An Elitist Mentality Part 2
Scripture: Galatians 2:1-16
This is part two of my series “An Elitist Mentality. If you recall from last week, I shared with you that an elitist is “a person or class of persons considered superior by others or by themselves, as in intellect, talent, power, wealth, or position in society.” I asked you to focus on that part of the definition “considered superior by themselves” as I took you through the example from Mark the 9th chapter. In that story, the disciples after hearing of Jesus upcoming death and His Kingdom that would follow had a discussion about which of them would be the greatest in Jesus’ kingdom. When Jesus’ confronted them about that discussion and taught them the appropriate way to live a life deserving of a reward, John was convicted in his spirit and confessed to something the disciples had done without Jesus’ knowledge. The disciples had confronted a man who was casting out demons in Jesus’ name and forbid him. Their reason was because the man was not “following us.” The man was not a recognized follower of Jesus and according to the disciples, a follower of them. Jesus corrected their elitist behavior by instructing them in the principle that a man doing works in His name could not later speak against Him. In other words, the man doing the works was a follower of Him even though he might not have been recognized as such. I asked you to consider how we want people to follow us (our rules, ways of worship, etc.) versus truly following Christ with their hearts. This morning I want to share a story with you that happened years later where this elitist mentality once again raised its ugly head. Turn with me to Galatians chapter two.
This example reminded me of a story that Dea. Fulks shared with us during Bible study a couple of week ago. We were having a discussion about speaking in tongues and if that was “the” defining point of someone being saved. Some of you may recall that there are those who believe that if you do not speak in tongues you cannot be truly saved. Again, the speaking in tongues has become another way we exhibit an elitist mentality when comparing our “more spiritual” experiences with others who have not had them. In the story we are about to read there were Pharisees who had become Christians who felt that the Gentile converts were beneath them. This was not a situation where the apostles felt they were elite, but one where Peter gave in to the elitist mentality of others. He allowed others to negatively influence his actions. In order to understand Paul’s response to Peter I want to share with you Peter’s testimony from the book of Acts.
In Acts chapter eleven Peter was accused of eating with the Gentiles, those who were uncircumcised. Peter shared with his accusers how he had been in Joppa and received a vision from the Lord about eating unclean meat. Peter states that he refused upon which the Lord told him what He had made clean Peter were not to call unclean. The Lord was preparing Peter to go and minister to Simon who was a Gentile. Peter explained that when he ministered to Simon and his family they were all saved and the Holy Spirit fell upon them. When his accusers heard that the Gentiles had received the same gift as them they backed down and praised God. Later in chapter fifteen of Acts, some Pharisees who had become Christians began to teach the Gentiles that in order to be truly saved they had to be circumcised according to the Law of Moses and only after could Jewish Christians fellowship with them. There was a great argument that arose between them which led to Paul and Barnabas going to Jerusalem to get a decision from the apostles and elders on the issue. During the debate, Peter once again explained what the Lord had told him in his vision that basically all men were equal who accepted Christ. The council’s decision was twofold. First they decided that circumcision was not a requirement for salvation and second as it related to the two groups fellowshipping together, that the Gentiles should refrain from certain foods and sexual sins and thus would be able to fellowship without restrictions with all Jewish Christians. This was the decision from the council that was put into place with the full testimony and support of Peter. Now turn to Galatians chapter two and we will begin at verse one.
“Then after an interval of fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus along also. It was because of a revelation that I went up; and I submitted to them the gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but I did so in private to those who were of reputation, for fear that I might be running, or had run, in vain. But not even Titus, who was with me, though he was a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised. But it was because of the false brethren secretly brought in, who had sneaked in to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, in order to bring us into bondage. But we did not yield in subjection to them for even an hour, so that the truth of the gospel would remain with you. But from those who were of high reputation (what they were makes no difference to me; God shows no partiality) well, those who were of reputation contributed nothing to me. But on the contrary, seeing that I had been entrusted with the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been to the circumcised (for He who effectually worked for Peter in his apostleship to the circumcised effectually worked for me also to the Gentiles), and recognizing the grace that had been given to me, James and Cephas and John, who were reputed to be pillars, gave to me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, so that we might go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised. They only asked us to remember the poor--the very thing I also was eager to do. But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. For prior to the coming of certain men from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he began to withdraw and hold himself aloof, fearing the party of the circumcision. The rest of the Jews joined him in hypocrisy, with the result that even Barnabas was carried away by their hypocrisy. But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas in the presence of all, ‘If you, being a Jew, live like the Gentiles and not like the Jews, how is it that you compel the Gentiles to live like Jews?’ We are Jews by nature and not sinners from among the Gentiles; nevertheless knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified.” (Galatians 2:1-16)
Paul tells the Galatians of his version of what had happened in what was recorded in Acts. He gives us a little more information into Peter’s initial response to the situation and why he called Peter out on it. Remember, the Lord had told Peter in a vision that what He had cleaned Peter was not to call unclean. Anyone that accepts Christ as Lord and Savior is cleaned and are therefore saved. Peter knew this and professed this understanding when first addressed his accusers in what was recorded in Acts chapter eleven. But what he knew and understood from the Lord was shaken when some influential Pharisees can on the scene. Look at how Paul describes them and their motivation as captured in verses four through six. “But it was because of the false brethren secretly brought in, who had sneaked in to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, in order to bring us into bondage. But we did not yield in subjection to them for even an hour, so that the truth of the gospel would remain with you. But from those who were of high reputation (what they were makes no difference to me; God shows no partiality) well, those who were of reputation contributed nothing to me.” Paul describes these individuals as influential, false brothers who had come to spy on the liberty that they had in Jesus Christ. He refers to their “high reputation” which did not matter to him. In other words, Paul was not impressed with their “elitist” reputation or social standing. As far as he was concerned he was serving Christ and they had no say, based on their social standing, what could or could not be done in Him. Paul professed that he had been given the approval and entrusted with the gospel of Christ to the Gentile with the full approval of the apostles, including Peter. Now here is where the conflict came in. Look at what is captured in verses eleven through thirteen. “But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. For prior to the coming of certain men from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he began to withdraw and hold himself aloof, fearing the party of the circumcision. The rest of the Jews joined him in hypocrisy, with the result that even Barnabas was carried away by their hypocrisy.”
These Pharisee Christians believed that circumcision (from the Law of Moses) was still a requirement to be saved so therefore Jewish Christians who had been circumcised could not fellowship (sit down, eat, drink and be merry) with the Gentiles who were not circumcised. In their minds accepting Christ did not negate the need for circumcision. Peter had been having a good time with the Gentiles who had converted to Christianity. He was eating their foods even though there were some food restrictions under Jewish customs. When these influential, elitist, circumcised Jewish Christians arrived, Peter immediately withdrew himself from the Gentiles and began acting like he could not be in their presence. Others who witnessed Peter’s withdrawal began to do the same. The Gentiles wondered what was going on as they witnessed Peter and the others suddenly withdrawing from them. Paul called Peter out to his face in front of everybody for his hypocrisy. Listen to what is recorded in verses fourteen through sixteen. “But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas in the presence of all, ‘If you, being a Jew, live like the Gentiles and not like the Jews, how is it that you compel the Gentiles to live like Jews?’ We are Jews by nature and not sinners from among the Gentiles; nevertheless knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified.”
When Paul saw what Peter did which led to others following his lead, Paul reacted immediately. Paul not only called Peter out, but set the other Jews on notice of what was right in the eyes of Christ. The circumcised Jews saw themselves as elitists versus the saved Gentiles and Paul set the record straight – they were the same! I want you to notice what Paul actually asked Peter. Paul asked Peter why he was compelling the Gentiles to live like a Jew when he (Peter who was a Jew) was actually living like a Gentile. You see the conflict here? In the book of Acts we read where the Lord Himself told Peter what He had cleaned Peter was not to call unclean. From that moment Peter began to treat the Gentile Christians as he would a Jewish Christian. However, in this instance when in the presence of some prominent Pharisees Christians, Peter withdrew as if what he was doing was wrong. Peter allowed their presence to overshadow the direction that Jesus had given to him specifically. Does this sound familiar to you? Peter knew and understood the truth but failed in this moment to live it. The other consideration to this is the impact of Peter’s actions on the other Jews who were present. When they saw Peter withdraw, they followed suit. Peter was one of the original disciples of Christ so obviously he was a leader and people watching him would follow his actions. This is a lesson for us because we too have people watching us and will follow our actions. Paul could not address this privately because addressing it privately would not have undone the action. He called it out publicly so that everyone present would understand that within Christ they were all the same. No one elite!
We do not have to believe that we are elite or have this mentality, but sometimes we take on the mentality of those around us. While we may not be a certain way in private, we find ourselves acting a certain way so that we can be part of the crowd and not stand out. We may not ever claim to have an elitist mentality but it shows up in our actions towards others. I am not necessarily talking about how we treat those of a different financial or social status, but more so how we treat anyone who is different from what we consider the norm to be. Think about some of the Churches you may have been a member of? How many people did you actually “really” get to know at that Church where you were a member and the members were supposed to be your spiritual family? If you felt included, did you feel included because of who you were or because of whom you knew? Many people go to Church where everyone knows them on the surface but maybe not at their core. The loneliest place in the world can be the Church. The reason is that the Church is the one place where everyone should be welcomed and included; from the dirtiest to the cleanest, from the righteous to the sinner. However, even within the Church we separate mentally into groups of “like people.” Sometimes we are not fully welcomed or embraced until people know more us and our position within the Church or within society. When this elitist mentality takes hold within the Church the work of the Holy Spirit through us is diminished. We cannot bring people to Christ or help them to grow spiritually by excluding them. At some point in our lives, all of us have felt excluded or alone because others around us were seen as better even if they were not. It happens within our homes, schools, jobs, and Church.
If we are going to do anything for Christ we will have to take on a servant’s mentality where we truly believe that we can serve anyone regardless of their position in society. I will conclude this message in two weeks with a story of a stranger (non-believer if you will) who helped someone he did not know whom “believers” ignored. The question that was asked and answered is this: “Who is my neighbor.”
God bless.
Until next time, “The Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you. May the Lord lift up His countenance on you and give you peace.” (Numbers 6:24-26)
