When Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. For before certain men came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he began to draw back and separate himself from the Gentiles because he was afraid of those who belonged to the circumcision group. The other Jews joined him in his hypocrisy, so that by their hypocrisy even Barnabas was led astray.
(Galatians 2:11-13 NIV)

The candid nature of what the Apostle Paul wrote feels almost too shocking for inclusion in the New Testament. The impulse to downplay or cover up this racist scene would be understandable. And yet, God providentially ensured it’s inclusion, chiseling that moment into the consciousness of the church for the rest of time. Why?

Being in Christ ensures that we are free from the penalty of sin. We remain vulnerable to the presence of it, even the sin of ethnic discrimination. Cephas is another name for the Apostle Peter. He and Barnabas, two prominent leaders, buckled and participated. A twisted teaching of the Old Testament was mixed with the gospel, resulting in division and discrimination. Those words may not capture the worst of it.

Justin Giboney writes, “All incivility is, at its root, preceded by dehumanization. Incivility is toxic because it stems from a lapse in the recognition of human dignity: recognition of the dignity of others or recognition of one's own dignity.” Anytime that anything compromises love for a brother or sister in Christ, dignity is forgotten, and dehumanizing treatment surfaces.

The problem wasn’t that they did not know better. The problem was that they were afraid. Men who had endured beatings were now cowards in the face of social pressure. A popular children’s book contains the line, "It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to our enemies, but just as much to stand up to our friends." What about us? Are we any less vulnerable than Cephas and Barnabas?

Prayer for the Week

Holy Spirit, please make our minds sharp with discernment so that we can see any twisting and perversion of the gospel. Would you cultivate in us a love that never defaults, never shrinks, never backs away, and never distances from anyone? Would you make us brave, brave enough to stand up to those in our church and social circles when necessary? Would you help us to see where we are vulnerable, so that we do not trust in ourselves, but in Jesus? Amen.