Beware – Following Blindly

“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

So Peter ate a meal with a different group of people – what’s the big deal?

Isn’t this nothing more than the same tricks you pulled in high school – watching who ate with whom?

No – it was much more serious than teenage melodrama.

An essential truth of the Gospel was at stake.

Were Gentiles to be second class citizens in the Kingdom?

Were they to become Jews first?

There were those who said yes.

There were those who were attempting to put on the Gentiles the yoke of laws and regulations that the religious leaders of Jesus’ day were so fond of.

Paul would have none of it!  

Peter had shared a meal with the Judaizers and avoided eating with the Gentiles, not because he wanted to win them over but more likely because he feared them.

Even Barnabas who was a close friend and co-worker with Paul, and a mature believer in his own right, was led astray by the poor choice Peter had made.

Our actions and behaviors impact others.

Whether those actions and words are good or bad they can have an effect on our listeners.

It is essential as believers that we know and follow sound doctrine.

Not only for our own benefit but also and especially for those who are observing your life in Christ!