Striving For Stability Series

Back in the early part of the 20th century some architects in Washington

began to visualize how the Jefferson Memorial ought to

look from across the lake when reflected in the water. They decided

it would be best to cut down the fringe of cherry trees that

threatened to obscure the view. A group of women in Washington

heard about it and dedicated themselves to protect those trees given

to our nation by Mr. Ozaki of Japan. They were so outraged at the

scandalous sacrilege of destroying such beauty that they actually

went to the scene and tied themselves to the trees with robes and

chains. The architects were awed, and the woodchoppers were

scared stiff. Margaret Applegarth in reporting on this story

concluded, "The city was charmed by the uproar. And of course the

cherry trees themselves bloomed safely from April to April, year

after year."

The Apostle Paul could have read a story like that with a great

deal of appreciation, for the emotions of those women must have

been very much like Paul's emotions as he wrote to the Galatians.

Some crack pot officials have come into the church in Galatia with

the intention of cutting down the tree of life. That is, they planned

to remove the cross of Christ from its central place in Christianity.

It seems that to them it was obscuring the view of the law. Just as

the Washington officials wanted to remove the living beauty of the

cherry trees to keep the cold dead stone of the memorial in view, so

the Jewish officials of Paul's day wanted to remove the real roses of

redemption by grace, and the living lilies of liberty in Christ, in

order to keep the cold dead stones of the law in view.

When Paul heard of this he was as outraged as were those

sensitive and sensible ladies in Washington. He is angry with the

Judaizers and amazed at the Galatians for listening to their false

gospel. In verse 6 we see Paul expressing his first negative emotion

in this letter. It is translated by a variety of words. Some have it, "I

am amazed." Others have, "I am astonished, I marvel," and one

has it, "I am dumb founded." Paul just cannot comprehend the profound

folly that would lead men to exchange liberty for bondage.

It is beyond him how people can, without threat and compulsion, but

voluntarily give up the Gospel of grace for the gospel of law, which

he says is no gospel at all.

Paul has suddenly become aware that even Christians can be

very fickle, and they can waver from a position of stability so easily.

It is good that he discovered this, for now it is a matter of public

record, and all Christians are thereby informed.

Christians can develop along two different lines in their thinking

and attitudes. They can become so vacillating and variable that they

are tossed about by every wind of doctrine that comes along, or they

can develop along the lines of a steady, settled and unwavering

stability. In this context we want to consider Paul's condemnation of

the one and his call to the other. Consider first-

I. THE CONDEMNATION OF THE SPIRIT OF FICKLENESS.

The fickle persons are those who allow their emotions to be their

guide. This leaves them with a very unreliable guide, for emotions

can be so unstable and inconsistent. I have watched clever salesman

demonstrate a potato peeler or tomato cutter with such skill and

efficiency that I felt like buying one even though I didn't need it. My

emotions were captivated by a job well done. The cults operate on

this same basis. They know well what they have to offer, and it

sounds so good to seeking hearts. Many are captivated by the skill

and efficiency of their presentation. The Judaisers were men who

were skilled in the law, and they could make a deep impression on

those who were not educated as they were. They were successful

because there are so many people who have a fickle spirit. They

commit themselves to one thing this year, and next year they are off

in a totally different direction. They are always being moved by

their emotions to go in new directions.

Joseph Parker wrote, "We are amazed at fickle religious people,

because they make such fools of themselves. They are always

finding some new little pieces of paper on which there is written

something they cannot make out, but which perfectly entrances

them by the brilliance of its genius." Such people are consistently

inconsistent, and they are like sitting ducks for all the cults and

religious racketeers who make a fortune selling religious junk and

secret formulas for instant happiness. Paul has to fight this fickle