Paul hates anyone preaching sermons for the sole purpose of tickling a congregation's ears. He curses those who would change the gospel from God's gospel to man's gospel. I like to think he cusses them out. They deserve it.
So, we pick up in verse 10 of chapter 1.
Gal 1:10 ESV
[10]For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.
You can read the rest of the chapter by clicking here. I don't want to fill page upon page with the rest of this chapter, but I do recommend that you read it. Go on, it's only 14 more verses, you can handle it.
Paul poses a HUMONGOUS question to himself and to the churches of Galatia. Is he seeking the approval of man or God? This is a very very important pillar of Paul's ministry--he constantly differentiates himself from those he preaches against. He does not minister to please man, but he ministers to please God and to challenge men to align themselves with the gospel of God. But, as we so often do, he validates himself to the churches of Galatia.
See, in the past, Paul sought the approval of men. And he got it. He was quickly rising to be one of the driving forces of Judaism and the fight to kill Christianity (that's what verses 13 and 14 talk about). He was, as he puts it, "extremely zealous [...] for the traditions of [his] fathers." He was violently persecuting the church of God.
But.
In that little word rests the proof of Paul's calling and the changing of Paul's allegiance. Paul once had a purpose and a "gospel" to give his life for. He had tenacity to change the world for this cause. But God had another purpose for him. In fact, Paul states that he had been set apart even before he was born. He had been chosen by God for a purpose even before his birth. And grace had already been measured out for him before he took his first breath. And his divine revelation was planned before he was formed.
When he had his little "incident" with God, a lot changed for Paul. Well, I guess pretty much everything changed. Everything he had built his life and his future on was ripped out from under him in a blinding instant. After this encounter, he immediately went away for three years. He sectioned himself off from society in order to devote his time to God (and to probably let the fury of the Christian church die down a little bit). When he worked his way back into the culture, he was a completely changed man. His perspective had changed. His purpose had changed. He had changed.
Once, he had been famous among the Christian churches as one who devoted his life to handing out persecution. Now, different rumors were spreading. "He who used to persecute us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy."
See, Paul was living a pretty good life. But when he was seeking the approval of man, he was defiling the Church of God. When he finally starting seeking God's approval, he could build the kingdom. He could bring his Savior glory.I grew up with the constant approval of man. I did everything right. Trust me, or ask my brother and sister--they'll tell you the same. I didn't break rules, I followed every standard set before me. I lived a life that checked off every box that placed before me. I was complimented on my courteousness, my willingness, my submission, my passion, my talents, my compassion. I did everything that was asked of me. My peers looked up to me and my elders saw me as a shining light to the failing masses that were my peers. I had man's approval.
Somewhere in there, I heard a little voice from God. It started as a tugging that reaches further back than my memory will allow me to go. In the depths of my soul, I wanted to do what He desired me to do--I wanted to go beyond the confines of the dreams that man had for me.
His gospel and his plans arrested me. They stopped me in my path and challenged me. They asked me to throw away all of my previous conceptions of God and to start over. They asked me to displace all of my dreams and to replace them with his dreams. They asked me to give myself to Christ--without reservations, and to trust him and his plan.
So I did. And it was there that I realized that I would never measure up to the standards that man had set out for me. I would never fit into the uniform that man had picked for me. I was handed a new resolve, a new purpose.
I've become a failure to a lot of people. Most can't understand why a smart, talented guy with massive scholarships would give it all up to pursue a dream that couldn't possibly benefit his future. I've been told to my face that I made the wrong decisions. I've been told to my face that I was being stupid. I've been stabbed behind my back.
And it's been whispered in my ear that I've done the right thing. It's been the sincere arm wrapped around me in a dim prayer room that let's me know I've made the right choice. It's the contentment that envelopes me as I drift off to sleep that assures me of His approval.
Tomorrow, I may be out on my own with nothing to my name. Seriously. Tomorrow, I may be asked to give up everything I have, to leave all that I know. See, soon, I will be asked to step completely out from under the shelter of man's approval and to seek refuge only under God's approval. And the ramifications of that move may be the difference between a home and a cramped car to sleep in. The difference between a family and a few good friends. A church made from millions of dollars and a church made of scraggly vagabonds.
But I know my choice. The change from Persecutor to Persecuted is necessary. It is mandatory. That is, if you want God's approval.
What about you? Have you been through a radical change? Has your life drastically switched directions--even if those choices were very internal and the results, to most, were invisible?
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