A Quick Note on Galatians 2:1-10
Paul held a perspective and mission that seemed to defy expectations and contradict the training held by Paul. At numerous occasions, Paul boasted in his education, having experienced world-class, quality training by highly skilled and influential teachers. Gamaliel being the most notable, established himself as a leader and scholar among the Sanhedrin as he interpreted the law with great skill and wisdom. Many sought the attention and mentorship of Gamaliel and Paul received the mentorship, setting him head and shoulders above the rest. Yet, despite the upbringing, God called Paul out of the Judaic sphere to reach the gentiles. Paul’s message and heart for the gentiles with the training of the Sanhedrin gave him a distinct perspective to defend against the Judaizers (who sought to burden the gentiles with the constraints of the Judaic law) and stand firm in the preeminence of Jesus Christ over any nationality or ethnic background. Seeing the faith of Paul and the heart for the Gospel, the apostles extended the right hand of fellowship. Paul understood the heart of the Gospel to extend beyond borders and walls, that the mission of loving and caring for the world to make Jesus Christ known throughout all the world.
Then after fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus along with me. I went up because of a revelation and set before them (though privately before those who seemed influential) the gospel that I proclaim among the Gentiles, in order to make sure I was not running or had not run in vain. But even Titus, who was with me, was not forced to be circumcised, though he was a Greek. Yet because of false brothers secretly brought in—who slipped in to spy out our freedom that we have in Christ Jesus, so that they might bring us into slavery— to them we did not yield in submission even for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might be preserved for you. And from those who seemed to be influential (what they were makes no difference to me; God shows no partiality)—those, I say, who seemed influential added nothing to me. On the contrary, when they saw that I had been entrusted with the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been entrusted with the gospel to the circumcised (for he who worked through Peter for his apostolic ministry to the circumcised worked also through me for mine to the Gentiles), and when James and Cephas and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given to me, they gave the right hand of fellowship to Barnabas and me, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised. Only, they asked us to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do.
Galatians 2:1-10, ESV
The Right Hand of Fellowship
The followers of Christ started off as a branch of Jewish people who knew that Jesus Christ represented the incarnation of the God they worship. Thus, as the church formed after pentecost, they continued with a great number of the Jewish traditions, festivals, and requirements. Over time, as people’s understanding of the Christ’s works grew, the constraints of the law were lessened. Not that the law stopped being important, but instead the understanding that we are saved by grace, not by works. As Gentiles began to flood into the church, moving beyond its Judaic roots, the church wrestled with questions regarding which cultural aspects the believer must follow to be considered a member of the church. Paul argued fiercely that the gentiles did not have to become Jewish but simply followers of Jesus Christ. The right hand of fellowship should be understood as extending invitations to those who come from different cultural backgrounds than us, look different, and hold different experience, all for the sake of building up the church in Gospel unity that seeks to bring the world together, rather than divide it into various subsets.
For us personally, we must be willing to honestly evaluate where we withhold the right hand of fellowship. This honest evaluation will allow us grow deeper in our relationship with our Heavenly Father but understanding the limitations and biases we hold. Our representation of Jesus Christ should allow for the different cultural expressions that provide the vibrant variety of life while holding unceasingly to the truth of the Gospel. A multicultural church will at times makes us uncomfortable as we are drug out of our comfort zones. But, when we extend the right hand of fellowship to those who are different than ourselves, the body of Christ strengthens as we most closer to the standard of heaven that all nations, tongues, and people will praise God together. We must be willing to put aside our personal biases, prejudices, and dispositions so that the unity of the church across creedal lines might speak to the glory of God.
Remember The Poor
As the disciples extended the right hand of fellowship to Paul, they did so with one request, that Paul would not forget to care for the poor. Such a request, though it seemed out of place, was something that Paul was eager to do. Paul never considered that caring for the poor would cease to be a part of his mission to the gentiles. The Gospel would be preached and the poor and destitute would be cared for. The theological difference that marked verses 1-9 suddenly melted away when presented with the mission of advancing the Gospel in all the world. For all the debates of doctrine, the disciples and Paul never lost sight of the goal; advance the Gospel in real and practical ways to those who need it the most.
Theology is absolutely important for the Christian and those of the faith. The issues and debates should not be regarded as unimportant or of no value. Yet, with the simple command to remember the poor (and Paul’s insistence on doing it either way) we see the roles these debates place in the life of the church. Faith in Christ results in expressions of that faith, not in action-less, impotent debates. Following Christ means allowing for the expression of the Holy Spirit within us to freely reign through our hands. What we do becomes and expression of our faith in the every day world rather than merely a philosophical belief. Christians should take care of the poor, broken, and the needy as an extension of our selfless devotion to our Heavenly Father who did the same to us in our spiritual poverty. As we care for the physical needs of the person, the Spirit, the door opens to receive the works of the Spirit who cares for the spiritual well being of the individual.
