David Bahn – Reflections

For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.

² Look: I, Paul, say to you that if you accept circumcision, Christ will be of no advantage to you. ³ I testify again to every man who accepts circumcision that he is obligated to keep the whole law. ⁴ You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace. ⁵ For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness. ⁶ For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.

⁷ You were running well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? ⁸ This persuasion is not from him who calls you. ⁹ A little leaven leavens the whole lump. ¹⁰ I have confidence in the Lord that you will take no other view, and the one who is troubling you will bear the penalty, whoever he is. ¹¹ But if I, brothers, still preach circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been removed. ¹² I wish those who unsettle you would emasculate themselves!

¹³ For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. ¹⁴ For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” ¹⁵ But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another.

The idea of the camel getting its nose under the tent is that once it’s there, it’s just a matter of time before the camel is in the tent. And who wants that?!? Answer: the camel! The term is related to the domino theory. Once the first domino falls, the rest will surely follow. Falling dominoes or intruding camels’ noses are not good things. The initial intrusions or tumbles lead to far worse consequences.

This is what Paul speaks of here. And he is adamant! The implications of agreeing to go along with the Circumcision Party’s requirement that the Galatians submit to this part of the Old Testament Law were so drastic that Paul gets carried away with his invective: I wish those who unsettle you would emasculate themselves! That’s pretty extreme. 

Paul is distressed at least in part to the fact that he was being persecuted by these Judaizers. They were insisting that Gentile Christians observe the Mosaic Law (circumcision, dietary laws, etc.) to be fully included in the people of God. Paul was being persecuted because he had consistently proclaimed the gospel of grace through faith in Christ alone, rejecting the idea that circumcision or other works of the Law are necessary for salvation. This gospel message undermined the Judaizers’ belief system and threatened their authority and influence.

But the stakes are high. So high, in fact, that Paul warns the Galatian believers that if they fall prey to this requirement they had fallen from grace. This is the worst possible outcome of this small little compromise.

Not applicable to us today? Just ask the woman who carries on an innocent emotional affair with her office colleague only to give in to temptation and a full-fledged sexual affair. Ask the young man who tried crack cocaine just once only to be pulled into the vortex of addiction. Ask the youth who experiments with sex – just once – and discovers she’s pregnant at the age of 14. Ask the middle management accountant who fudges the figures to cover his gambling debts and ends up broke and without a job when he’s discovered.

Not every sip of whiskey leads to an alcoholic’s nightmare. But there are legitimate dangers we must avoid when dealing with any potential domino effect action. In the case of adding any additional requirement than faith to our salvation the dangers have eternal consequences. Certain clothing. Specific worship forms. Contrived initiation rites. These are the poison-tainted Kool Aide which we must not drink!