Fellowship In Christ
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'As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord´
"Igniting soul's through the proclamation of Jesus Christ".
When Peter came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he was clearly in the wrong. Before certain men came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he began to draw back and separate himself from the Gentiles because he was afraid of those who belonged to the circumcision group. The other Jews joined him in his hypocrisy, so that by their hypocrisy even Barnabas was led astray.
This is an activity for all to enjoy and learn in, write as well as read. We call this "Weekend Scripture Share", as you will clearly see why. What we would like everyone to do is to post any verse or portion of the Word from your Bible. Along with the portion of Scripture you may place thought, comment, or question. The post does not need be long or short, can be one verse and simply said, "my favorite". Please do share with us and leave the subject line, or write in "Weekend Scripture Share". For the weekly edition of "Tuesday Scripture" and "Weekend Scripture Share", I had been composing through the Spirit as I study, verse by verse, or portion by portion, from the Book of Galatians. I am now traveling through the second Chapter in the Word.
Galatians 2:11-13, "But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed. For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision. And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation." KJV
"I do not go to Church because the people are just a bunch of hypocrites!" At eighteen Church people seemed like liars, fools and hypocrites. Now, at 47, I've learned that all are hypocrites including myself. Coming to realize that God came from heaven to walk and suffer on earth for hypocrites like me changed my view toward Church. Peter and James walked with Jesus as Disciples. They watched and listened to everything that happened during the entire time Jesus ministered publicly and overcame fear, boldly preaching Christ in the face of death after the resurrection. Both saw God establish, protect and enable them, standing firm against threats from high authority while presenting the message of a new life in Jesus the Christ. Then social pressure made them buckle. Peter demonstrated fear of some unidentified Christians who are designated as the "Circumcision Group".
By being afraid of a group of human beings James placed their opinion and their power over him above God's. Paul calls James on his error! He speaks directly to Peter in public, revealing the inconsistency in his behavior and clearly defining how it is wrong. We call it hypocrisy. Actions betray belief. Behavior that is in opposition to a verbal profession is called hypocrisy because such behavior reveals an inconsistency that suggests falsehood, deception, injustice and unfairness. All have behavior like this, all have elements in daily living that suggest the things of this earth have more authority than the living Word of God. All have the ability to appear to understand God's Word while actively disregarding it in daily life. Such inconsistencies are not hidden but are obvious to all. A person can examine self and see these inconsistencies. Most see them better in others than they do in self. Paul immediately confronts such inconsistencies and brings them into the open for the purpose of protecting God's Word by maintaining its integrity and authority. He confronts them in himself first, receives information from others and also speaks to the inconsistencies in others.
Peter freely ate with gentiles until the "Circumcision Group" arrived. Suddenly he became a different person adding sensibilities, rules and controls to his behavior that clearly betrayed submission to the ole Jewish legalistic evil that Jesus came to destroy. Such behavior suggests that Peter was not receiving the freedom Christ offers but was willing to come under bondage to the god of this earth. Such behavior from the most prominent Disciple of Christ caused deception and the beginning of death in Barnabus. Christian groups are full of un-confronted hypocrisy in modern society. It seems that the Church model encourages ignoring hypocrisy, allowing it a place because people are too fragile to deal with it openly. Rejection, intolerance, anger, power plays, controls, ignorance and prejudice create an environment of fear in many groups that causes members to hide the truth about the inconsistencies. As a result many remain bound in hopeless cycles of injustice never moving forward. Each one ought to examine self, identify the inconsistencies in self and actively work toward receiving healing through a safe Christian group.
Anyone who may be moved in the spirit to respond or blessed to participate please feel free to do so. The point of these two weekly activities have been directed and set up by God to fellowship in the Word and learn from one another. I am not a teacher in the Word, nor Pastor, but a Brother in the Family of God and called to His fellowship. I make mistakes and certainly may not see something in the same way as you, therefore always open to corrective criticism so long as it is spoken in the Spirit and conforms with the Bible which I believe to be the Living Word of God.
Love in the Lord
Paul/Hayman
http://ca.groups.yahoo.com/group/FellowshipInChrist
http://christianprayerministry.com
"Igniting passion in the people of God through the proclamation of truth."
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