Sermon by Jane Larsen-Wigger

Crescent Hill Presbyterian Church

June 6, 2010

Galatians 1

Psalm 146

Before Galatians reading:

The lectionary this summer includes much of Paul’s letter to the Galatians. With the exception of next Sunday when we’ll have a special guest preacher, I’m planning to preach on this Epistle for a few weeks.

Today we will hear the first chapter, the introduction of this letter that is, it’s pretty agreed, is actually from Paul. Who it is addressed to isn’t quite so clear: except some churches probably in an area of Asia Minor (current-day Turkey)....churches that Paul had previously founded. This seems to be one of his earliest letters – written around the middle of the first century. It is also considered to be one of the most important. Besides giving us some autobiographical details about Paul himself, it clearly makes a case for the Gospel of Jesus Christ: the Gospel of Grace. So....we’re not exactly sure when this written or to whom, but we are sure who wrote it – and why.

It seems that sometime after Paul established churches in Galatia, some other "missionaries arrived and began to advocate a different message. In addition to preaching Christ, they urged that the predominantly Gentile congregations adopt the Jewish practice of circumcision in order to secure themselves a place among the people of God. . . [Given the] demands of living out their calling in a pagan environment, [the Galatians] were no doubt vulnerable to the security and guarantees offered in the message of circumcision." Here’s what you need to do, what you can do, to guarantee your salvation. "Many likely responded in a positive manner."

When Paul heard about the situation he writes this letter to the congregations of Galatia. He is expressing "astonishment that they could be persuaded by the teaching of the agitators and makes his case for the gospel of grace. . ." (Charles Cousar, Interpretation: Galatians, John Knox Press, 1982, page 4)

A letter such as this would have most likely been read to a congregation when they gathered, as we do, for worship. So, let us who, like the Galatians, have heard and accepted the Good News of the Gospel, who also struggle to live out our calling in an environment antithetical to that Gospel, let us hear Paul’s message to the Churches - in first century Galatia and 21st century Kentucky:

(Kevin read Galatians 1)

In his letter to the Galatians, which is known as his "Freedom Lette,r" Paul seems to be kind of irritated with those first century Christians because they have gotten pre-occupied with the Law. It makes ya wonder what he would make of a lot of our public discourse lately which seems to include lots of talk about the place of laws and regulations.

I find it curious where people fall in these discussions – on both sides it seems. Because those calling for less government regulations one day are claiming the next day that the government is too hands off. Or those who see the value of government regulations in business say, get upset when a state narrows its immigration policies.

Be it finances or immigration or an oil spill or what buildings we can tear down or who can be served at a restaurant the argument is often about the place of the Law.

And in the church the polemical atmosphere isn’t a whole lot better. Many are anticipating that our upcoming Presbyterian General Assembly will be another contentious one as commissioners will be asked to debate our investment policies and ordination requirements and who can be married and what should be included in our Confessions of Faith. And as we make more rules....we’re also trying to figure out how to make our ‘rule book’ (The Book of Order) smaller.

It’s a dilemma.

Well.....most of us who have Calvinistic tendencies would admit that the Law has its needful place. That we humans need it. That, if left to our own devices, our self-centered, greedy, insecure natures will take over and we won’t always do the right thing. So, we need the Law as a guide. Something to help in our growth, as individuals as well as a community.

Sure, it would be great to think that everyone will just do what’s right – for their own health, for their families, for the community as a whole, for the created world. But we can’t count on that. Expediency will cause corporations to cut corners that will have huge ramifications on the environment; greed will guide decisions of those entrusted with financial decisions; fear of the "other" will compel people to treat fellow human beings unfairly; and ‘selective oblivion’ will lead consumers to ignore their part in the responsible use of resources.

We need the Law.  So what is Paul’s beef?

I don’t think it is with the Law per se. He knows as well as anyone that we need help, that humans won’t always do the right thing even if they want to. He knows the Law is a needed guide in the quest to live full and meaningful lives and especially to live together in community. It is something akin to a trellis that helps guide and direct our growth.

But, it will not save us. If God’s justification is determined by the law, Paul is saying, then it would be restricted to (Jews and other) law-abiding people. (Cousar, page 7) And that would mean that it has more to do with us and what we can do, rather than with God and what God has done in Jesus Christ.

There’s a security in knowing what is expected of you and something easy about just following the rules: do this and you are a Christian. It’s easy, but also somewhat exhausting, trying so hard to keep up with all those expectations.

The law can provide the trellis to guide our growth, but our salvation does not hang on that. Our salvation is rooted in the grace of God – not in our goodness or law-abidingness or because we are somehow on the right side of things.

Paul isn’t so much angry, I think, with the Galatians, as concerned for them. He’s worried that they have not only mis-understood the Christian faith, but also haven’t really experienced the free grace of God.

As one commentator explains it, Paul feared that the Galatians were "working at the wrong end of the relationship with God – what they can do to assure inclusion in God’s family; what they can do to cope with the power of the flesh; what they can do to fulfill the law. The answer lies at the other end – what God has done in Christ . . ."

(Cousar, page 9)

The question that concerns Paul, what he is really challenging the Galatians - and Presbyterians - to face is "Who are you trusting?" Are we trusting ourselves and our goodness and faithfulness? Or are we trusting the God – the One who not only gave us life, but who gave us God’s own life to set us free.  We cannot save ourselves – no matter how well we follow the rules or help other people or work for justice. Salvation is not dependent on our efforts but on God’s.

The good news of the Gospel is that we can’t do it. WE cannot save ourselves. Nor do we need to – that has been done once and for all. God has offered free, unmerited love: that is the Gospel of Grace.

This Table is a visible sign of that Grace. It is an invitation to take in this gift, to experience this grace, to get that truth into us.

I know that hand-outs and free meals are suspect in our culture. And resisted.

A few years ago Brad and I were invited to do a weekend of teaching and preaching at a church. They had been given a sizeable, anonymous gift for just such a purpose. Much was made at the event about how this was all a gift, how someone had made it possible.

But, when it came time for lunch....the crowd was told they could contribute to the meal using the baskets provided, because "We all know there’s no such thing as a free meal."

Well, my friends – hard as it is to believe, even harder as it may be to accept.....there IS such a thing as a free meal.

Our deacons know the importance of that and so they are offering just that every Wednesday night in June. A way, a place where we can practice receiving. Being together - with just whoever shows up and is willing to accept the company and the meal.

What is happening on Wednesday nights is nothing less than what is offered to us today: the chance to experience grace.

So come – taste and see for yourselves. Let the roots of your faith be nourished by the Grace that has been poured out by the One who Loves you.