Face to Face

Look at Galatians 2:12-15. It would be so nice if everyone was perfect, wouldn't it? If everyone did Christianity right, we would never have to do the hard thing of actually going to someone if we feel they are wrong (or we are wrong). Paul did the right thing and went to Peter face to face. Peter fell into some fear of man. He feared the Christian Jews. They were circumcised and felt all should be as well. The Gentile Jews were not circumcised because Christianity frees us from the law! No more circumcision required. Circumcision was a sign of the Jews' covenant with God. They also didn't eat with the Gentile believers because Gentile believers didn't observe the Jewish customs and diet. Again, no longer under the law. Peter's call was to minister to the Jews and was sent by God to convert them to Christianity. But Peter found himself compromising and a friend, Paul, challenged him. Did this ruin their relationship? No. As a matter of fact, Peter refers to Paul later as "our beloved brother Paul" in 2 Peter 3:15. Galatians 6:1-5 gives us a hint as to Paul's heart on correcting his friend. ^1"Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. ² Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. ³ For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. ⁴ But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. ⁵ For each one shall bear his own load." The word "restore" here in the Greek is katartizo which refers to the "mending of nets" or "perfecting human character". If people are approached with a hope of restoration, then we continue as "beloved brothers". Paul recognized this great man of God had a very important job to do and he reached out to his friend and pulled him up, corrected him and kept the relationship. Not only because he was a friend and associate but also for the big picture. After all, this walk of ours is all about God's kingdom, not ours!