David Bahn – Reflections

See with what large letters I am writing to you with my own hand. It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh who would force you to be circumcised, and only in order that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. For even those who are circumcised do not themselves keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may boast in your flesh. But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. And as for all who walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.

From now on let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers. Amen. – Galatians 6:11-18

My experience in a congregation I served early in my ministry was a collection of difficult, anxious, hurting, angry, and distrustful people. One particularly difficult family was divided brother from sister in harsh criticism of and division from each other. The brother accused the sister of terrible if not immoral behavior. The sister said the brother was viciously unkind. I had my conclusions, though I tried as best I could to remain neutral. 

Then one day I encountered the bitter and viscous tongue of the brother. He was so harsh to me that I went reeling from an aborted visit to his mother in the hospital. Half way out of the hospital, I decided to turn around and apologize. When I did, the brother attacked me again! His tongue was rapier-sharp. It hurt deeply and I just left in stunned silence. 

Later, when I visited with his sister, I immediately had credibility with her and her daughter because I had experienced her brother’s vicious verbal attack. When her daughter expressed doubt about whether they could trust me, she said, “He knows Tom’s (not his real name) nature. He’s seen it.” I had an in with them both from that time on. 

Sometimes the bitter pain we bear can bring a credibility to a relationship. We who have faced the battles and suffered the scars of the fight can speak truth to their comrades in arms. The enemy of my enemy makes for a close fellowship.

Paul has suffered greatly for the sake of the gospel. He has suffered as a servant of Jesus for their sake. So when he brings his concerns about the circumcision party to their attention, he can demand that they give his concerns due consideration. He’s been in the battle. He’s fought for them. They need to listen to him, and give him his due. 

Have you gone to the mat for anyone? Have you fought the fight for their good? Have you suffered so that someone can know the truth. Have you been betrayed? Have you paid a financial price? If so, you have “cred.” Cred is short for credibility. It’s a gravitas and believability that comes from life’s hard knocks and shared battles. If you have cred, use it. Leverage it for the sake of the truth of God’s love and the grace of God in Jesus. 

Jesus has more cred than anyone else ever in the history of eternity. No one has suffered more. No one more sacrificial love. He’s gone to the cross for you. Listen to him. Let his grace and truth hold sway over all you do. 

See with what large letters I am writing to you with my own hand. It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh who would force you to be circumcised, and only in order that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. For even those who are circumcised do not themselves keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may boast in your flesh. But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. And as for all who walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.

From now on let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers. Amen. – Galatians 6:11-18

I’ve had a conversation lately with a thoughtful friend about pride. His contention is that pride is behind every sin. Whenever we choose to depart from God’s ways, it is because we think we know better than God. That, he says, is pride. I haven’t fully accepted his idea, but we’ve had some edifying conversations. And he has a point…to a point. But there is also the matter of fear, selfishness, greed, and or any of the other deadly sins. Sloth, for example, seems different from pride. But pride is one of the fundamental or foundational sins. And there are few situations in which pride is anything but sinful. 

Enter Paul. He makes the point of boasting only in the cross of Jesus. And on a human level he could boast of many things; even godly or spiritual things. When he wrote to the church in Philippi, dealing with the same issue there, he wrote:

If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: ⁵ circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; ⁶ as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law,  blameless. – Philippians 3:4-6

Paul makes the point here not to boast or even to tell the people he could boast if he wanted to. He simply says he will boast only in the cross of Jesus. This is no boast in the ordinary sense of the word. For the cross of Jesus is an emblem of shame and defeat. For someone to embrace the message of Jesus’ death is to admit to needing a Suffering Servant Savior, bloodied, abused, shamed, and forsaken, in order to be redeemed. This is hardly bragging territory. 

So boasting in Jesus’ cross is no boast in human terms. But it is boasting from the perspective of God. And insofar as we do this we are also honoring God, and our bloodied, abused, shamed, and forsaken Suffering Servant Savior. But there is a major twist here. For Jesus is not only bloodied, abused, shamed, and forsaken. He is also risen, exalted, and reigning at the right hand of God. Jesus is worthy of our boasting because he not only died for us, but has been raised to life and given the name above every name. 

Still Pau’s boast is not in Jesus’ resurrection, but in his cross. His suffering and death brought us salvation, and Paul realizes that anything else is worthless in comparison. Paul is actually boasting in his humility. But not about his humility. He is boasting about his Savior. And that’s a worthy boast for us all.

Click here for an audio version of this blog post.

See with what large letters I am writing to you with my own hand. It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh who would force you to be circumcised, and only in order that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. For even those who are circumcised do not themselves keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may boast in your flesh. But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. And as for all who walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.

From now on let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers. Amen. – Galatians 6:11-18

We had a rule in our home when I was young. When we would come in the front door, we had to say, “Me!” We had to announce ourselves because otherwise someone would have to jump up from their seat and attend to the customer who had come in. I grew up in a mom-and-pop motel, and the front desk was right next to our living quarters. Customers meant potential income, and when someone other than a family member would come in, our livelihood depended on attending to them. When it was one of the family members, we didn’t need to jump to attention. Sometimes it is important to know who is who.

For an entirely different reason Paul is letting people know it’s really him writing to the people in Galatia. He’s taking off the table the idea that someone is putting forth ideas claiming to be his. No, these are not someone else’s ideas. Paul himself is putting forward these teachings. And this is important because Paul is not just a church leader, but a missionary who has given his life for the sake of the gospel and the eternal salvation of the people of Galatia. 

In the early days of the Christian church, questions about what is true about God, salvation, and the Christian life were not easily satisfied. There was no Bible (other than the Old Testament) to which people could appeal. And the Old Testament had been fulfilled, and the Old Testament Law was no longer the final authority. The teachings of Jesus were. The Apostles were the final source of authority about life, faith, and salvation. And Paul – though not one of the 12 – was highly esteemed. He would become a source of inspiration and direction for the early church. 

As he is all in for Jesus and the people of Galatia. They knew that. So now as Paul speaks to them about the challenges of the circumcision party, he wants them to know it’s really him. They can listen to him. They can believe him. 

None of us today have the gravitas of Paul. But surely there are some for whom we hold sway. It may be a son who knows you love him. It might be a coworker who knows you’ve always had her back. It might be a neighbor that you’ve helped many times. But unless we’re willing to claim it’s “me” with the hopes that people will appreciate our good intent for them and our commitment to God’s truth, we’ll not have the impact we otherwise might. When you send an email or text, hopefully those who receive it will recognize your commitment to truth and love for them. 

For your personal edification and reflection on this Lord’s Day…

Psalm 21:13
Be exalted, O LORD, in your strength!
We will sing and praise your power.

Psalm 51:1-13
Have mercy on me, O God,
according to your steadfast love;
according to your abundant mercy
blot out my transgressions.
Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,
and cleanse me from my sin!
For I know my transgressions,
and my sin is ever before me.
Against you, you only, have I sinned
and done what is evil in your sight,
so that you may be justified in your words
and blameless in your judgment.
Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity,
and in sin did my mother conceive me.
Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being,
and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart.
Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;
wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Let me hear joy and gladness;
let the bones that you have broken rejoice.
Hide your face from my sins,
and blot out all my iniquities.
Create in me a clean heart, O God,
and renew a right spirit within me.
Cast me not away from your presence,
and take not your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
and uphold me with a willing spirit.
Then I will teach transgressors your ways,
and sinners will return to you.

Psalm 81:1-3
Sing aloud to God our strength;
shout for joy to the God of Jacob!
Raise a song; sound the tambourine,
the sweet lyre with the harp.
Blow the trumpet at the new moon,
at the full moon, on our feast day.

Psalm 111:1-3
Praise the LORD!
I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart,
in the company of the upright, in the congregation.
Great are the works of the LORD,
studied by all who delight in them.
Full of splendor and majesty is his work,
and his righteousness endures forever.

Psalm 141:1-2
O LORD, I call upon you; hasten to me!
Give ear to my voice when I call to you!
Let my prayer be counted as incense before you,
and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice!

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Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself. ² Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ. ³ If you think you are too important to help someone, you are only fooling yourself. You are not that important.

⁴ Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you won’t need to compare yourself to anyone else. ⁵ For we are each responsible for our own conduct.

⁶ Those who are taught the word of God should provide for their teachers, sharing all good things with them.

⁷ Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. ⁸ Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit. ⁹ So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. ¹⁰ Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith. – Galatians 6:1-10

There are three situations in my life that I yearn for justice. Two are financial. One is in the area of human relations. I’ll not go on a march seeking it. They are not the “No Justice No Peace” kinds of things. But I would love to have the financial scales balanced. And I pray for the human relation to be set right. Most often we think of justice as a matter of balanced scales. Good weighing equally on both sides of the equation.

But here I see three ways beyond balanced scales that justice is reflected by God’s people. Justice from the perspective of God is far more than balanced scales. In fact the notion starts with righteousness, which is a matter of faith. Genesis 15:6 is not a one-off. We are counted righteous by faith. And here we have faith expressing itself in three dimensions. 

• Humility and willing to help others 
• Willingness to carry our own load
• Persevering in doing good 

All of this is sustained by those who teach about God’s justice. This also reminds me of Micah 6:8, “He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?”

Naturally, if everyone lived by these values and behaviors, all of life would be better. In fact the three areas of my life for which I wish justice would be resolved. But the results of this kind of justice are more far-reaching. These values touch far more than balancing the scales of right and wrong. 

I thank God for all those who through the years have taught me the word of God, pointing to me the essential foundation of God’s grace in Jesus, opening my eyes to the significance of God’s reign and rule in Jesus – a gracious reign and rule of faith – that shows itself in a life of humility, kindness, and true justice. We learn of this in the life of Jesus, and are recipients of his justice through faith. While we flinch and falter in our quest, he did not ever do so. And he is our justice, our righteousness, our salvation, and source of humility and lovingkindness…through faith. 

Click here for an audio version of this blog post.

Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself. ² Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ. ³ If you think you are too important to help someone, you are only fooling yourself. You are not that important.

⁴ Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you won’t need to compare yourself to anyone else. ⁵ For we are each responsible for our own conduct.

⁶ Those who are taught the word of God should provide for their teachers, sharing all good things with them.

⁷ Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. ⁸ Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit. ⁹ So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. ¹⁰ Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith. – Galatians 6:1-10

Tom needed a job. But he couldn’t even get an interview. Meanwhile Mary managed to land not only an interview, but a lucrative offer with a solid company – the kind of company every college graduate yearns to work for. It wasn’t her looks. It wasn’t even her brains that got her the job. It was her connections…but her brains didn’t hurt her chances either. Tom, however, didn’t give up. Speaking to one of his friends about the situation he said, “I just don’t want to go hat-in-hand to Mary or anyone to ask for help with my job search. I want to earn this on my own.”

That’s when his friend offered a simple observation, “Isn’t that what friends are for? Wouldn’t you be willing to help Mary if your situation was changed?” The light went on and Tom called Mary. The next week he had three interviews scheduled. Friends came to his aid, and it was a good thing.

As Paul is writing to the Galatian Christians, I don’t think he had job searches in mind. But certainly the idea of “doing good to all people – especially those who are in the family of faith” would include such help. More likely it applied in Paul’s day to basic necessities of life: food, shelter, hospitality, and the warmth of human kindness. Sometimes it might have been a matter of life or death. It would also certainly include helping someone stay on the pathway of faith. 

It is very easy to opt out of helping people in need. Take your pick: too busy. Too tired. Too poor. Too inept. Not really sure what is needed. Maybe sometimes we just don’t care for that brother or sister in need. Maybe even within the family of faith there are those we’d just as soon ignore. 

But the walk of faith is fraught with distractions, temptations, challenges, and missteps. If we think we can go it alone, we’re dangerously mistaken. And if we think others don’t need our help to stay on the straight and narrow, we’re just plain wrong. 

Tom and Mary are fictitious persons. But they’s are real as the Aggie network here in Texas or the good old boys clubs in cities around the country, or the sororities and fraternities that rush the brightest and best. Those can all be good networks to have. They can also be exclusivist in nature. 

Our calling as Jesus followers is to do good to all people, and especially fellow believers. Never, however, does this call for us to close our hearts to anyone in need.   

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Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself. ² Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ. ³ If you think you are too important to help someone, you are only fooling yourself. You are not that important.– Galatians 6:1-3

For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. – Romans 12:3

Maybe you heard about the man who was growing more and more frustrated by the flight delays on day. There was a long line of people waiting to get re-ticketed, or told their fate. The man barges all the way to the front of the line, self-importance displayed in arrogant bluster, and says, “Don’t you know who I am?!?” 

The airline agent calmly takes the PA microphone off its hook and announces, “Excuse me, ladies and gentlemen. There is a man here who does not know who he is. Can someone please help him?” 

OK, maybe it’s a joke. But wouldn’t you like to see someone put in his place like that? Wouldn’t it be great if the bully was rendered powerless? Self-importance is such a dangerous cloak. 

I’ve watched a few episodes of Undercover Boss and have been impressed with the show’s premise. The CEO of a company goes to work as a low-level employee. He works as a pizza maker. She takes on the job of maintenance worker. They learn how life really is. They discover what it means to be one who does not have a private limo at their disposal, or a personal assistant, or even a prime parking spot. They serve along side common folk. They become not too important to help someone else.

We might think of the need to help a stranded motorist. The opportunity to pick up litter comes to mind. Any time we might need to help someone out of a bind brings with it also the chance to think, I don’t want to get my hands dirty with that issue. 

But helping people out of the mire is dirty business. Mike Rowe-averse folks need not apply. Yes it is a dirty job, but somebody’s gotta do it. I’m thinking of helping someone caught in the web of drug use or addictions of any kind. And in the helping may also be a temptation.

When I was in college I worked at my parent’s motel. One particularly memorable time came when “the man in room 22” (it was a small motel!) went on an alcoholic binge. He would order booze from a liquor store, have it sent by taxi to his room and drink one bottle after another. Finally we decided to intervene. I went with another friend and talked with him about the situation. We even prayed with him. A day later he had cleaned up completely and was sober and out. There was little temptation on my part to take any of his liquor. But it might open the door for some. 

Helping people can be messy. In fact Jesus got really messy when he helped us out. Obviously when he suffered and died it was a brutal mess. But even before that – early on and throughout his ministry he got messy. He consorted with tax collectors and sinners. He ate with prostitutes and people of questionable character. For that he got less respect. He was accused of improper relationships. Bad fellowship. But he changed people’s lives by becoming involved. 

We’re certainly not more important than Jesus! And we’ve been saved. Forgiven. Redeemed. Made new. 

Not everyone can go into every sinful and dark corner of the world. Women may well help other women gain their freedom from human trafficking. Men may do well to avoid those places. But wherever women or men are willing to be less important than they have a right to be, they can have a huge impact in other’s lives. 

Click here for an audio version of this blog post.

Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself. ² Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ. ³ If you think you are too important to help someone, you are only fooling yourself. You are not that important.– Galatians 6:1-3

If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, ¹⁶ and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that?  – James 2:14-16

Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. ³⁵ For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, ³⁶ I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ ³⁷ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? ³⁸ And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? ³⁹ And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ ⁴⁰ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’ – Matthew 25:34-40

It was an easy carry, listening to my friend. He’s got a tale of woes and seemed really to need an ear. Maybe you’ve done that for someone. A friend loses a loved one, and you call, and share, and listen. A co-worker loses her job and you meet up for lunch and commiserate. You might even remind her of some of the garbage she had to put up with (and that you still do). A cousin needs help moving and you lend your back to the task. Your dad is in the hospital and you go relieve your mom so she can get some rest. A brother in Christ is in the hospital and you go visit him. 

These are the kinds of things we do to fulfill the law of Christ. Jesus spoke of such things in his teaching about the sheep and the goats. These are not profound sacrifices. We’re not talking about giving your car to a down-and-out dad, or paying some poor college student’s tuition. But sometimes…

I can share one time (though, sadly, there are many many I could point to) that I didn’t want to do the simplest of things. I didn’t want to visit someone in the hospital. After a long and frustrating drive, a futile trip to the wrong hospital, an additional drive through crowded city streets, and a long elevator ride to the 9th floor, I walked into her room.

Her response shamed me. “Oh Pastor Bahn! I’m so glad to see you. Thank you for coming to visit me.” 

I like to set up young men who are in pre-marital counseling with a question based on Ephesians 5:25, “Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.” I ask them, “If someone were to threaten your sweetheart you would stand in their way, wouldn’t you?” “Of course I would,” is always the answer. “Please remember that when she asks you for the smaller acts of love, like taking a walk, listening to her when she wants to talk, cleaning up after yourself, or doing your share of the housework.” 

Sometimes the littler things are more difficult to do than the big challenges. But we fulfill the law of Christ when we do the little things just as well as when we do the heroic ones. 

Click here for an audio version of this blog post.

Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself. ² Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ. ³ If you think you are too important to help someone, you are only fooling yourself. You are not that important.

⁴ Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you won’t need to compare yourself to anyone else. ⁵ For we are each responsible for our own conduct.

⁶ Those who are taught the word of God should provide for their teachers, sharing all good things with them.

⁷ Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. ⁸ Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit.⁹ So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.¹⁰ Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith. – Galatians 6:1-10

They weren’t that expensive. Not really that beautiful. Not worth getting overly exercised about. But there they weren’t. An empty spot on the sidewalk where they should have been. One on each side of the doorway into the church. How galling! How rude. How completely hubristic! Stealing concrete planters from the church. Throwing aside the plants that were previously in them. I’m not sure I can fathom what possessed someone to see them, decide that they were valuable enough to steal, and then to walk up the 40 feet of the sidewalk to dump out the plants and carry the planters away. 

But I remember vividly what I did next. We replace the concrete planters with new ones. They were also stolen! So when we put out the third set, I made a label on the bottom, “Be not deceived. God cannot be mocked.” The newest planters remained. I guess the thieves didn’t really need a third pair. It’s obvious they didn’t read my label. Nonetheless, it’s true. God is not mocked. 

I’d like to think I never mock God. I’d like to believe I have a strong enough conscience that I won’t blatantly disregard God’s laws or wantonly transgress against his commands. I’d like to believe that. Most Jesus followers would wish never to mock God. Most would avoid serious transgression. Few need to be restored from an entanglement to sin that requires outside help and intervention. 

But some do. Just last week I learned of a church worker who had to resign his position because of moral failure. He apparently succumbed to temptation – not once but four times. Four times he crossed the line. Four times he went down a path that required intervention. Sadly, though helped (and the help, love, and care continues for this man – thanks be to God!), he is now set aside from his ministry. 

Whether or not our church body’s zero tolerance policy for sexual misconduct is right, that is the policy. And while this is not to say he is outside the grace of God, it is a severe consequence for his actions. 

We’d like to think we’d never do such a thing. And perhaps few Jesus followers actually do cross the line. But if James 2:10 means anything, it serves as a reminder that in fact, “there is no distinction, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). And we all need help once in a while. 

Sometimes that help takes the form of sever intervention. Hopefully more often we intervene before drastic action is needed. But the purpose in every such intervention is to restore the sister or brother to the faith and fellowship of the redeemed. And that’s the thing we must all remember: ours is a fellowship of the redeemed. We stand on level ground at the foot of the cross.

For your personal meditation and edification on this Lord’s Day

Psalm 14:1-3