Reputation or Evangelism (Gal. 2:11-14) by: Francis Jackson

       Peter was an apostle of high reputation with the Jews who practiced Judaism instead of the true gospel of salvation by faith.  Paul, on the other hand, was called to take the gospel of Christ to the Gentiles (Eph. 3:8; Acts 9:15, 13:46-47) of whom these Jews were quite critical of with them not being circumcised amongst other things. These Jews viewed themselves of much higher significance  than the Gentiles. So while in Antioch ministering with Paul, Peter was eating with these Gentiles which was contray to their practice of tradition due to the previously stated general reasons.  However, the true gospel is not achieved through works or man-made traditions and, in fact, any other gospel besides faith-alone is not the gospel at all (Gal. 1:6-7). But when certain men from James came to Antioch, (notice Paul did not call them brethren) Peter started to withdraw, or in other words, break away without looking suspicious.  Barnabas and the Jews with them followed suit (2:12-13).  Paul confronted Peter publicly because the act was done publicly (1 Tim. 5:20) which was necessary in that case to confirm the genuineness of the gospel.  That hypocrisy, having not been confronted publicly, could have caused the gospel to appear blasphemous to the Gentiles (Rom. 2:21-24).
      Have you ever been in a situation where you were given the opportunity to share the gospel to someone in the streets cussing like a sailor, gang-banging,prostituting, smoking and/or selling weeds or other drugs? Being around this arena of people in the bible days, especially if you were talking about God, was detrimental to reputation in the eyes of people like the Pharisees and scribes (Matt. 9:10-11; Luke 7:37-39).  A lot of us when given that opportunity, develop Peter's withdrawing attitude when someone who recognizes you is approaching and we try to escape being seen with the sinner.  We come up with ways or excuses to get out of dodge or if you run into them on an ordinary day when there's no ministry event going on, we tend to act nonchalant.  Sometimes we would flat-out avoid engaging in any conversation at all.  We, as Christians, can not let prideful and arrogant reputations step in the place of evangelism.  If man, apart from God, is the final authority of your living, that is not Christianity, but secular humanism.  Once we come to grips that the salvation given to us has nothing to do with us (Eph. 2:8), we may be able to work more effectively towards the Great Commission (Matt. 28:19-20; Acts 1:8).

1) Does your reputation supercede your responsibility to the gospel?

2) In what ways are you responding to the Great Commission at work, school, or in your community?

3) What kinds of people do you target when sharing the gospel? Who do you avoid?

Dear Lord, forgive me for any hypocrisy I have shown in my faith. Help me to shape my lifestyle to match my evangelism to confirm to sinners the genuineness of the gospel of Jesus Christ.  Amen