Scripture Focus: Galatians 1.6-10
6 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel—7 which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let them be under God’s curse! 9 As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let them be under God’s curse! 10 Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.
Reflection: Cursed Gospels
By John Tillman
If someone told us to bow to an idol or they put a gun to our head, saying, “Deny Jesus,” many would refuse. But why force others to deny Jesus, when it is easier to get them to love fake Jesus?
Galatians opens with one of Paul’s harshest, attention-getting rebukes. Paul’s exasperated tone is familiar to anyone whose students, children, or employees have immediately forgotten something. “We just talked about this! How can you forget so quickly?”
The Galatians were abandoning the gospel, but they weren’t being lured away by pagan idols or illicit practices. They were tempted by false gospels. Paul declares those teaching false gospels are under God’s curse. We have several varieties of false, cursed gospels in our culture.
The gospel of legalism says, “Come to Jesus but change first.” Clean yourself up. Add this discipline. Quit this vice. Dress nice. Smile. Then come. Post-conversion, the gospel of legalism requires rigorous maintenance. If your smile slips, your hem rides up, or you get a little muddy, then, “Maybe you were never saved in the first place.”
The gospel of prosperity says, “Come to Jesus to be blessed.” It’s a gospel jackpot machine and when you pull on the handle, if money and blessings don’t come out, it’s because you didn’t insert enough faith into the coin slot. “Pray harder. And mean it this time.”
The gospel of power says, “Come to Jesus to fight.” The gospel of power is about conquering and controlling this world to bless “God’s people” and cast out others. This gospel values retribution over redemption and defeating enemies over loving them. Its catechism is using the right insults for enemies. It is what the gospel would be like if Jesus had taken Satan’s offer. (Luke 4.5-7)
False gospels reveal mistrust in the true gospel. They tempt us to think Jesus isn’t enough. That’s why every false gospel hides an idol. The gospel of legalism’s idol is “the Law.” The gospel of prosperity’s idol is greed. The gospel of power’s idol is control.
The true gospel says, “Jesus plus nothing.” After we come, the gospel changes us, blesses us, and empowers us in God’s own time and for his purposes. But we don’t add to the gospel—not good deeds, success, or power. We resist false gospels by throwing ourselves fully on the mercy of the true gospel and inviting anyone and everyone to join us.
Divine Hours Prayer: The Greeting
I put my trust in your mercy; my heart is joyful because of your saving help. — Psalm 13.5
– From The Divine Hours: Prayers for Summertime by Phyllis Tickle.
Today’s Readings
Jeremiah 10 (Listen 3:51)
Galatians 1 (Listen 3:05)
This Weekend’s Readings
Jeremiah 11 (Listen 4:09), Galatians 2 (Listen 3:44)
Jeremiah 12 (Listen 3:06), Galatians 3 (Listen 4:39)
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