“God in a Box” Galatians 4:8-20 Nov 30, 2003
Well we have come to that time of year… Friday was the biggest shopping day, decorations started going up, people start planning parties and gifts are already being bought and boxed up… This time of year reminds me, well not really the time but people, of an age old toy; most everyone had one at one time or another – the good old –
“Jack-in-the-box” - you would crank the handle, a little music would play and soon out would pop the little puppet. That was at least until it got old and you got bored with it.
Have you ever wondered if poor little Jack ever got tired of being in the box, tired of the game people played with him?
Sadly, that is what happens too Christians – they want to play religion instead of living free, they want to go through the motions… and it was happening to the Christians in Galatia and it wasn’t even Christmas for them.
Paul is confronting them with the same sort of issue.
Turn to GALATIANS 4:8 - In verse 8-10 (READ) – Paul asks - How can you go from being freed from little idols that you kept in a box only fall into putting God in a box?
The Galatians had worship idols and celebrated pagan festivals – only to be set free to live everyday with Christ and now the Jews had them back to celebrating the day instead of the one who created the day…
He says – you have stepped backwards – you put God in a box; then on special occasions just turn the handle, play a little music, and out will pop GOD… HE is not your puppet!
Then in verse 11 (READ) – Paul is saying to the Galatians in a nice way that he fears that his time has been wasted with them. Paul is communicating nothing more than every pastor’s nightmare…
Next in verse 12 - 15(READ) – He is telling you – take God out of the box and live.
When Paul says – imitate me – when he says be like me – he is saying quit thinking about this life as a Christian as being something wrapped up in a day, or week or yearly celebration… but like me – let it be the whole of your life…
Paul is asking – don’t you remember how great it felt to be free, to be loved and forgiven, and to have purpose? Isn’t that they way you wanted to live before, even to the point of sacrificing of yourself?
Now in verse 16 (READ) – Paul asks, after that, after the wonderful freedom I preached to you in Christ, I have become your enemy because I simply tell you the truth and you don’t like it?
That happens to a lot of pastors today – the get hired because their liked and fired when they preach the truth…
See – more than a few Christians love the pastor right up until the point that he preaches the truth about their pet sin, steps on their toes or shines a light onto their dark secret.
I can understand Paul here and please don’t think it is in a negative way– you see as a pastor and preacher – I would much rather you be offended by God’s truth than for me to offend God by not telling you the truth.
Finally, in verse 17-20 – in particular verses 19&20 - Paul explains why he seems so adamant about what he is saying… He says I love you like a mother who has given birth… and I wish I could use a different tone… but I am so concerned by what is happening that I MUST put it as plainly as I can.
Again, I can understand Paul – I want so badly for each of you to know what it means to be free in Christ, what it means to live your Christian life open and guided by God’s Spirit instead of putting Him in a box only to take Him out on Sunday, Christmas and Easter.
SO WHAT IS THE BIBLE TELLING YOU ABOUT YOUR LIFE?
First to - Take God out of the Box (v 9-10)
If you get something you really like for Christmas, you don’t just put it back in the box and take it out once a year to play with it… you show it off, you enjoy it…
Last year I got a really nice watch for Christmas. I know it was wrong but I put it back in the box and put it in a drawer. About two weeks ago, I pulled the box out and said –“Wow, this still looks great and look it is still ticking!” I won’t put it back in the box…
Too many Christians, too many churches turn the crank all week hoping that on Sunday God, or Jesus, or the Holy Spirit will pop out their box… sometimes HE does and they act surprised.
Understand – religion, legalism, tired tradition puts God in a box and takes Him out and plays with him on Sunday or during a crisis, or on special days like Christmas and Easter…
Could you imagine all that your life could be if you would just let God’s Holy Spirit out of the box, to let Jesus be Jesus all year long!?! If you enjoyed the life that HE wanted for you?
Next keep in mind – You only hurt you (verse 9 & 12)
When you try to put constraints on God, put Him in a box… you’re not hurting me.
When you get mad because I preach the truth… you’re not hurting me.
When you’re not at church… you’re not hurting me
When you come to church because you HAVE to not because you WANT to… you’re not hurting me
When you live by religion, you’re hurting the real, loving, freed and growing relationship that JESUS wants to have with you.
Did you know that single men are jailed more often, earn less, have more illnesses and die at a younger age than married men. Married men with cancer live 20% longer than single men with the same cancer. Women, who often have more close friendships than men, survive longer with the same cancers. And Christians who have a real relationship with Christ live much better than people who simply have religion. So why would you want to go back?
I want to tell you – if you can start to live your life with Jesus out in the open and not in a religious box, you will find freedom from all sorts of bondage and sin.
Finally, once you let God out the box and start living – you will be on fire not for good but for great (v18)
Let me ask you - Why do you do what you do? Why do you come to church? Why do you want to be a Christian?
Religion never excited anyone – Relationship is what burns in the heart
Religion is working for all the wrong reasons – Relationship persuades you to serve out of love.
A lot of people get fired up, passionate, zealous for a lot of very good reasons, very noble causes but why get fired up for good when you get be passionate for the Great…
If you are going to catch fire, the let God’s Spirit out of the box and catch fire for Jesus Christ.
I am already considered by some to be strange, that’s ok… but if I am going to be considered zealous or strange it isn’t going to be for a tree that nature will kill in few years, if I am going to be called passionate, I am going to make it about something that is worth while – something that has purpose – I am going to make it about Jesus!
Pastor and Author John Piper commented –
“…it is the power of Christ living and reigning and forming himself within us that frees us to delight in God’s will. We are freed from the burden of the law when we are given the power to fulfill it from within.” [John Piper, sermon: "Oh that Christ Might be Formed in You.
Let me close with this – if you have lived a freed life, a life not full of junk and sin but a life where God was active and real – why would you ever go back to putting Him in a box?
If you have never experienced the wonder, the beauty and freedom of a life lived not by religion but by the gift of God… let me tell you once you do – you really will never want to go back to the way you lived before.
