S.Scripture | As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is proclaiming to you a gospel contrary to what you received, let him be accursed! For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a slave of Christ. Galatians 1:9–10
O.Observation | I was once addicted to the approval of men, and Galatians 1:10 set me free. God used His Word effectually in my life then. Still, I missed the context of the meaning. Paul faced men who were “people pleasers.” In his day one group sought to please men by adding OT covenantal works as requirements to salvation in Jesus. These had never been required for salvation in the Old Covenant, as we are taught in Hebrews that salvation has always been by grace through faith (Gen 15:6, Rom 4:1-22, Gal 3:6-9, Heb 11). The works of the Old Covenant were none the less God’s will before Christ came, though never the way of salvation like many Jews in Jesus time had come to believe (Judaizers, Pharisism, legalism etc). Within both the old and new covenant there has always been those who error in believing God’s will is a way to make yourself justified before God. When all the changes that come with a change of covenant are added, this error of legalism is brought out all the more. Now, add the people pleasing sinful nature of preachers and teachers, and Paul had the perfect storm. In our day, people pleasing pastors still err and add works to justification is still a problem. However, if we honestly search for a works-righteous preacher in our day, we will find few who teach “you must do this to be saved.” Instead, with a social bent toward and protection of rebellion and lawlessness today, people pleasing looks a lot different.
Preachers are tempted to aim to please men today by making the gospel tolerant and permissive. There is a desire to only give easy to hear messages (2 Tim 4:3) can still have a strong emphasis on grace, but abuse of that grace and love of God to our freedom and forgiveness to permit sin that the scripture rebukes and condemns (1 Peter 2:16). Paul’s context in Galatians is certainly legalism, but at other places he addresses the other great error of permissiveness (Romans 6:2) This sort of messages that aim to please our hearers with an altered version of the true gospel means the preacher accursed.
This certainly illustrates the reality that James wrote about for preachers. “Do not, many of you, become teachers, my brothers, knowing that we will receive a stricter judgment.” James 3:1
How might someone identify such preaching for what it is? Does a message declare clearly both the free grace and forgiveness we have in our Savior, and also stay united with a submissive slavery to our only Master and Lord Jesus Christ (Eph 6:6, Jude 4)? Is all obedience outright rejected as putrid legalism? Is grace and forgiveness from even sin labeled as putrid permissiveness? Is it a message of tolerant-love, or a message of love that holds accountable with gentleness and patience for the good and growth of the other? Does the message reject reveal the error of mans ways and thinking at all? People pleasing leaders within the church are prone to give in to opponents to obedience and/or grace. They create messages that are neither set free from the guilt of sin or refuse to be specific about sin so as not to offend anyone. Both the self-righteous misunderstanding of good works AND the passive and lawless misunderstanding of grace, have the potential to lead people away from the truth and away from the true gospel. They both can lead us to hell while making us feel secure in a false gospel. This is why the preacher and teacher are strictly judged.
A.Application | Lest we be accursed ourselves, what messages do we confess and proclaim? Have we added requirements to God’s free forgiveness outside of true faith and true repentance? Have we excused sin, accepted the error of our world’s ideologies, and forsaken the Lord’s ancient way of life by using grace as a permission slip? Let us repent of both errors. Judgement is near.
P.Prayer | Father, move in me a great desire to study and know your Word. That the teaching of people pleasers will not fool me to forsake your ancient paths. Give me freedom from the desire to please men. Give me a passion to please You alone, according to Your Word alone, because of Your grace in saving me. That I would rightful place Jesus on the throne of my life as my Master, Lord and Savior. That I would be a “slave of Christ.” For your glory alone. Amen.
