Paul an apostle—sent neither by human commission nor from human authorities but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead—and all the brothers and sisters with me,
To the churches of Galatia:
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to set us free from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen (Gal. 1:1-5).
Paul an apostle – I maintain that Paul does not use the term ‘apostle’ as a title: ‘Apostle Paul’ or as we often say ‘the apostle Paul’, but he simply says Paul an apostle. If it is used as a title there is an inherent hierarchy. I have a title so am ‘above’ you. As a description of ministry / calling the submission is first from Paul to the Lord. As an apostle he has to be accountable for that calling, he has something to live up to. If an apostle there has to be signs that indicate the calling.
After the common greeting of ‘grace and peace’ he then presents a (the?) central effect of the cross. It is for our ‘sins’ so that we might be free from this present evil age. Maybe he emphasises this in the Galatian situation, but I suspect this is central to Paul regardless of the situation. The problem is that our sins – (summary: our corporate failure to be human) means that there are powers that dominate and we end up captive to those powers. It is certainly a theme throughout the letter: Jesus comes at the ‘fullness of times‘ when the powers are at their extreme, both expressed as ‘heavenly’ powers and their influence and the ‘earthly’ power of the all-but one world government of Rome that shaped culture. (The tower of Babel / Babylon as type of imperial rule was never absolute, being an unfinished but substantial process. All the ‘antiChrist’ language fits into the context of the ‘fullness of times’.)
‘Forgiveness of sins’, ‘justified’, ‘redeemed’ could all be used to describe what results from the cross but Paul chooses to major on the deliverance from the powers. He uses it as he addresses the Galatians as the issue that he confronts is of a people who are being pulled back to servitude. Coming into obedience to the law he indicates will simply put them on a path that will bring a separation from Christ and a submission yet again to the elemental spirits / elements (ta stoicheia).
I think that for Paul this ‘freedom’ is more than a ‘theological’ truth, more than something positional. That is very clear in how he introduces himself. If we were to read the opening words without realising there is some nuancing that has to take place we would have to assume Paul was all-but saying: ‘stuff anyone human, regardless of who they are, I am totally independent and my apostleship is direct, so I have no plan to submit to anyone!’
We know as we go on to read that this bolshiness is not quite as strong as that, but freedom in Christ has to mean that we must be able to say ‘no’ at a human level, for I consider if we lose that there will soon come a point where we will not be able to give a wholehearted ‘yes’ to God.
But it is far more than freedom to say ‘no’ to someone. It is freedom from the powers that are shaping this ‘present evil age’. Powers that tell us to conform, to fit in. Powers that shape culture, economics, national identities and the like. Our passport does not define us – citizenship in heaven is what defines, and God has always had a global concern.
The Gospel is much more than put your hand up, pray this prayer and look now you have received a ticket to the cloudy place by and by. It is freedom from powers NOW. That is the door we enter through, the journey is life-long discovering what that means. Sanctification is not about some spotlessness but about a process where I can be observed to be free.
An aside: a while back as cryto-currency was beginning to hit the headlines I said that there is a new currency that will come, crypto as we have it is not it but is a sign that it is coming. This is gaining speed with the likelihood of the majority of nations developing digital, and centrally-controlled, currency. Many are raising (right) concerns over this. Will it be the mark of the beast? Yes indeed it will. Same mark as we have had for millennia! There is a growing convergence, a desire to get to a great ‘fullness of times’. How do we respond? First, without fear but with faith, and second operating on a different economy. The kingdom economy is ‘give and receive’; not ‘buy and sell’. So many opportunities are coming our way to work out what it means to be free from the powers of this evil age… and seems to me we have just shy of 20 years to work some of this out. What a wonderful journey ahead.
I think my struggle with some of this is how it gets translated into political action. Often Christians appear to support a Libertarian approach – that is limited laws or regulation. Fair enough. And it often works great if you are a well off white male or have some sort of very strong community that does not challenge the status quo but provides for needs. The rest of us need help at times. We need roads built and paid for. We need bridges. We need waste management. Or sewers and water. We would like a less toxic environment so corporations need to be regulated. So often, a tossing off of ‘excessive’ laws benefits only the wealthy as individuals or corporations. So what does freedom look like in that context? What is freedom from this system appear to be then?
I think of all the churches who engaged in anti-masking during the Covid emergency. I will never understand why wearing a simple mask to protect myself and loved ones and even strangers is a bad thing. Totally baffles me. Or why, in an emergency, having the government simply say – yes you have to wear one in certain situations – is a problem. But it was for so many Christians who believe in ‘freedom’. I still mask up. It protects immune compromised me and everyone around me. It is a form of caring for my close community and strangers I do not know. Have I surrendered my freedom from this evil system?
I do engage in the give/receive economy as much as possible – often giving away things I no longer need that I could easily make money on. And I am with you on 20 years to get it right. Though that seems like an optimistic length of time to me. I’ll take it though as there is much to do.
Agreed!
Very interesting thank you Martin.
My question could be ‘freedom what what powers’? Freedom can mean whatever a person wants it to mean. On one side of the political spectrum it means autonomy/freedom over one’s money, body (the right not to wear a mask/not to be locked down etc), (as Anne mentioned!) right to ‘free speech’, the freedom not to have your child taught material deemed ‘unsuitable’ in schools and on the other side it means freedom from possible oppression of many forms, autonomy over one’s body(abortion laws, transgender surgery etc), freedom to protest etc. Both sides are increasingly at odds and divided which should be a huge worry to Christians as ‘unity’ is what brings blessing even life evermore (Psalm 133) There are other examples I can’t think of too! I think then Paul was talking about freedom from satanic powers that cause sin too. I think sin is both a collective falling short and an individual moral failure and failing in our behaviour. How many times do I need forgiveness – Jesus says 70×7! (A lot) I am guilty of both types therefore do need a personal as well as corporate Saviour who deals with this in whatever way that happened and bears the burden of it all and brings about my personal restoration, redemption etc., the earth’s restoration and the end of death and Hades through his death and resurrection. I hope there is an eternal life it seems so from most scripture though it’s hard to imagine what it will be like.
I am totally with you on the give and receive being sort of kingdom transaction. Will you explain in later posts why 20 years is the timescale you give – is it related to climate emergency etc.?
Thanks Joanna (& Anne). As the letter (& other letters of Paul) goes on there is a major qualification to ‘freedom’. It is not selfish freedom, but personal freedom to be human in a full sense. That involves a non-conformity to set ‘me first’ as the goal, and a freedom to allow the fruit of the Spirit to be manifested which is for others.
The ‘powers’ seek to conform us to a culture that ultimately is a culture that destroys humanity and the future.
Let’s see as the letter unfolds!
Just started reading “Generation Dread” by Britt Wray as preparation for working with 150 young people in the winter term on the topics of urban planning, climate change and the biodiversity crisis. I have found over the past few years that the level of anxiety has risen (not unreasonably) in my students. I want to be better prepared to help them beyond the normal content of the course. Here is a quote from the excellent introduction to the book:
“We’re in a profoundly turbulent time, and it begs us to build up our wisdom about how we relate to our feelings inside a culture that still values capital over compassion and the well-being of the poor, the ‘Other’ and the not yet born. Unfortunately, emotions have typically been regarded as feminine and a sign of weakness, and so have been undervalued and dismissed. This tendency is deeply harmful, because in order to thrive on a hotter and more hostile planet, we will need a high degree of care, interest in each other’s point of view, sensitivity to one another’s vulnerability and patience as we seek sites of commonality. All these qualities will be key to restoring our humanity amidst competing pressures, including tightening borders, rising walls, pointing fingers, and social unrest. ”
Seems that fits right in with the call to live freely and humanly even as we resist a dehumanizing system. I look forward to the rest of what the author has to share.
I looked up some reviews of the book. Awesome.