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Some crisis events occurred in the Galatian congregation. Paul,
in broad strokes, paints both a historical and theological picture for these
crisis times by giving them the overall picture of life in the Spirit. Now
is the time to sketch in the finer points by splashing on the specific responsibilities
for those who are led by the Spirit in healing their fractured relationships.
As you listen to the text, what is it saying to you about helping to mend
relationships in your church community? What are some of the ways that we
mend those broken relationships?
As a church we can help hurting people by restoring them gently,
by carrying each other’s burdens, sharing materially and spiritually
with their teachers/mentors, and doing good to all people regardless of their
economic or social status. Be patient and kind to those of the household of
faith. As an individual we can help hurting people by controlling what we
say or how we act towards others. What we sow in attitude is what we also
reap from others. Our attitudes towards others are important.
The thrust of this last chapter to the Galatians reminds us
that as Christians we must be partners in the faith as friends. The word “philadelphia”
translates to human affection or brotherly/sisterly love. Literally, it means
to show affectionate friendship. Charles Swindoll quotes Samuel Coleridge
in his poem titled, “Youth and Age” with a line that compares friendship
to a sheltering tree. Swindoll writes, “Friends are those whose lives
are like branches. They provide shade, they provide refuge from the demanding,
irritating, and searing rays of the hot sun. You can find comfort by them.
You can find strength near them. They are tree-like in that they bear fruit
that provides nourishment and encouragement.” As you listen to the text,
how does this apply to your congregation and to you personally?
While the Christian life is a one-on-one relationship with God,
we do not make the journey alone. The Christian walk is a shared hike. Throughout
this section Paul is giving guidance on how to accomplish this journey.
Maxie Dunnam shares some thoughts from Truman Capote’s
Other Voices, Other Rooms, where the hero is about to walk over a swollen,
murky creek along a heavy but rooting beam. He quotes Capote, “. . .
stepping gingerly . . . he felt he would never reach the other side; always
he would be balanced there, suspended between land in the dark and alone.
Then feeling the board shake as Idabel started across, he remembered that
he had someone to be together with. And he could go on.” Dunnam then
shares his feelings and thoughts, “Isn’t this our experience? It
certainly has been mine. I shiver at the thought of having to go it alone.
I get chills when I consider where I might be if at the right time I had not
felt the board shake because someone was walking with me!”#
Digging through the text one can begin to feel the interrelatedness
and interdependence as Paul builds the case for us cooperating and living
together as Christians. Paul’s heart would break as he heard of church
frictions and fractures as should any Christian’s heart break at such
times. The theme of fellowship and strengthening one another occurs often
in Paul’s writings and is the theme of the first six verses of the sixth
chapter of Galatians. How does this interdependence play out in life? Paul
would give us the understanding that it is interdependence as friends in fellowship
with one another—hurting when others hurt, laughing when others laugh,
crying when others cry. It is interdependence in spiritual matters by sharing
the “good news” with others and partnering with them in the journey
through Bible study, prayer, church attendance and service together.
This interrelatedness and interdependence also means that we
value one another. People are important. Part of my ministerial assignment
is to travel across the United States and Canada. As I travel, one of my major
concerns revolves around the perception that some people have that their opinions,
ideas, and thoughts are not important. They feel that their value as a person
and Christian has lessened to the point that they are no longer needed and
made to feel unwanted. The truth is that all people need to feel wanted, loved,
accepted and needed—valued. Paul challenges the church to value its people.
Even if someone is caught in a “sin” they are still valuable to
God, the Kingdom and the church. That is why Paul writes, “Brothers,
if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently”
(Galatians 6:1).
This interrelatedness and interdependence also manifests itself
in availability. The concept of being available to one another means we take
time for people because we love them in Christ. This love is blind to nationality,
appearance, financial status, social status, age, or anything that may prejudice
others. Agape love reaches out and is available to one and all! This interrelatedness
and interdependence helps us to understand we are people of integrity with
one another (Galatians 6:3-4). We cannot help or share with anyone if we have
a low self-esteem or a bloated self-image. God has given us himself and we
are only as strong as he is and only as good as he is and only as forgiven
and loved as he gives. We can only give advice to a friend in difficulty if
we know that we have Christ-assurance of who we are in him. Only then can
we bridge some burdens, dangerous difficulties, and shaky ground to be there
for brothers and sisters in Christ. This interrelatedness and interdependence
is a ministry of friendship that shares spiritual support, correction, guidance,
healing and restoration.
(For the full manuscript
of this sermon go to www.preachermagazine.org and click on “Sermons”)
Paul wanted to deliver a message of love and care for one another
as he wrote this passage. The message has not changed, nor has the need. People
desperately need to encounter the truth that the church is a safe haven for
them to come to at any time. It is a hospital for the spiritually sick who
need to be bandaged and find a place of healing. In this sermon I state, “What
the church needs along with its great theology, beautiful hymns, glorious
traditions, and incredible buildings is the Spirit of God to ‘twist together’
with its occupants and to strengthen the fellowship one with another. ‘Friends’
is more than a television program. It is an experience to develop.” I
firmly believe the church is the legitimate place to develop and grow friendships.
I preached this message to a group of prime-time adults at a retreat in Canada. There were 321 present for the morning devotional. At the end of the message we sang, “One in the Bond of Love” and then broke up into small groups for prayer. I would encourage you as a pastor to select an appropriate piece of music and ask your people to divide into small groups for prayer. Stand back and watch the Holy Spirit do his work! It will be soul satisfying.