If Paul's Epistle to the Galatians was Published in Christianity Today

Although written satirically, we should honestly take some of this stuff into serious consideration.
From The Sacred Sandwich: If Paul's Epistle to the Galatians was Published in Christianity Today

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Dear Christianity Today:

In response to Paul D. Apostle’s article about the Galatian church in your January issue, I have to say how appalled I am by the unchristian tone of this hit piece. Why the negativity? Has he been to the Galatian church recently? I happen to know some of the people at that church, and they are the most loving, caring people I’ve ever met.

Phyllis Snodgrass; Ann Arbor, MI

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Dear Editor:

How arrogant of Mr. Apostle to think he has the right to judge these people and label them accursed. Isn’t that God’s job? Regardless of this circumcision issue, these Galatians believe in Jesus just as much as he does, and it is very Pharisaical to condemn them just because they differ on such a secondary issue. Personally, I don’t want a sharp instrument anywhere near my zipper, but that doesn’t give me the right to judge how someone else follows Christ. Can’t we just focus on our common commitment to Christ and furthering His kingdom, instead of tearing down fellow believers over petty doctrinal matters?

Ed Bilgeway; Tonganoxie, KS

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Dear CT:

I’ve seen other dubious articles by Paul Apostle in the past, and frankly I’m surprised you felt that his recurrent criticisms of the Church deserved to be printed in your magazine. Mr. Apostle for many years now has had a penchant for thinking he has a right to “mark” certain Christian teachers who don’t agree with his biblical position. Certainly I commend him for desiring to stay faithful to God’s word, but I think he errs in being so dogmatic about his views to the point where he feels free to openly attack his brethren. His attitude makes it difficult to fully unify the Church, and gives credence to the opposition’s view that Christians are judgmental, arrogant people who never show God’s love.

Ken Groener; San Diego, CA

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To the Editors:

Paul Apostle says that he hopes the Galatian teachers will cut off their own privates? What kind of Christian attitude is that? Shame on him!

Martha Bobbitt; Boulder, CO

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Dear Christianity Today:

The fact that Paul Apostle brags about his public run-in with Peter Cephas, a well-respected leader and brother in Christ, exposes Mr. Apostle for the divisive figure that he has become in the Church today. His diatribe against the Galatian church is just more of the same misguided focus on an antiquated reliance on doctrine instead of love and tolerance. Just look how his hypercritical attitude has cast aspersions on homosexual believers and women elders! The real problem within the Church today is not the lack of doctrinal devotion, as Apostle seems to believe, but in our inability to be transformed by our individual journeys in the Spirit. Evidently, Apostle has failed to detach himself from his legalistic background as a Pharisee, and is unable to let go and experience the genuine love for Christ that is coming from the Galatians who strive to worship God in their own special way.

William Zenby; Richmond, VA

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Kind Editors:

I happen to be a member of First Christian Church of Galatia, and I take issue with Mr. Apostle’s article. How can he criticize a ministry that has been so blessed by God? Our church has baptized many new members and has made huge in-roads in the Jewish community with our pragmatic view on circumcision. Such a “seeker-sensitive” approach has given the Jews the respect they deserve for being God’s chosen people for thousands of years. In addition, every Gentile in our midst has felt honored to engage in the many edifying rituals of the Hebrew heritage, including circumcision, without losing their passion for Jesus. My advice to Mr. Apostle is to stick to spreading the gospel message of Christ’s unconditional love, and quit criticizing what God is clearly blessing in other churches.

Miriam “Betty” Ben-Hur; Galatia, Turkey

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EDITOR’S NOTE: Christianity Today apologizes for our rash decision in publishing Paul Apostle’s exposé of the Galatian church. Had we known the extent in which our readership and advertisers would withdraw their financial support, we never would have printed such unpopular biblical truth. We regret any damage we may have caused in propagating the doctrines of Christ.

I am now 18 with help

I have become who I am for no other reasons but that God has raised my exceedingly wicked heart out of the pit and set it on the rock.  He has put events (which I have talked about in my last post) and people into my life.  I see other people on the streets, and in town, and see their foolishness, wickedness and their obvious lack of God in their lives, and I think, "There go I, to be as wicked and ignorant of the mercy of my Savior, except for the grace of God."

What happens in the families of those that are in rebellion of God is very sad.  It is the age-old story of Cain and his family.  Cain, who rebelled against God was sent out away from the mountain of Eden, the fountain of graces and blessings of God, which Adam and Eve were cast out of to begin with.

There is something to recognize in the stories of Cain and his families.  These people are not only judged for their own sin, but their sin effects their future children.  These children you may say are not deserving of this judgement of their parents, but God is perfectly just.  The reason God judges families, and not primarily individuals, is that God is a covenantal God.  When He redeems a man, God saves the whole household in most cases.  In Acts 16:14-15, Acts 16:33, and in the Old Testament, when a man (or in one case, Lydia, the head of her house) is converted to Christianity, he is baptized, and he baptizes his family.  A man who is unconcerned with his children's salvation for as long as he lives is a lazy, escapist, weak man.  God commands men to teach their children, and save their families. (Deuteronomy 6:4-9)

So the covenant-embracing family of my father and mother is a real blessing to me.  They have taught me how to think this way myself: "Everything you do today, effects your children tomorrow."  Growing up in the covenant of the family and church in Christ is the selfsame blessing of God upon Seth and his family.  To further the analogy, salvation through families is affirmed in the great flood of the early days of the history of the world.  Noah, a direct descendant of Seth (not a coincidence) is saved from the destruction of the world, but Noah is not righteous because he chose to be the son of Seth.  Noah is righteous because he was ordained from the creation of the world to be descended from Seth and Enoch (who walked with God, Genesis 5:24) who were themselves chosen by God to receive His grace.

Now I live in the same blessing as Noah.  I have been saved from the judgement to come, because of my covenantal family which I have been placed in.  In my covenant relation to many men, including first and foremost my dad, who has raised me from infancy, I have been given the ultimate gift.  Namely, I have been chosen by God to be His son, a brother with Christ.  I am not of the line of the seed of the serpent, but at enmity with it, in the seed of the woman, with Christ, in whom I live and move and have my being.

My dad's relationship with the Lord is of the same nature as that of Seth.  God saw my dad in his sinful state, and raised him to life.  My dad answered the call to be the head of his household, and has baptized his entire household and preached to them the gospel.  I love my dad so much, I don't even know what to say here.  He is my father, and so I will just say that he has been my evangelist.  God has used my dad in the accomplishment of His eternal will, and for that, I am more grateful than I could be for anything in all the earth or in heaven.

While I am a despicable hell deserving sinner, and a rebellious son, I wish to grow in my submission to my father on earth, as well as my Father in heaven.  I thank all who have affected my life, whether you know who you are or not.  And most of all, I thank God who has looked at my helpless dead state, and risen me to life for the glory of His eternal plan.

1 O LORD, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!
You have set your glory above the heavens.
2 Out of the mouth of babies and infants,
you have established strength because of your foes,
to still the enemy and the avenger.

3 When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,
4 what is man that you are mindful of him,
and the son of man that you care for him?

5 Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings
and crowned him with glory and honor.
6 You have given him dominion over the works of your hands;
you have put all things under his feet,
7 all sheep and oxen,
and also the beasts of the field,
8 the birds of the heavens, and the fish of the sea,
whatever passes along the paths of the seas.

9 O LORD, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!

--Psalm 8 

Just a thought...

Why should or do I sin against the Holy God in whom I live and move and have my being? It is utterly illogical to do this against my very existence.

Truth

Thought I'd post this again. I think this is a wonderfully powerful video.