“Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority it is time to pause and reflect” (Mark Twain).
The people of the region of Galatia have begun to think they need to live like the Jews in order to be truly saved. Paul asks them to remember when they received the Holy Spirit; if the Spirit came to them after they believed, or after they did some works of the law. Clearly, the Spirit came to live inside them because they believed. Why then would they think they needed to start following the law to be acceptable to God?
Paul calls the Galatians foolish because they are capable of thinking but fail to use their judgement; they seem to have been bewitched by arguments that they know, from their previous experience, aren’t right. They seem to have been persuaded by the majority view.
Why are we sometimes bewitched by arguments which we know are false? Is it because we tire of the day to day and long for the excitement of previous spiritual experiences? Is it because we are easily persuaded or feel rootless? Unfortunately, there is much around us which sounds and seems like it might be right, and it takes discernment (and likely a few mistakes) to fish out what is actually right; “Discernment is not knowing the difference between right and wrong. It is knowing the difference between right and almost right.” (C.H. Spurgeon).
How to tell the difference then? Notice Paul roots his challenge to the Galatians and his arguments in scripture. He refers to Abraham as father of those who believe; of all nations, creeds, race and gender. In so doing he roots his comments not just in Scripture but in heritage; the heritage that all Christians have as followers of Christ. “The one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world” (1 John 4:4). Referring to Scripture will always be a way to realign and it may not be the majority view, or easy, or popular; “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world” (John 15:18-19).
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Lord Jesus, Thank You that Your promises are constant and true. Help us to understand how we can know You better. Help us to keep on doing right and to have the discernment to choose our company and our influences for the good. In Your name, Amen.