In a recent Bible study in Frisco, we were looking at the context of the particular book we were reading – Galatians. It was written a long time ago into a culture that is very far from here. So to understand what was written, we first need to look at the people and situation that the letter addressed. This is the first rule of good hermeneutics (the rules for good Biblical interpretation).
Historically during the time it was written, the church was falling prey to a false belief. These false teachers had showed up and were distorting the truth of Christ that the church believed in the beginning. When the Apostle Paul heard about what was happening, he wrote a letter to expose the lies and encourage the church with truth. The specific lie that the church was being tempted to believe was regarding their acceptability to God. They were being persuaded that “more morality” would make them “more acceptable” to God.
As we talked about the letter’s context, one of the guys remarked, “It’s amazing that the same issues are still happening two-thousand years later.”
Now that he pointed it out, I agree. That is amazing! They say that history has a tendency to repeat itself….
After that Bible Study I reflected on how that subtle lie may have seeped into my life. Same lie, different context. Unfortunately, I noticed it. When something BIG is coming up, when it REALLY matters, I find the temptation to try to “do all the right things” hoping that God will help me out a little more than usual. I think of ways to make God a little extra happy with me. Like, maybe I should pray a certain way with just the right words…or length of time…or in the right place. Or maybe if I add reading a particular Bible passage in the morning, God will help me the way I need.
On a normal day, this is no temptation at all. I recognize that God does not do more if I do more. But in a moment of stress that idea can be very persuasive. Reading my Bible or praying isn’t the problem. The problem is the subtle temptation behind it to try to obligate God. The temptation is to enter into contractual relationship with God where I can manipulate Him into doing me a favor. Crazy, huh?
By God’s grace, there are great people involved in my life, who remind me of this truth that I need to hear. They remind me that my relationship does not depend of me but on what Jesus has done. Because His finished work I relate with God, not because of my morality. I am not alone in this. There are groups of people all over the community meeting together to seek the true freedom of Jesus. They are encouraging each other and speaking the truth of scripture in love to one another.
So how about you? How does this ancient temptation find its way into your life? Have you ever shared it in the circle of which you are a part?
