- Joined
- Mar 31, 2021
Some translations render the end of verse 21 as “has died in vain” but I personally prefer the impact of “for nothing.” It’s more final, more declarative, it leaves nothing up to interpretation.
Because our own interpretation is very much the fucking problem. With everything.
The very first case of religious persecution was way back in Genesis 4 when Cain slew Abel. For those who don’t know the story, the first murder happened because two brothers, the aforementioned Cain and Abel, both presented sacrifices to God, but God favored Abel’s sacrifice while rejecting Cain's.
God actually explained His preference at the time. What Abel brought were the firstlings, the very first animals of the year. This is important because these are what Abel had before the rest of the year went by, so he set these aside for God before even knowing how the rest of the year would be.
The other characteristic of Abel’s offering that set it apart was that it was the “fat portion,” basically the best of the best.
Cain, on the other hand, had offered fruit of the ground. That’s pretty much all Genesis says on the matter of Cain’s offering.
This is pretty important.
Abel’s offering is described in brief detail and pleased God. It says that for Cain and his offering... God had no regard. Not mad at all, it’s just not what God wanted and God didn’t pretend otherwise.
God noticed that Cain was upset by this rejection and told him to learn from this, and in the future give God what He wants rather than what Cain thinks God wants.
God also warns Cain that he needs to check himself on this because sin lurks in not giving God what He desires.
Pretty good parenting, if you ask me. God didn’t shame Cain; He just told him directly that what Cain offered was not what God wanted. God then explained why it’s important to do what God asks.
Now, I’d like to think that Cain didn’t just roll up and toss a bunch of turnips on an altar, but he may as well have done. God rejected the offering and was gracious enough to explain why. The fact God had pretty clearly accepted Abel’s offering was a strong hint to Cain about what he should do next.
In other words, if Cain didn’t know how to please God he better ask the person who does. Instead of asking Abel for help the aforementioned murder transpired shortly thereafter.
But what does that have to do with being wrong or Galatians chapter 2?
Kind of a lot, as it turns out.
See, God wants what God wants. He’s God so He sets the terms. If we can’t figure out what God wants through the Word then we should at least imitate what those with God's favor are doing, or, better yet, ask them for help.
Most people, however, don’t want to do that. Most people would rather keep anger in their heart towards their brother over the perceived slight of God’s preference rather than address why God prefers their brother’s offering.
But what does that have to do with Galatians 2?
What we try to offer God now is following rules and laws that are outside of God’s covenant with man. Right now that covenant is this: believe that Christ Jesus is the Son of God who died for our sins and was resurrected, that we may be reconciled to God and receive the Holy Spirit.
That’s it. That’s the new covenant.
The entirety of the Old Testament is God presenting a covenant to man and then man not living up to it or just outright abandoning it. This happened a few times. Now that the reality of keeping God’s law is in Spirit following belief in Christ, that’s what we need to do.
Not follow rules laid out by some teacher, even if they seem like good ideas. Not take random passages from the Bible out of context to justify our existing beliefs or preconceived notions. Those things are offerings from the ground, from the dust, from man.
God doesn’t want that. God told us what He wants, for us to believe in Christ. The entirety of the New Testament is a treatise on what that means, so it’s a very good idea to study that.
But I’m not going to leave anyone with only half the answer, so here is Philippians 2:12-13:
“So then, my beloved, even as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only but now much rather in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God who operates in you both the willing and the working for His good pleasure.”
Very good stuff. If anyone needs additional clarity I would highly recommend turning the page to Philippians 3. The whole chapter. That’s a good place to start.
Now I’m not going to put too fine a point on what I said before about Cain’s murder of Abel being the first example of religious persecution because I think it speaks for itself.
Indeed, Abel’s blood speaks still.
Being wrong was never Cain’s sin. Murder was. God knows we’re not perfect, He expects we have questions and will make mistakes, that’s why we should be open to what He tries to teach us about Himself. His covenant with man is that we are made righteous by our belief in Christ. The rest He promises to be worked out in Spirit, and I can personally attest that this is true.
We’re allowed to be wrong. What we’re not allowed to do is slay our brothers, especially not over who was right when God gave both the grace to be wrong.
I'm putting this here in case it helps anyone. I'm not super into eschatology because I know that's going to happen the way God intends and I know I'm on His side. I just hope more people are on His side too.
