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.

Maybe you remember the song “Charlie Brown” by The Coasters. It was released in 1959 and became one of their hits. The song humorously describes a mischievous kid named Charlie Brown who’s always getting into trouble, and the iconic line “Why’s everybody always picking on me?” is part of the chorus.

Paul’s tone in Galatians 4:11 definitely has that “Why’s everybody always picking on me?” vibe. He’s defending himself against false accusations and constant persecution, despite the fact that he’s preaching the truth of the gospel. It’s like Paul is saying, “Look, if I were compromising the gospel by preaching circumcision like they say I am, why would I still be taking all this heat?!” It’s a bit of a “Does this make sense to you?” moment.

Paul did support circumcision under certain circumstances. Paul had Timothy circumcised (Acts 16:3), but that was done to avoid offending Jews they were trying to evangelize—not because Paul believed it was necessary for salvation. Timothy’s mother was Jewish and he would have been considered Jewish by heritage. However, because he wasn’t circumcised, this might have been a stumbling block to Jews they were trying to reach with the gospel. Paul had Timothy circumcised as a matter of practicality for evangelism, not as a requirement for salvation.

Titus, on the other hand, was a Gentile, and Paul explicitly refused to have him circumcised. This took place during a pivotal moment when Paul was defending the truth of the gospel against Judaizers (those who insisted that Gentile believers needed to follow the Jewish law, including circumcision). He has already written about this in Galatians 2:13-15.

There are simple answers to the question, Why is everyone always picking on me? Sometimes we make ourselves the target for others’ criticism. Some people are just mean and they delight in making other people’s lives miserable. Satan incites people to criticize God’s faithful people.

That’s the simple answer. But the more important and far reaching is the fact that Satan delights to  discourage a follower of Jesus, or derail his mission. So he will do all he can to foment criticism, conflict, reproval, and trouble for God’s servants.

So next time you feel the brunt of others’ criticism, take heart. You are in good company. Sadly, there are those who delight in disturbing others. Being criticized might be thought of as a red badge of courage. On the other hand it is simply a reality of life in a fallen world. And when we do experience such troubles we can take heart in remembering Peter’s encouragement: ““Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed” (1 Peter 4:12-13, NIV).

Be sure of this. Though we may suffer criticism justly or unjustly, we can be sure that one day every tongue will be stopped, and every knee will bow, and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father. And we will join in the chorus of praise to Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.