2. Gospel Distorters - Gal. 1:6-10

INTRODUCTION Galatians 1:6-10
Since the beginning there have always been antagonizers, preeminently the devil, who stood opposed to God and the objects of His special affection, humanity. His primary means of attack has been to distort and manipulate God’s word, which brings life.
Things were no different for the Galatians, only for them the opposition came in the form of gifted teachers/preachers, who Paul identified as “false apostles” (2 Cor. 11:13).  They came into the congregation, slandered Paul, and established there own edited version of how one “truly” finds favor with God.  The result among the believers was theological confusion, burdened consciences, a moralistic verbal cannibalism, and ultimately, an unknowing departure from God’s gift of freedom, which had originally brought a deep joy to these Gentile believers. (Gal. 1:6)
It’s been said that one of the ways you know grace is being preached properly is that it will be susceptible to abuse and corruption.  This seems to be the case here.

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Ironically, the "walking away from God" that was happening in these churches wasn't to, prostitution rings, drug addiction, witchcraft, or even line dancing, but rather a religious traditionalism that turned this once joyful group into circumcision inspectors.  This was the big deal!  The gospel became marginalized in exchange for these cultural traditions.  

Curiously, through the ages, even though traditions have changed (i.e. circumcision is not an issue today), the enforcing of said rules, stipulations, methods, and non-essential theologies have sadly continued to divide church families.  Legalism and religion are real threats to the freedom delivered via Gospel.  Unfortunately, there are those, who given the opportunity to speak to a church would abuse that position to preach their opinions, traditions/anti-traditions, causes and specialized doctrines which result in confused hearts and troubled minds (Gal. 1:7) while the Gospel momentarily gets placed in the margins.  Paul was upset because of the chasm between Jesus' message, of "my yoke is easy and my burden is light" and the religious traditionalists' message, that was "spying out our freedom & bringing us into slavery".(Gal. 2:4)

Here's a few ways we could keep the Gospel central.

1. Discern the difference between: non-essential & essential doctrine.

In most toxic church environments and Christian circles, you'll find that believers have become divisive, not over the Gospel, but of non-essential items which in their confusion, fearfulness and ignorance, get elevated to Gospel.  

Some of these non-essential items may include: 

+drinking alcohol 

+bible translations 

+tongues/prophecy 

+end-times belief

+church government

+causes

+specialized ministries 

+culture

Some examples of essential items include:

+The Trinitarian God

+The inspiration/authority of the scriptures

+The incarnation of Jesus (God became man)

+Jesus's death + resurrection for our forgiveness, cleansing and life

+Jesus's second coming, etc

Failure to distinguish between these, often leads to an unhealthy elevation of say, e.g., end-times belief, over the Gospel itself.  What you end with is the perennial preaching of ones opinion on this subject while relegating Jesus's Gospel to the footnote, while the people walk away with the impression that the most important truth to get right is when the rapture (or tongues/bible translation, etc) happens.  Paul's contention is that Christians should live as if the Gospel (which he preached) is the most important truth to get right, everything else is footnote.  Ironically it's in this vein that many who run discernment based ministries, actually lack discernment themselves & inadvertently wound other believers, not due to the Gospels' sharp edge, but to their inability of discerning between these two groups.

Division in the body over preferences, non-essential doctrinal issues, causes, specialized ministries is a "desertion from Him who called you in the grace of Christ and a turning to a different gospel".

2. Be in biblical community frequently & ask if your life/message is Gospel-centric

Perhaps you've strayed.  Perhaps the message/impression your life communicates is one of:

+needing to know certain insights about peripheral (and even important) matters

+exercising certain disciplines

+acting according to a certain way

If these are the "important truths" your life communicates it's not Gospel (good news), because convictions, though perhaps good for an individual, may not fit the exact way upon another.  In the same way, forcing once pagan Gentiles into 1st Century Jewish custom/ culture is not good (Gospel).

3. Get to know the Gospel

Read the 4 Gospels, see Jesus and be amazed by him.  Watch how he treats societies sinners.  Hear how he rebukes the religiously arrogant, who made an idol out of the Temple, and were willing to even kill God, just to preserve it.   Read Paul's commentary, and the working out of the Gospel in practice via his letters (Epistles).

The Gospel ought to humble us.  It reveals God as being big, and us as desperately in need.  It shows that we are great sinners, but that God is a Great Savior.
...Pick up any Time Keller book, or download any message...you will actually find that the Gospel IS good news!