Session One: Day Four - Three Pillars

Day four begins with a reminder that Christianity came from Jewish roots.

Lisa: As I was commenting, Jill was writing in the Post!  I guess we were all pretty excited about this one!

I think this is something we all "know" but being made aware of it again, in the context of the legality and tension over what true members of the faith should look like was incredibly helpful.  I actually almost laughed out loud in Galatians 5:11 when Paul suggests that those who are stirring up this controversy between the Jewish believers and the Gentile believers should "emasculate themselves!"

Jill:  I loved the "emasculate themselves" part also.  

Lisa: It made me want to name names... Just kidding!

One of the things that I struggle the most with is the way that believers hold on to legalistic tenets of believing in God.  It is refreshing to me to read again about how from the very beginning this was an issue.  Even in the early church people wanted rules for following.  They wanted all things to be equal and the comparisons never stopped.  And yet the thing that we most need to remember, is that God calls us in the way best suited for us to serve Him.

Lisa: I wonder if one of the reasons they wanted rules so badly is because that's all the Jews had ever known.  They had so many rules to follow in order to remain the good graces of God, and if they failed, then they knew how to make it right again by offering sacrifices or by going to the priests and having sacrifices made on their behalf.  It was a very RULED religion, all laid out by the Lord himself, so to go from rules concerning everything to just about no rules must have been a little shocking to their whole way of life.


Which will look different for every single one of us based on our gifts, talents, opportunities and backgrounds.

Jill: I think it is easier for people to have a "list of legalistic tenets".  Because it is something tangible.  Faith is difficult.  I think that is why different organizations over the centuries create these tenets.  It is a check off list.  "if I do this then I get that".   Faith isn't tangible, there is only a promise, and how many times have people broken their promises to us.  I get why people feel a need to have tenets, and I think that is why God took away the law from us after Jesus died on the cross for us.  It forces us to really believe in Him.  Which can be incredible difficult for people. I LOVE making lists, and excel spreadsheets, and checking things off as I accomplish things, I get a sense of peace from it, I think it is because it makes me feel in control of all situations.  But believing that God will take care of me and I don't have to make any lists or spreadsheets I just have to have faith, takes all control out of my hands.

Lisa: I think you're absolutely right, Jill.  Look at every other area of our lives.  There are laws.  If we follow the law then we know we won't end up in jail or fined for breaking the law.  There are rules for our children that we followed as children.  We are even ruled on the streets when we drive.  Why?  To keep us safe and to keep order.  And humans need to feel safe and have a sense of order.  Plus, we know that we are in control of following (or not following) the rules, and therefore, we then have that sense of being in control, which we love!

Anthony mentioned recently that growing up he loved the rules that our church offered him.  He liked knowing what NOT to do, and then he didn't do them.  He didn't drink.  He didn't gamble.  He may have danced a little, but never "got his freak on".  But now, as an adult, and a mature Christian, he is starting to question these rules.  They no longer make any sense to him.  He would rather, through the Holy Spirit's guidance, figure out what is right and wrong for him and his family.

There are definitely rights and wrongs in the Bible.  Black and white.  No questions.  But, then there are the ones where man and "the church" have stepped in and made it their business to decide what is right and wrong for everyone, and then frowns upon those who choose to believe differently.

Ah, sorry.  This is what I was afraid would happen. 

Springing off of that to the Personal Question:

Into what comparison trap do you most often fail? Why?
It used to be that I spent a lot of time comparing my kids to other kids and my parenting to other parents, but over the years that is something that I have really brought before God and slowly, that need has all but disappeared.  Oh sure it rears its ugly head now and then, but it's become very easy to squash down. At this point in my life it is easy to compare my physical appearance with others and not because I am vain, because I really am not, but as I age, I am noticing more wrinkles and more loose skin and I suppose in some ways I don't want to look my age.  I have to keep reminding myself that it is what is on the inside that matters and outward appearance is not what gets me to Heaven :)

**I have no idea what happened hear.  Jill, your comment was here, and I promise I didn't delete it.  But when I published and looked over again, it was gone.  I am so sorry.**


Jill:  That's ok Lisa, these things sometimes happen.  :)


Lisa: Jill, Satan found your weakness because that's what he does.  He wants you to feel bad about yourself and get trapped.

This is what I wrote because this is where I am: Not so much a personal trap and comparison, but I'm just so tired of churches thinking they are better or superior to another church.  I'm actually exhausted by this attitude, and can hardly stand it anymore.

I do have weaknesses, and was recently attacked by a leader, who made me feel like I'm not a good enough mother and that, because I don't attend a small group because I feel the need to get my kids to bed at a decent hour, that my children's spiritual future is in peril.  Really?  Because more than anything I want my children to know the Lord as their Savior, and do all I know how to ensure this. 

Now, search Galatians 2:1-10 again.  In what context does James, our protagonist, show up in these verses?
Ah James.  A Jewish man who knew what it meant to be on the wrong side of belief, now passionate about telling others who Christ was.  He offered Grace to Paul as only someone who has been there can.  Paul called him a pillar because they supported the Gentile conversions and lack of circumcision because they understood that was not what mattered.

Jill:  I love how James goes from non believer to Pillar.  That gives me so much hope.  I do love how not only did the apostles forgave Paul for his murderous past, but they extend the right hand of friendship to him.  How symbolic.  If the apostles can forgive Paul after everything he had done to them, then that should be an example of how I should treat the people in my life who just simply annoy me.  I love this study. 

Lisa: James was "one who seemed important".  He did not judge Paul's ministry, but accepted and blessed what God had entrusted Paul to do, serving the Gentiles, even though this ministry was so vastly different from his own calling and ministry with the Jews.

My final thought on this day was the extending of the right hand of friendship. Having the explanation that it was a blessing or an agreement to serve the same Lord in two vastly different ways, just reiterates to me how the petty things that churches fight about just do not matter.  James asked Paul to remember the poor.  In all things that churches do, our common goal should be to serve God and serve others, regardless of what that looks like, without comparison and without judgement.

Once again, just exactly the scripture and study that I needed for this day!

Jill:  A thought popped into my head as I read the 1st verse at the top of the page on Day 4.  How it was decided that Paul should go to the Gentiles.  I was wondering if this was some sort of 'punishment" for lack of a better word.  As it appears  that the Jews thought the Gentiles were "heathens" and "unclean".  And since Paul was such a persecutor I wonder if James Peter and John thought "we will keep the Jews and you can have the unclean Gentiles"  Maybe that isn't at all what happened but it was just something that came to me. 

Lisa: Jill, this thought comes from the Revelation study that we just finished, but in a way, God was more or less sending the Jews a message.  Basically, what Beth pointed out in that study was that since the Jews, Jesus' own people, refused to recognize him as their Savior and Redeemer, that God would soften the hearts of the Gentiles and allow them into His Kingdom, even though the Jews were/are His chosen people.  I don't think it was a punishment to Paul at all.  If anything, it may have been a privilege.  Many of them wouldn't have known or cared about who Paul had been.  At this time the Jews were very much persecuting the Christians.  It was an ugly battle.

I really think these 3 Pillars recognized the hand of God on Paul and knew that he had been called to minister to these "unclean" Gentiles.  It was also prophesied in Jeremiah 12:16: "And if they (the Gentiles) learn well the ways of my people (the Israelites) and swear by my name (the Lord), saying, 'As surely as the Lord lives... - then they (the Gentiles) will be established among my people (the Israelites)."  This meant that at some point, we know now, after the Messiah came, that the Gentiles would be recognized by God as welcome members of the Kingdom if they turned away from their old ways and followed Him. 


Jill:  Thanks Lisa for pointing out that fact about the Gentiles may have been a privilege to preach to.  Fascinating.