For Man or for Christ?

 "For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ."


Galatians 1:10 NASB


The desire to "fit in" comes natural for people. It's human nature to want to belong. Why? One can fulfill the desire of being related. This in turn provides one  of having an identify. 

In his letter to the Christians in Galatia, Paul contested the attempt of the Judaizers (Christian Jews) to get the Gentile converts to practice OT ceremonial practices that they thought were binding to the NT church, especially circumcision. The Judaizers were being persecuted by the Zealot Jews ( mon- Christian) who disagreed with their association with the Gentiles. So, to avoid persecution, the Judaizers required new converts to abide in the legalistic, ritualistic practices of the OT Jews.The Judaizers sought favor with the Jews in order to maintain peace. 

What did this cost the NT church? The opportunity to practice their faith, being obedient to God's will, modeling Christ's intentions of how to establish the new ordinance. 

A bondservant us obligated to the master. Not man. 

As the body, you and I must obligate ourselves to God's will, not the will of man. 

As believers, we are obligated, held accountable to God through God's word. Also, as God instructs, we are to respect those He places as authority over us until that authority contradicts His authority. 








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