The True Mark of a Christian
Last week, I shared a post entitled “Bigger Than Baptist.” In it, I described the greatest danger of institutionalized Christianity - the institution no longer serves the people; the people, instead, serve the institution. The life, growth, prosperity, influence, and future of the institution are prioritized over everything else.
Let me be clear about two things. First, I am Baptist. BUT, as I’ve said before, I’m bigger than Baptist; my allegiance is first and foremost to God’s kingdom. Second, I’m not advocating for the abolition of Christian institutions. I am, however, pleading for followers of Jesus (especially those called to lead God’s people as shepherds) to recognize the reality that ultimately the body of Christ is a living thing and, as such, cannot be shackled to institutional thinking and ways.
That’s why yesterday’s podcast, entitled When God Calls, is so relevant for us today. In it, I described Paul’s defense of his apostleship and message as God’s ambassador to the Gentiles or nations. He begins the letter with this defense saying “Paul, an apostle — sent not from men nor by a man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father.”
Those words, “not from men nor by a man,” are Paul’s way of saying, “My calling and message do not find their source, neither are they bound to an institution. He makes this clear in Galatians, chapter two when he describes his visit to and meeting with the leaders of the church in Jerusalem -
“As for those who were held in high esteem — whatever they were makes no difference to me; God does not show favoritism—they added nothing to my message. On the contrary, they recognized that I had been entrusted with the task of preaching the gospel to the uncircumcised.” (Galatians 2:6-7)
Jesus spoke of the difference between true shepherds and hired hands. Hired hands care nothing for the sheep. (John 10:13) Shepherds, on the other hand, lead the sheep to green pastures. They lay down their lives for the sheep.
I know from experience the subtle and insidious role allegiance to an institution plays in the lives of Christian leaders. Over time, a pastor/shepherd begins to make ministry decisions that resemble those of a hired hand. God’s will becomes indistinguishable from that of the institution. When this happens, the institution replaces Christ as Lord. Decisions are made, and actions are taken for the benefit, advancement, and glory of the institution rather than the Lord Jesus. (Idolatry)
The biggest difference between Paul and his critics in Galatia was that Paul’s ministry was not tied to and guided by allegiance to an institution. Paul, like his critics, was a Jew, but Paul’s allegiance was not to Judaism. Paul’s allegiance was to Christ.
It’s a telling verse and one that rings all too true in our day, when, in Galatians 6:13, Paul says of his critics “they want you to be circumcised (read: baptized, names on the church role, members of the denomination) that they may boast about your circumcision in the flesh.”
Paul, unlike these “company men,” understood that entrance into the Kingdom of God through faith in Jesus Christ wasn’t the same thing as embracing Judaism. The same holds true in our day, and perhaps the most powerful message Galatians has for us is that man-made, institutionalized allegiance can never replace simple faith in Jesus Christ as Lord.
In the final verse, before his closing words in Galatians, Paul makes this somewhat enigmatic statement: “From now on, let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of the Lord Jesus.” (Galatians 6:17)
What are these marks Paul refers to? Many believe they are the scars from numerous persecutions in the service of Jesus. Probably, but I think the real point Paul is making is that the “marks of the Lord Jesus” are not seen in circumcision, but rather in faithful allegiance to Jesus Christ as Lord.
As he says in Galatians 5:6 - “neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.”
This is where God’s call in our lives is seen most clearly. There is no other distinguishing mark of a servant of Jesus Christ than this.
In Christ,
Dan
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