Making the Rough Places Plain

Like some other books of the Bible, Paul's message to the churches at Galatia isn't as simple as it may seem, and the book of Galatians isn't the only complicated message from Paul's ministry.

For example, one verse that always worried me a little, in 1 Corinthians, is "meat is for the belly, and the belly for meat."

I had to grow a little, through Bible study, and through trusting in the Lord for a long time, to finally re-read Galatians, and part of 1 Corinthians, to understand what Paul was ranting about with "meat is for the belly, and the belly for meats; but god shall destroy both it and them."

That verse has to be read in context of knowing the Bible, knowing the Spirit, and with the understanding that not every, every word that was spoken and written by ministers like Paul, is in the Bible, the Bible being notes and translations.

Because I know Jesus through His word, with all my heart, I wondered why Paul, an apostle who thanked Heaven in all things (who thanked Heaven for much food, and for little) would turn around and be so evil-sounding about meat that God makes possible for sustenance.

With a little time and maturity, I suddenly realized the book of Galatians was given as a message to groups of young people who practiced fornication (Galatians 5:15, 5:19-21), and that the church at Corinth had similar problems.

So, Paul was angrily and sarcastically telling the churches that God gives them FOOD for their hunger, and that He eventually, at Heaven's time of Judgment, will destroy both food and the body, no matter how well Heaven has used both food and the body for good.

Paul then asks the churches, basically: What do you think is going to become of you if you keep using your mouths for evil? ... Go ahead, then. Use your mouths for evil. But just think about that: Heaven will destroy even what God created for good use. So, what do you think God is going to do to your eternity for misusing what was meant for good, if you never repent of the evil? (1 Corinthians)

Paul made distinctions among brothers in the churches at Galatia. He acknowledged that

• many had repented and were faithful;
• many were not saved yet (Galatians 5:6, 5:16-18), because they had not learned that the Gospel brings repentance, or that lawfulness in Jesus comes from the heart (Some didn't understand that lawfulness from the heart was the reason Paul was preaching against law, and Paul said he was laboring to save them.);
• still others circumcised and even castrated (Galatians 5:4), because they didn't know that lawfulness in Jesus comes from the heart instead of from the law.

No matter what part of the Gospel they weren't understanding, Paul's message to all was to repent, and that, until they would repent, he would bear with them in ministry, because he was a minister who felt convicted or crucified in Christ.

Paul's faith convictions meant he was willing to bear with those who had been wounded because of un-repentance, and those who had wounded them.

He said (and I paraphrase): Brethren in Spirit, be forgiving as I am, because I am wounded as you are: and what you've done to me hasn't destroyed what I'm laboring to do for you. (Galatians 4:12) But, from now on, don't trouble my flesh; for I already bear the wounds of Jesus. Brethren, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen. (Galatians 6:17)

Paul wrote a mild letter of instruction or rebuke to the churches at Galatia. But his letter did threaten that he wanted to be there with them, to change his tone of voice and let them know how he really felt about their waywardness, to raise his voice up over their sins! (Galatians 4:20)


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Getting to Know Paul

Paul was a mighty minister of God. Paul traveled extensively throughout territories that we now know as the Middle East and southern Europe. He even spent time in Arabia.

That's the reason he was able to say, with strength of truth in Christ, that we, the church, are "ambassadors for Christ."

But, in some ways, Paul was sometimes unforgiving of the way he had persecuted the church that had began to grow after Jesus was crucified. When he was persecuted, he felt like it was partly because he had persecuted and destroyed others. (It's possible he was sodomized as a penalty, that he was castrated, and that even his eyes were somehow wounded.)

So, as a minister, he warned the church (and I paraphrase): Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man sows, that will he also reap. For he that sows lustfully, to please his flesh, will of the flesh reap corruption; but he that sows spiritually or by faith, to please the Spirit, of the Spirit will have everlasting life. (Galatians 6:7-9)

When it came to difficult or complex congregations like in Galatia, Paul was always precise in ministry: identifying problems accurately, and prescribing the right words of remedy. Paul always said that it's not changing the flesh that heals in Jesus, but it's faith, becoming a new creature in the Spirit.

Paul's word to the Galatians also included these verses, in paraphrase:

• I marvel that you are so soon removed, from Him that called you into the grace of Christ, unto another gospel: which is not [exactly] another gospel, except for the fact that there be some that provoke you all to evil [the evil of sin, and the evil of circumcision and castration in response to sin], perverting the true Gospel. (Galatians 1:6-7)
• I'm someone who really knows what I'm talking about, because I used to persecute the church, destroying it in return for pay from those who lived according to my fathers' traditions of persecution. (Galatians 1:13-14)
• Is the law, then, against the promises of God? In God's name, no. The law can't give life. Jesus gives us life. But the law is because of sins, and it helps you to grow up until you know the Lord in your hearts like other brothers do. (Galatians 3:21, 3:19, 3:23-27)
• The law wasn't meant to be altogether destructive or against the flesh. Jesus was born of a woman, meaning God gave Himself to laws of the flesh in order to grow Himself up among us and then turn the law for good. (Galatians 4:4-5)
• So, now, angels (messengers of God) can minister to the church's wounds freely [Did ministers in the church help heal Paul's wounds, possibly giving him a healing balm, like the wise men gave Jesus? (Galatians 4:13-14)]: healing the church, instead of further destroying or abusing parts of the flesh that are a temptation to some. (Galatians 4:14)

"For we, through the Spirit, wait for the hope of righteousness by faith," Paul says. (Galatians 5:5)