First Presbyterian Church
Rev. Joanne Blair June 30, 2024 Galatians 6:1-10 Click here for printable copy The books of the Bible work together to tell a story, and when we pull a piece out of that story (as we’ve done today with this reading from Galatians), it’s important to understand the context. When Paul visited Galatia, he preached the message of Jesus Christ and there were many converts. These converts were formerly Gentile pagans. Churches were formed, and they were going strong, so at some point in time, Paul moved on. Sometime later, Jewish-Christian missionaries arrived in Galatia, preaching a bit of a different gospel. These missionaries saw themselves as preachers of the gospel and advocates of the Law, telling the Galatians that Paul had neglected to instruct them properly in God’s Law. Among other things, they preached the need for circumcision as a means of entering covenant relationship with the God of Israel. They called for the observance of Jewish sabbaths and feast days, and they advocated obedience to everything written in the Law. In essence, they led these former Gentiles to follow the ways of Judaism, before (in their minds) they could truly be Christian. Paul, also a Jewish-Christian, was angry and his epistle to the Galatians is his response to this situation. This is a classic example of an intra-Christian dispute. And while the subject matter may be different, we today, are only too familiar with intra-Christian disputes. Chapter six of Galatians is a bit of a summary of his letter, and I encourage you to read the full letter sometime within this context. It’s not long. Obviously, our context is different in the year 2024, but we face the Galatian dilemma every day. So, what does Galatians have to say to us today? We are called to support one another as siblings in Christ, but also to hold each other accountable. When someone we trust approaches us in love and concern, we will consider their words more carefully. And when wise counsel is given, we should at least truly listen. Yet we need to approach each other with humility and be guided by the Spirit, being careful not to pretend that we (no matter what our position) have all the answers or hold ourselves higher than anyone else. Always led by the Spirit, we teach and learn from each other. Paul writes, “Bear one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” This is a key line of scripture on which our vital Stephen Ministry is based. If you are not familiar with Stephen Ministry, you simply must talk to one of us wearing a blue badge. This unique, confidential ministry is something every single one of us needs to know about, whether for now, or in the future, whether for yourself, or for someone else. Please, do ask us and become better informed about it. Paul writes we are called to bear one another’s burdens yet carry our own loads. The verb used in the Greek text for “bear” and “carry” is the same verb. Sound confusing? Paul is calling the community to act in ways of loving restoration toward one who needs to be held accountable, while also taking inventory of themselves. But how do we apply that in our everyday lives? We are called to support each other with our time, talent, treasure and counsel, as called and led by the Spirit. We are called to help, encourage, and restore each other, sharing our gifts with each other, learning to give and receive. And maybe we each need to do a prayerful inventory to recognize the gifts we have been given, and make a prayerful discernment to recognize where the Spirit is leading us to use them. I speak from experience when I say that sometimes we feel our gifts pale by comparison. And I remind us all: It is not a competition. Sometimes we are called out of our comfort zone…way out. My preaching before you today is an excellent example. My physical therapist says that discomfort is okay, but pain is not. I’m still debating which this is. When I was asked to preach, I prayed, and prayed, and then I prayed some more. I haven’t preached in years. I’m out of that rhythm and discipline. And I think the Spirit was playing games with me, for this is not a piece of Scripture typically preached on, but it kept coming back to me. I asked God, “What would you have me say? My thoughts are so scattered!” And the only answer I got was: “Study the passage. Share some of your scattered thoughts and the message you received.” And so that’s what I’ve been doing. I love this congregation dearly. Every time Roger and I drive home we exclaim, “We know so many wonderful people. Aren’t we lucky? Don’t you feel good? What a gift!” We’re like a broken record. In this congregation, we don’t all dress alike, think alike, speak alike, spend alike, vote alike, or form family units alike. Even our theologies are not all completely aligned with each other’s … and we commune with God in different ways. Isn’t that absolutely wonderful? We are a church family. We have the responsibility, the benefit, and the privilege of pitching in and supporting each other, within these walls and without. Always led by the Spirit. We have the duty and the honor of helping others, which manifests itself in diverse ways. Our joint mission is to spread Christ’s love in the world by the very way we live our lives. We don’t need to convert others, we don’t need to manufacture hoops to jump through, we need to share the love of Christ … so often without words. As the hymn “We are One in the Spirit” says: “And they’ll know we are Christians by our love.” We don’t serve God as a pathway to heaven. I have long believed that we should worry a whole lot less about God’s Kingdom in Heaven and worry a whole lot more about God’s Kingdom on earth. As far as the outcomes, let’s let God be God and handle that. Paul reminds us that we gain salvation by faith, not through works. Our good works serve God as a response of thankfulness and an act of praise for all that God is, and all that God has done, is doing, and will do. The Spirit is alive…here…and in us. And the Spirit will direct each one of us if we but ask… and listen… and respond. Our world, our nation, our state, and our church is designed with laws and/or rules. And as Presbyterians, we hold that things should be done “decently and in order.” These laws and rules give us structure and guide us. But sometimes they become outdated. Sometimes they do more harm than good. Sometimes they need revision. And while the New Testament isn’t full of as many rules and rituals as the First Testament, it still it provides plenty of insight into how we, as followers of Christ, should live. Paul’s epistle to the churches in Galatia was to guide them back to living in community as revealed by walking with the Spirit. He reminds us that in Christ, we are a new creation. As written in 2 Corinthians, “So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new.” In his letter to the Galatians, Paul stresses doing good, both to everyone, and specifically to others within the community, as led by the Spirit. We are not charged with fixing everything. We are called to share the love of Christ by the manner in which we live our lives and treat others… as individuals… and as a community. Though I know I can be rather chatty. I am actually an introvert. I need quiet time, not only for my own recharging but for quiet moments with God. It is most often in those quiet moments that I am better able to distinguish the Spirit’s direction from all the chatter in the world, including my own voice. But there is also something uniquely powerful about when we gather together. Aside from the rich sermons that Dr. Lou shares, and the music that is just soul-filling, when we gather regularly, we not only show and receive love amongst ourselves, but we also inspire and encourage each other through our various voices to demonstrate God’s love in our daily lives. Most of us have flown on a plane before, and we are familiar with a key direction: If the oxygen masks are needed, put yours on first before helping another. If we do not care for ourselves, we are less able to care for others. If we do not care for those in this community, this community is less able to care for those outside this community. We do not need to agree on everything, for there is no growth without discerning voices. And yet we are one in the body of Christ. For in Christ, we are a new creation. I believe the true gospel calls for a church in which unity happens with significant diversity. In the beauty of, and the need for diversity, I believe this is what God envisions for God’s church, coming together as one to pray, worship, serve, and share our lives with each other. And I, for one, am so very grateful to share my life with all of you. Amen.
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