During the pause for Mediterranean moments in Galatia, consider the task of taking the message of the gospel from culture to culture. How has the church you attend attempted to take the gospel message to a younger generation? Can you identify methods for reaching a more “un-churched” audience? Are you attempting to bring in other cultures into your congregation?
There is a point when you travel by car across the plains of Kansas and into Colorado on Interstate 70 that the city of Denver seems to rise up from the flat lands and, along with the mountains, miraculously appear. Whether physically or figuratively, the scene makes you stop in your tracks and pause to ponder. There are still miles of slowly rising “nothing” to traverse before the destination of Denver is within your grasp; and something compels you to turn your head back around and gawk at the multitude of miles from which you have come.
The Steps of Expansion
Think about where we are in the process of Christianity at this moment Paul’s second journey. The Jerusalem Council met to address the concerns raised by Jews who were accepting Jesus as their Messiah. Does a person need to become a Jewish believer first before they can become a Christian?
Paul’s letter to the Galatians addresses the relationship between the gospel and the Law. Estimates for the writing of the book of Galatians range from 48/49 to 57/58 A.D. Using the earlier date, the writing of the letter precedes the Jerusalem Council in A.D. 49/50. Galatians becomes one of Paul’s earliest letters. Paul probably penned the epistle while at Antioch of Syria. Sir William Ramsay dated the letter early, while J. B. Lightfoot dated in the late fifties. If Lightfoot is correct, the letter originates from Corinth on Paul’s third missionary journey. The date approximates the writing of the book of Romans. The earlier date points to the South Galatian Theory; the later date affirms the North Galatian Theory.
In either case, Christianity is defining its place within a Jewish culture. The gospel, as presented by Paul and his friends, is stepping beyond Judaism into a pagan and Gentile environment.
Mediterranean Moments in Galatia to Pause and Reflect
The flavor of the verses in Acts 16:6-10 leave the impression that this was a moment of reflection for Paul and his companions on this journey. They had retraced the steps of the first missionary journey through the southern region of Galatia – which would have included stops strengthening the churches in Lystra, Derbe and Iconium. These congregations would one day in the not-too-distant future receive a letter from the apostle, treasured as it was circulated in the region and preserved in our New Testament as the Epistle to the Galatians. And now, the horizon of literally the known world looms large. Where do we go from here? Where is God leading? Notice in our passage in Acts how many times God prevents them from moving in one direction and nudges them another. Notice in our passage in Acts how many times God prevents them from moving in one direction and nudges them another.
Even as productive and positive as these visits were, Paul’s mind must have also retraced memories of Jewish persecution, of debates lost, of newly formed friendships turned sour and of harrowing, near-death experiences that plagued his steps through the area during the first missionary journey. That compelling glance backwards: What can be learned from the steps taken? Which steps should be replayed? Which footprints are better erased? The slow turn forward provides even more questions to ponder. Physically, into what cities of the known world should the gospel be taken? What routes will make the travel to these cities most productive and safe? What direction allows for the best stewardship of time, money and human resources?
Helping the Gospel Change Culture
Philosophically and spiritually, the questions are even more biting. What happens when the gospel spreads from one culture to another? Is there a way to make the “collision” – the clash of values, perceptions and traditions – more of a melting, without causing damage to the cause of Christ and the spiritual well-being of the believers? There is no escaping Jesus’ mandate that His followers cross ethnic, national, tribal, linguistic and cultural lines to spread His message of salvation. The term “nations” (making disciples of all nations – Matt 28:19) is the Greek word “ethne” from which we get the word “ethnic” literally means ethnic groups. Is it possible that someone from a different background might serve the same Lord, but do so in a way that feels uncomfortable to us because of cultural differences, but still be within the realm of sound theology?
That explains the pause for Paul and his companions. And on this journey called “life” – where is your Galatia?
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