manipulative nature. Yet, traffickers often exert an almost hypnotic hold over their victims, persuading them of false affection or threatening them and their families. Financial debt, whether real or fabricated, is frequently used as leverage. Every tactic is employed to prevent victims from breaking free and testifying. It takes immense bravery to stand up against such controlling power. Coercion is a powerful weapon.

Paul sees this same coercion at play in Galatia. He identifies a dangerous temptation: in pagan religions, religious holidays weren't just observed for joy, like Christmas or Easter. Instead, they were seen as a means to salvation, a way to gain proximity to God or heaven, accumulating "loyalty points" to balance bad deeds and save one's soul.

Consider the five pillars of Islam, where two (zakat – charity, and sawm – fasting) are inextricably linked with Ramadan. Or the Hindu Kumbh Mela, a festival of washing in the River Ganges, explicitly tied to shedding sins for better reincarnation. Pagan festivals often operate on this principle: they are not acts of altruistic worship, but rather a means to gain blessings or eternal rewards. It's a vending machine mentality: I put something in; my god or gods give me something back.

This is precisely what Paul opposed. This quid-pro-quo system is the exact opposite of grace. Paul had previously told the Romans:

Romans 14:5 NIV

"One person considers one day more sacred than another; another considers every day alike. Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind."

(Read the full passage at: https://bible.com/bible/111/rom.14.5.NIV)

Here, Paul even excused non-Jewish Christians from keeping the Sabbath or other Jewish festivals. Why? Because keeping festivals doesn't save us. Only God does.

Paul specifically questions any participation in these festivals because it can lead to a kind of Stockholm Syndrome. We can develop an affinity for the very way of life that once trapped us. These festivals can become a gateway back to the life we once had – like a recovering alcoholic lingering in a bar or a former addict near a crack den. It's playing with fire, and it's dangerous.

The great preacher Billy Graham once built an entire evangelistic sermon around just three words: "Remember Lot's wife."

Genesis 19:26 NIV

"But Lot’s wife looked back, and she became a pillar of salt."

(Read the full passage at: https://bible.com/bible/111/gen.19.26.NIV)

The Bible is unequivocal about the dangers of looking back:

Deuteronomy 17:16 NIV

"The king, moreover, must not acquire great numbers of horses for himself or make the people return to Egypt to get more of them, for the Lord has told you, “You are not to go back that way again.”"

(Read the full passage at: https://bible.com/bible/111/deu.17.16.NIV)

Hebrews 6:4-6 NIV

"It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age and who have fallen away, to be brought back to repentance. To their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace."

(Read the full passage at: https://bible.com/bible/111/heb.6.4-6.NIV)

We must heed this warning. One of the world's and the devil's tools to draw us back to our old life is to remind us of the spectacular, yet ultimately fruitless, festivals we once enjoyed.

Do not be fooled. They are merely a way to tempt you into surrendering all you now possess.

Hebrews 10:36-39 NIV

"You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. For, “In just a little while, he who is coming will come and will not delay.” And, “But my righteous one will live by faith. And I take no pleasure in the one who shrinks back.” But we do not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved."

(Read the full passage at: https://bible.com/bible/111/heb.10.36-39.NIV)

Sometimes, a clean break from your former life is essential. This is one of those times. You broke free from slavery to that old life; don't let it sink its teeth into you again.

Standing for truth means not surrendering to any temptation to return to the life we once had. One of the most powerful temptations comes in the form of festivals and celebrations we once enjoyed without a second thought. They are ultimately fruitless and vain, but can easily become a snare.

2. Love: Reclaiming Lost Affection

Galatians 4:12-15 NIV

"I plead with you, brothers and sisters, become like me, for I became like you. You did me no wrong. As you know, it was because of an illness that I first preached the gospel to you, and even though my illness was a trial to you, you did not treat me with contempt or scorn. Instead, you welcomed me as if I were an angel of God, as if I were Christ Jesus himself. Where, then, is your blessing of me now? I can testify that, if you could have done so, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me." 

(Read the full passage at: https://bible.com/bible/111/gal.4.12-15.NIV)

To some, using affection to persuade someone might seem manipulative. But those who feel this way have likely never had a relative turn away from God. Paul expresses a very real sense of personal hurt, a feeling of betrayal and disloyalty from the Galatians. And it's not without justification.

Paul pleads with them based on three significant events:

Paul's Incarnation

He, a Jew, became like a Gentile to win them. As he told the Corinthian church:

1 Corinthians 9:19-23 NIV

"Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law. To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings."

(Read the full passage at: https://bible.com/bible/111/1co.9.19-23.NIV)

This is a fundamental principle of mission. To reach people for Christ, we must learn about them and live among them out of love. We cannot remain distant, safely ensconced in our "Christian ghetto," lobbing Bible verses like grenades. Christian mission is not fought at a distance; it's a hand-to-hand, mind-to-mind, heart-to-heart endeavor that requires knowledge, understanding, empathy, wisdom, and love.

This is how Jesus Himself ministered:

2 Corinthians 5:21 NIV

"God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God."

(Read the full passage at: https://bible.com/bible/111/2co.5.21.NIV)

As Paul reminded the Galatians:

Galatians 4:4-5 NIV

"But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship."

(Read the full passage at: https://bible.com/bible/111/gal.4.4-5.NIV)

Jesus Christ entered our world to transform it:

John 1:14 NIV

"The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth."

(Read the full passage at: https://bible.com/bible/111/jhn.1.14.NIV)

True Christian mission is incarnational. Paul became like the Galatians, and now he simply asks them to do the same for him:

1 Corinthians 11:1 NIV

"Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ."

(Read the full passage at: https://bible.com/bible/111/1co.11.1.NIV)

Paul's Infirmity

Paul also pleads based on his physical condition. While the exact nature of his illness is unknown, we know it likely restricted his ability to minister. In that era, and even today in some circles, health was seen as a sign of God's blessing and illness as a curse, which could have undermined Paul's message.

Yet, it didn't. The Galatians listened to him, heard his message, and followed him despite his condition. This was truly remarkable. What happened later utterly perplexed Paul; he couldn't understand why people who had shown such love and understanding for him had suddenly abandoned him and his teaching.

The Galatians' Waning Devotion

Beyond Paul's incarnation and condition, he points to their once fervent devotion:

Galatians 4:15 NIV

"Where, then, is your blessing of me now? I can testify that, if you could have done so, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me."

(Read the full passage at: https://bible.com/bible/111/gal.4.15.NIV)

He recalled their willingness to do anything for him, a desire that had clearly waned. This echoes God's words to the church in Ephesus:

Revelation 2:4 NIV

"Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first."

(Read the full passage at: https://bible.com/bible/111/rev.2.4.NIV)

This highlights a common problem: In the early stages of our Christian walk, we often feel tremendous affection and affinity for those who led us to Christ and discipled us. We are devoted, hanging on every word, following every teaching. While we should always test human teaching, the point is that this initial deep devotion often dims over time. We may find ourselves not listening as closely or obeying as keenly. Our hearts can become as fickle as the Israelites', who obeyed when their king obeyed and disobeyed when he didn't.

This is precisely what happened with the Galatians. When Paul was with them, they were devoted. When he was absent, they simply went along with the next "huckster" who crossed their path. No wonder Paul was perplexed.

Are we also fickle? Does our spirituality ebb and flow depending on who is leading? If so, these verses are a wake-up call. It's time to stop being spiritual driftwood, tossed by the tide. It's time to take a stand.

3. Truth: Unwavering in Belief

Galatians 4:16 NIV

"Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth?"

(Read the full passage at: https://bible.com/bible/111/gal.4.16.NIV)

Twenty years ago, we might have dismissed Paul's statement as a temper tantrum. Not today. Now, telling someone the truth can literally make you their enemy. People face physical threats, even death threats, for simply speaking the truth. They lose jobs, are accused of hate crimes, and are even arrested. It doesn't matter how gently or compassionately we convey it; it can still be misconstrued. People take immense offense and cause trouble if you simply burst the bubble of their imagination and point out reality.

Paul wasn't combating something so extreme in Galatia, but he was challenging a falsehood: the idea that their good works could be sufficient, or that Jesus Christ's sacrifice on the cross was somehow inadequate. He could not let that lie stand; too much depended on it. He had to confront it.

Consider this illustration: On a ferry from Ormoc City to Cebu City, I watched in fascination as the large catamaran docked. Two sailors jumped off and shouted to their colleagues on board, who threw huge, heavy mooring ropes with loops at the end. It looked almost like they were playing hoopla with the sailors on shore, trying to get the loops around them. The sailors on shore, however, made no attempt to catch them. Instead, they dodged, then snatched the ropes and placed the loops over the metal bollards on the dock.

Why is this important? If the sailors on the ship had managed to loop the ropes around the sailors on shore, it might have been amusing, but could they have stopped the ship from drifting? No chance! More likely, the ship would have pulled them into the water, where they would likely have drowned. The ship was much bigger and heavier than them. It needed to be attached to something bigger than itself.

Paul's point is devastatingly simple: Sin is too great for us to handle on our own. It's too much. We need someone else to handle it, someone bigger and stronger than sin. We need Jesus.

Had Paul become the Galatians' enemy by telling them they couldn't handle their sin alone and be saved by their good works? Of course not! But for many people, he would have. This should come as no surprise, because it happened to Jesus.

Throughout His ministry, Jesus never compromised, diluted, or softened the truth. He told it in love, but He told it exactly as it was. Two groups consistently hated this: the highly religious Pharisees and Teachers of the Law. They hated it because Jesus saw through their religious hypocrisy like an X-ray, revealing their ugly hearts.

After His sharp and uncompromising Parable of the Landowner, their response was telling:

Matthew 21:45-46 NIV

"When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard Jesus’ parables, they knew he was talking about them. They looked for a way to arrest him, but they were afraid of the crowd because the people held that he was a prophet."

(Read the full passage at: https://bible.com/bible/111/mat.21.45-46.NIV)

This still happens today, even within the church. And it shouldn't be surprising:

2 Timothy 4:3-4 NIV

"For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths."

(Read the full passage at: https://bible.com/bible/111/2ti.4.3-4.NIV)

Many today would rather embrace pseudo-religious myths, folklore about angels and spirits, or conspiracy theories about the Bible, than believe the truths contained within it. Many would rather follow their own imagination and inventions than entrust themselves to the Word of God. Still others would rather rely on their own vague notions of what God is like than on the God of the Bible. Is this right? Absolutely not!

So, what happens when we tell them the truth? There are only two logical responses: they either make an enemy of us for telling them the truth and cling to the lie, or they are estranged from the lie and embrace the truth.

We should take no pleasure in bursting people's bubbles of imagination or false assurances. We would be sadists if we did, and even more so if we offered nothing to replace it. But we should take immense joy in offering them the Gospel, even if we make an "enemy" in the process.

4. Zeal: Passion for the Right Purpose

Galatians 4:17-18 NIV

"Those people are zealous to win you over, but for no good. What they want is to alienate you from us, so that you may have zeal for them. It is fine to be zealous, provided the purpose is good, and to be so always, not just when I am with you."

(Read the full passage at: https://bible.com/bible/111/gal.4.17-18.NIV)

The day before I wrote these words, six and a half thousand people marched through my town, accompanied by marching bands. For some, parades are joyous, fun-filled affairs. This one was not. It was a march commemorating the victory of the Dutch Protestant King William of Orange over the Catholic King James II at the Battle of the Boyne in 1688. Yes, we are dealing with a battle that took place over three hundred years ago, and yes, they are still marching about it.

This march is not merely a historical re-enactment. It's a declaration of victory, a statement that says, "All those years ago, we won the battle, so this country is ours." It is—and I defy anyone to prove me wrong—a show of strength that is profoundly sectarian in nature. As these people march with puffed-out chests and tremendous pride, they even carry a Bible at the front. But it has absolutely nothing to do with genuine, biblical Christianity. Nothing at all.

These people are zealous, but they are wrong. The same applies to similar Catholic marches driven by similar motivations. Both are misguided.

I've seen some very zealous Christians who, unfortunately, are often most zealous about accusing others of sin – pointing out the speck of sawdust in their neighbor's eye while ignoring the plank in their own (Matthew 7:3-5). I've also heard them speak with real enthusiasm about many other things: their jobs, cars, holidays, sports teams, balance sheets, gadgets, and experiences. Anything but God.

Consider Jesus' telling words:

Matthew 6:21 NIV

"For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

(Read the full passage at: https://bible.com/bible/111/mat.6.21.NIV)

So, where are the things we treasure? What are we most enthusiastic about? Where is our zeal? What does that say about where our heart is? That's quite close to the bone, isn't it?

But that is Paul's point here. Our zeal speaks volumes about what truly matters to us. Paul states there's nothing wrong with being zealous. Of course not! Enthusiasm is a good thing.

There's nothing wrong with something exciting us and getting our hearts racing.

However, the aim of these false Jewish preachers was to divert the Galatians' enthusiasm – these relatively new believers – away from the Gospel of transformative grace and towards their message of self-achievement through good works and self-reliance, through being a "good Jew."

Why? Advertisers know that if someone has a good experience with a product, they'll tell, on average, three people. If they have a bad experience, they'll tell ten. Why? Because they'll tell their tale of woe with greater zeal.

The false teachers sought to channel the enthusiasm and zeal of these new Galatian believers into spreading their fake gospel, making it spread further and faster. They would gain more converts with less effort, becoming numerically more powerful in the Roman world. It was a numbers game, a power game, and an influence game. These new, enthusiastic believers would attract more followers for the false preachers, increasing their popularity.

You can see why Paul was so frustrated. His point, then, is simple but very challenging for us: Zeal is fine. Zeal is good. But only when it's for the right things.

Which begs the question: What are you zealous about?

Conclusion: A Call to Steadfastness

Galatians 4:19-20 NIV

"My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you, how I wish I could be with you now and change my tone, because I am perplexed about you!" 

(Read the full passage at: https://bible.com/bible/111/gal.4.19-20.NIV)

Watching sports coaches can be as entertaining as the game itself. They prowl the sidelines, yelling, cajoling, beckoning, seemingly striking every ball, even from afar. It's a lot of fun. But sometimes their frustration is painfully clear.

Here, Paul reveals his profound frustration. His heart is laid bare. He was desperately trying to coach the Galatians in their walk with God, but it seemed his instructions weren't reaching the field of play, or worse, they were being outright ignored.

Paul had good reasons to be frustrated:

Firstly, their slavery. This would have driven him to distraction. He had preached the glorious Gospel message that set them free. Yet, here they were, toying with the very beliefs that had enslaved them. They were like alcoholics sitting in a bar, drug addicts lingering near a crack den, or porn addicts looking at questionable pictures. Jesus was firm and uncompromising when it came to sources of temptation:

Matthew 5:29-30 NIV

"If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell."

(Read the full passage at: https://bible.com/bible/111/mat.5.29-30.NIV)

These things were not to be toyed with. If even the religious festivals they once celebrated were a temptation to do the right things for the wrong reasons, they should not be participating in them. No question. Paul holds nothing back in that regard.

Secondly, we saw his impassioned, deeply personal appeal based on the love and devotion they had once had for him. He had every right to question if that love had waned.

Thirdly, we saw an appeal based on truth, and whether the lies of the Jewish false teachers had become so ingrained that they considered Paul an enemy for telling them the truth.

Lastly, Paul's appeal was based on zeal. There is nothing wrong with enthusiasm and zeal; in fact, there is much that is right with them. But they need to be channeled for good – ultimately, for God.

It isn't easy to read of Paul's frustrations towards the Galatian church. However, the reality is that we hurt because we love. We feel disappointment because we believe someone is capable of better. Paul clearly loved the Galatians. He clearly knew they could do better. So his frustration was tinged with hope that, if they repented, they could at least reach the spiritual heights they had at first.

There is, however, a burning question for us:

If Paul were writing a letter to us today, would it contain the same frustration? After being saved by grace, are we now seeking to complete the job through works? Do we toy with the dangerous temptations of the life we once had? Or do we simply not understand that we are saved by grace and not by works?

These are questions only we can answer for ourselves.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, I'm sorry for the times when I've put myself in danger by playing fast and loose with temptation. Help me to realize the impact of walking away from You back to my old life. Help me to be zealous and enthusiastic for You, and for that enthusiasm to keep me faithful to You. Amen.

Discussion Questions

• Why did Paul believe it was so wrong for the Galatians to participate in the religious festivals of their former religions?

• On what other grounds does Paul base his appeal for them to remain faithful to the truth? Why might telling the truth have made him their enemy?

• What are you most enthusiastic about in your life? What does this say about the things you value the most?