The Appearance of Godliness

“See with what large letters I am writing to you with my own hand. It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh who would force you to be circumcised, and only in order that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. For even those who are circumcised do not themselves keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may boast in your flesh.”

(Galatians 6:11-13 ESV)

 

The church has often sought to force certain practices upon its members. It has sought to force the law upon its members. And there are countless examples of this.

 

Some churches insist that their members abstain completely from alcohol. It’s from here that we get the jokes about believers who won’t make eye contact in a liquor store. Some churches insist that their members do no work on Sunday, and criticize anyone who may dare to mow the lawn or rake leaves on a Sunday afternoon. Still others insist that their members are not to gamble, shunning even those who buy a raffle ticket to support a children’s baseball team. We could go on and on citing instances of this reality.

 

Their aim, when they do this, seems good. Their aim is that members of their congregation will give the appearance of godliness. They want it to seem as if the members of their church are righteous.

 

Although we're given the impression that it’s a matter of our relationship with God, it’s really about our appearance. It’s because they want us to make a good showing in the flesh. It’s that they might boast in our flesh.

 

There is good reason for this. There is good reason for it because one of the main accusations lobbed at the church is that it’s full of hypocrites. We are accused of being hypocrites because, although we hold up Scripture as truth, we’re unable to live it out. Despite our faith and our love for the Lord, we continue to violate his will.

 

For the Galatians, it was circumcision that was being forced upon them. And those who were pushing this practice, Paul says, did so to make a good showing in the flesh. In other words, they wanted to look good. They wanted to look good even though they, themselves, did not keep the law.

 

No matter their appearance, the simple truth is that they were sinners. And, because they were sinners, they couldn’t keep God’s law. Even if they desired to do so, it was impossible for them.

 

Rather than laboring to look good, our energy is better spent allowing Christ to look good. It’s best that we allow our imperfection to demonstrate the grace and mercy of Christ. It’s best that we highlight not our own righteousness, but that of Jesus.

 

When I say this, I’m not suggesting that we live according to our sinful desires. Nor am I suggesting that we take advantage of the grace of God (as if that were possible). As those who have been saved from sin, our desire is to live for the Lord.

 

However, we must not encourage people to make their performance the focus. We must openly acknowledge our sin and the redemption that’s found in Jesus. And we must allow him the glory for the great salvation he has provided.