One of Paul’s great triumphs was that he managed to convert Anatolia: which remained in the faith until circa 1920, when the Turks killed the Christian Greeks or drove them out of the country. Ataturk founded his new secular state in blood: he managed to kill most of the Armenians (setting an evil precedent for the NSDAP). What is interesting is how he did this.
Because Paul did not plan to be in Galatia. It sounds like he had an eye ailment and was literally stuck there.
But Paul knew to preach when he was strong and when he was weak. Paul’s effort, his pain, was for the gospel and for those who had become believers. Note he talks as if he is in Labour: as a mother goes through not merely the pain and risk of childbirth, but then pours her life into her children during their infancy, so he had been for this church.
He cared not for his ego, or his power. He cared for Christ.
Brothers, I entreat you, become as I am, for I also have become as you are. You did me no wrong. You know it was because of a bodily ailment that I preached the gospel to you at first, and though my condition was a trial to you, you did not scorn or despise me, but received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus. What then has become of your blessedness? For I testify to you that, if possible, you would have gouged out your eyes and given them to me. Have I then become your enemy by telling you the truth? They make much of you, but for no good purpose. They want to shut you out, that you may make much of them. It is always good to be made much of for a good purpose, and not only when I am present with you, my little children, for whom I am again in the anguish of childbirth until Christ is formed in you! I wish I could be present with you now and change my tone, for I am perplexed about you.
(Galatians 4:12-20 ESV)
I was sitting in the pews on Sunday. And we prayed for our city. We prayed for the mayor (A socialist) the council (Greens and socialists, with just enough businessmen that they stay solvent. Just). Then we prayed for the churches in the city. Not merely the church we were in, but all of them. For they all preach the gospel, with greater or lesser error: no church is perfect.
And Grace Presbyterian cares more for the gospel than their denomination. Yes, we did pray for the ministries of the church — there are students doing a brief overseas mission on the Queensland surf beaches, the student ministry at the university starts in two weeks or so with orientation week — and the various home groups and ministries are beginning for the year.
This is as it should be. For in Christ, the scattered congregations in a city are one: we are all accounted as enemy by the pagans and their shock troops, who care not a whit for the fine divisions that have happened, on theological and political grounds.
One of the signs, a warning if you will, that a church is running into error is that the leadership boast. That they say we should imitate them. That their wives are beautiful, their children Godly, that their diseases have been healed, and all is well. Because that is a lie.
Paul has my sympathy: the only reason I see is that I have bilateral corneal transplants and very powerful glasses and contact lenses that correct the severe distortions that remain.
Our discussions should concentrate on the good, but they must be real. We are weak. We are all broken. We pray that we will not lose the gospel in our regulations, driven by a need for propriety. Instead let us be led by the spirit, and preach the gospel today by our actions.
