Don't Misunderstand Spirituality
Galatians (25) Do not misunderstand spirituality (Galatians 5:5-12)
< Faith that works through love >
The three primary colors of the Christian life are faith, hope, and love, but the most important among them is love (verses 5-6). Not all beliefs are the same. True faith is the faith that the Holy Spirit gives, and the faith that the Holy Spirit gives is “faith that works through love.” To put it simply, faith that works by love means faith in action. Faith works through love. The premise of the Christian life is love.
Love is standing in the other person's position and further elevating the other person. So, it is not easy to practice love for humans with desire, but try to practice it nonetheless. The stinginess doesn't just apply to material matters. Even people who are good at giving things to others are often stingy when it comes to giving them recognition and respect. Why? Because you see yourself bigger. Be a person who can elevate someone. Only then can you be freed from your ugly self.
In the Gospels, it is said that Jesus will come among us in the form of the weakest. In that sense, the sick and the stranger are messengers of blessing. When he sacrifices a part of his life for someone like that, and furthermore for the socially disadvantaged, the light of life will brighten his heart and life. Only when we have faith that works through love like this can we experience freedom, joy, and peace more realistically.
In fact, the context of the context makes it possible to fully understand the powerful counsel of the apostle Paul. At that time, the ‘other gospels’ insisted that in order to receive complete salvation, we must be circumcised in addition to faith. It means that you must keep all the laws in the end, and it is like putting the shackles back on those who rejoice after breaking free from bondage. How angry are you when you try to turn those who have gained joy and freedom through faith into slavery to the law again? That is why he said that anyone who preaches other gospels is cursed (Galatians 1:9) and even excommunicated them from church (verse 12).
< Do not misunderstand spirituality >
Many of the gospels preached in the Korean church today are also a kind of ‘other gospel’. The biggest reason for the decline of fortress Korean churches is that they have lost the essence of the gospel. The image of God that has been formed in the Korean church members now is the ‘Secretary God’ who runs to them when called. They perceive God as an instant vending machine where worldly blessings come from entering an action. If we use God as a channel for our desires, we cannot overcome the evil world.
Some people think that God is angry over even trivial things and judges them immediately if they do not go the right way. However, God, who sent Jesus to this earth to bear the cross, does not drive the saints into endless guilt. God wants the saints to live with joy and peace in God to the fullest. But those who sow other gospels try to dominate the saints by fearing them.
Such other gospels distort the true gospel, so why do so many people fall for the ‘other gospel’? Because legalists who preach a different gospel seem more spiritual. You have misunderstood ‘spirituality’. Spirituality is not holiness away from everyday life. Of course, the experience of faith may be unusual, but the life after the experience should become a routine. After all, those who follow the “other gospel” are often spiritual, but often selfish, narrow-minded, and exclusive.
Now, stay away from other gospel followers. If necessary, boldly remove him from the community. But equally important is the bold break of legalism within yourself. For example, “I don’t buy anything on Sundays!” and showing only the appearance of being separated from others without the fragrance of Christian love may look like a spirituality, but in the end it will make you sick and ruin the community. Always realize the importance of grace and strive to be in it.