COURAGE FOR CORRECTION
- DAY 337
- FEAR FILE: PAUL AND PETER ARGUE
- SCRIPTURES: Galatians 2:11-14
“Now when Peter had come to Antioch, I withstood him to his face, because he was to be blamed; for before certain men came from James, he would eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing those who were of the circumcision. And the rest of the Jews also played the hypocrite with him, so that even Barnabas was carried away with their hypocrisy. But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter before them all, “If you, being a Jew, live in the manner of Gentiles and not as the Jews, why do you compel Gentiles to live as Jews?”
Galatians 2:11-14 NKJV
As people of faith, we have to be willing to talk to our brethren when their actions contradict the gospel and mislead God’s people. In our text today, Peter and Paul got into an argument, why? Because Peter was behaving hypocritically. Hypocrisy is simply saying one thing and doing the other. Peter would eat with the Gentiles when some men were not around and when they came, he would pretend like he didn’t eat with them. This attitude was affecting the believers who watched him do this and it was misleading people. So Paul confronted him. This took courage.
However, as bold as he was to speak the truth, there are things we must not miss about his approach. First, he said it to his face, in front of believers. We are so good with saying people’s wrong to others and not saying it to them straight in the face. We pick up the phone and call everybody but the person. Send a direct message, whatever you do, tell them straight to their face.
Secondly, Peter was wrong. Paul didn’t address a matter he was unsure of or had no proof of wrongdoing. And the basis for declaring wrong wasn’t Paul’s feelings, perspective, interpretation, or thought on the matter, no. He offered evidence based on the truth of the gospel. Today, that would mean scriptural proof.
“When I saw that they were not walking a straight path in line with the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter in front of them all, “You are a Jew, yet you have been living like a Gentile, not like a Jew. How, then, can you try to force Gentiles to live like Jews?” - Galatians 2:14 GNT
A lot of us are quick to share our opinions and points of view on things we saw online without knowing the context or proving it through scripture. We must be careful of this. Correction should be based on what scripture says not what we perceive or interpret it to be. And even then we should correct in love.
Also, he addressed the problem, not the person. He disapproved of the action, not Peter’s calling or grace. This is important for us as believers. One error does not disqualify the call. Peter corrected himself and continued his work.
I pray that the Lord will give you wisdom, courage, and love in your heart to help your brethren uphold the word and the truth of the gospel.
Shalom.
