“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” (Galatians 2:12).
The Jewish people and the non-Jewish people did not eat together. This was their ordinary custom carried through many different generations because the Jews who were chosen by God considered the non-Jews as not worthy to sit together with them at the same table. After Jesus ascended back to heaven, this belief was fiercely debated. The majority agreed to abandon this tradition because the Savior came to save both the Jews and the Gentiles.
One day, the apostle Peter came to visit the people in the city of Antioch. He boldly and joyfully sat down and ate together with the Gentiles, as if to show that he had turned away from the wrong beliefs of his people and he fitted in with the non-Jewish people who believed in Christ. But while they were eating there were a group of conservative Jews that walked into the house, Peter quickly stood up and no longer dared to dine together with the Gentiles. Paul reprimanded Peter and the other Christians about this insincerely act. Peter wanted to be close and mingle with the Gentiles, but he was afraid of the reactions of the conservative Jews. That way of living was not good. If he was truly enlightened by God about the belief toward the non-Jews, then he needed to affirm the belief through his action.
Whatever we believe in our heart, that belief will be evidenced through our actions. Many people do not live truthfully. They cover their true opinion by false actions. They do not have enough courage to live honestly with themselves. They want to win other people’s heart; but it is not worth it to live untruthfully with yourself in order to win others over.
The church can never be able to rise to a higher level of unity and love if individual church members do not learn how to live honestly with each other. Deceit destroys trust. If we are only superficially happy with each other, we are building a weak shell so when conflict arises, the fragile cover will shatter into little pieces.
If one does not dare to live by what he believes in his heart; that is not only cowardness, but also delusion to oneself.
Pastor Thoai Duong
Traslated by Minh Merideth
