Are We Practicing "Galatianism"?
Have we become the Galatians?
The pandemic has upended much in our world and no doubt God thought it was time.
There are of course a wide variety of scenarios across our world in regards to this virus. Many societies have underdeveloped if not inadequate healthcare for people that are sick with anything not to mention covid. The developed world has been mostly successful in vaccine distribution and administration but as with America the results are mixed.
There is great debate that and division between those insisting on vaccines and those who disregard them.
Is it really about freedom?
Is the virus a myth, made up to control people?
There is much paranoia and conspiracies abound, even among Christians (who In my opinion should know better!)
Galatians 4: 1-10
Sons and Heirs
4 I mean that the heir, as long as he is a child, is no different from a slave,[a] though he is the owner of everything, 2 but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by his father. 3 In the same way we also, when we were children, were enslaved to the elementary principles[b] of the world. 4 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. 6 And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” 7 So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.
Paul's Concern for the Galatians
8 Formerly, when you did not know God, you were enslaved to those that by nature are not gods. 9 But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world, whose slaves you want to be once more? 10 You observe days and months and seasons and years!
If we look at what Paul said in Galatians we find a worldview that these ancient societies knew enough about our sinful "flesh" to organize their cultures to try and control it. Thus they instituted practices and purity systems built around pure and impure, sacred and profane etc. "Flesh" then is mankind after the Fall.
If you can't redeem the "flesh" you instead set up societal rules to try and control it.
Colossians 2:23
23 These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh.
All of the ancient cultures did this. Plato said: “Purification is the science of division,”. These cultures institutionalized flesh with no way of overcoming its sins. Israel was the only culture that sought to overcome their flesh through the creator.
So today many have pointed out that we have become like the Galatians in that we have a secular religion and now the standards of purity are being vaccinated or not being vaccinated. If you are purified and abide by the rules you can go places and do things. I agree that this is what we are seeing develop in our culture and world and only God knows what it will become.
The real problem becomes when the church, the body of Christ begins observing these social divisions. Just as there are many other things from culture which churches in America have bought into entertainment etc.
I also realize that the issue of "The Common Good" can be used to control people as well, however I do believe that in this Covid World we are in now "The Common Good" that Christians have historically pursued has been cynically ignored in favor of the freedom issue!
We don't seem to care who gets sick and dies anymore. They were going to die anyway is what many say. There was a time when if I could prevent a relative or friend with cancer from getting sick by my presence (if I had a bad cold for example) by just staying away. That was compassion and being concerned about others. Now it seems we are so obsessed with our rights and our freedoms we totally disregard the welfare of others.
My freedom does not overrule your health or welfare!!!!!!!!!!!!
As always Covid or not, vaccine or not our mandate from Christ is to be selfless and sacrificial in our living and relationship to others.
We do that through our relationship with our Lord, daily prayer, confession and repentance!