Thoughts from Galatians, part 1
Within the last week or two, I've begun studying Galatians; years ago, someone I respected mentioned a study he'd done of the Pauline epistles in order of their writing. He said that he focused on the changes in Paul himself based on his writings: how did he view himself? How did he view the gospel? How did he view the world around him? With those questions, my friend started in Galatians and ended in II Timonthy. I've always wanted to do that, and never really did, so with the new year starting, I decided to give it a try.
What's interesting is that sometimes I read my Bible for me and at other times, I read it for other people. What I mean is: I read it looking for answers to questions that other people ask. Most often, those questions come from Muslims. I try to read my Bible in anticipation of how I could use the Scripture to explain Christianity or to make a certain point about faith in Christ.
When I started reading Galatians, I was reading it for me with my notepad next to me, ready to jot down the answers to my friend's three main questions about Paul's writing. However, I didn't make it past the first chapter, before I was struck by something that applied to Muslims.
Galatians 1:6-9 says, "I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned! As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let him be eternally condemned!"
Galatians 1:6-9 says, "I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned! As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let him be eternally condemned!"
Of course, Paul wasn't talking about Muslims in this chapter; they wouldn't come around until the 7th century. But the principle is the same. Mohammad himself thirsted for knowledge about God. He was confused by varying information he received from Christians and Jews (some of the information was correct and some was was off!). In his resulting confusion, he created a gospel that is no gospel at all. It offers no real "good news" to those in need of a Savior. Mohammad claimed that an angel (Gabriel) appeared to him and began reciting the Koran to him. He only memorized what the angel quoted and that became the holy book for the Muslim people. In following the revelation of the "angel" he distorted the true gospel of Christ and according to this verse, condemned himself eternally.
I'm most concerned with those who turn to Islam today believing it to be truth. I started my next Arabic class today. This time, I'm doing it for credit at the community college, so the class was larger. One of the women is clearly American, but when she introduced herself, she said that she converted to Islam and wants to learn Arabic to be able to read her Koran. It broke my heart to think that this woman, who seems very devout and hungry for God, has chosen bondage to a "gospel that is no gospel at all."
I'm most concerned with those who turn to Islam today believing it to be truth. I started my next Arabic class today. This time, I'm doing it for credit at the community college, so the class was larger. One of the women is clearly American, but when she introduced herself, she said that she converted to Islam and wants to learn Arabic to be able to read her Koran. It broke my heart to think that this woman, who seems very devout and hungry for God, has chosen bondage to a "gospel that is no gospel at all."