Friend or Foe?

Galatians 4:12-20

Now there’s a loaded question for you one that almost guarantees a confrontation. “Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth?” (Galatians 4:16). By asking such a question of the church in Galatia Paul is actually making two claims: first that he is telling them something they need to hear; second that the Galatians may not want to hear it from him. We can actually push it a further than that. The truth of Paul’s message, of course, is Jesus Christ. To find fault with Paul’s message is also to find fault with the gospel and thus to become enemies of God. How’s that for a challenge?

In his commentary on Galatians Hans Dieter Betz reminds us that “among true friends it is possible to speak the truth with frankness without becoming enemies; telling the truth in this way distinguishes the ‘true friend’ from the ‘flatterer’” (p. 228). So here is a question that all of us need to consider. When it comes to the gospel of Jesus Christ are we true friends, willing to hear the message even when it challenges our comfort and our sense of balance, or are we attempting to flatter Jesus with half-hearted participation in the life of the church while not making any effort to live a Christ-centered life?

Paul would have us receive the gospel as “true friends,” those who are willing to hear a word of challenge without being threatened by it, instead accepting it as a source of grace. How we respond, then, says everything about our faith.

Prayer: Lord, help us to hear your word with openness that we may live as your people and be guided by your Son Jesus Christ, in whose name we pray. Amen.