Enamored by Influence

“And from those who seemed to be influential (what they were makes no difference to me; God shows no partiality)—those, I say, who seemed influential added nothing to me.”

Galatians 2:6 ESV

We get caught up with influence. We seek for it. And we fawn over those who seem to have it.

This is true not only in society. It’s true not only when it comes to celebrity culture or the political realm. It’s true also in the church.

We look to the saints of old, counting them as better than ourselves. We look to those higher in the pecking order of the church hierarchy, believing them to be more holy. We look to pastors, missionaries, bishops, and popes, believing them to be worthy of adoration.

This is true even in the Protestant Church, where the priesthood of all believers is the rule of our practice. We laud celebrity pastors, buying their books, and placing them on a pedestal. We separate, anew, clergy from the laity. We re-create a class system where one believer is more significant than another.

Scripture is clear that we’re to respect those in authority. It’s clear that we’re to respect our spiritual leaders. And although some err by failing to give these people the respect they’re due, others err by regarding them too highly.

As we look at the second chapter of Galatians, Paul had gone to the leaders of the church in Jerusalem as conflict raged. As he preached the true gospel, others came in who added to the gospel of Christ. And he went to those who seemed influential to check himself, to check his message. He went to them  to ensure that he wasn’t running his race in vain.

However, notice his words: he went to those who seemed influential. He then adds that what they were made no difference to him. And he goes on to say that God shows no partiality.

In the eyes of God, there is no distinction. In the eyes of God, there is no totem pole. Although there is a difference in terms of the roles we’re called to play, there is none when it comes to our status in Christ. 

As Paul went to the church in Jerusalem, it wasn’t the validation of greater men that he sought. It wasn’t the validation of a greater apostle. It was a validation of the gospel by the church that he desired.

And this validation is exactly what Paul got. They added nothing to him, Paul says. In other words, they neither challenged nor sought to change anything of the message that he proclaimed.

In the same way, although we should respect those called by God to lead us, and although we should honor those sent by God to proclaim his Word, we must not go too far. We must not make too much of them. We must realize that, like us, they are sinners saved by the grace of God. We must realize that, like us, they are men who are gifted by God to serve his church. We must realize that what is truly important is the gospel itself.