LARGE LETTERS
February 1, 2010
Dear Friends,
The Apostle Paul dictated his letters to a scribe. Tertius was Paul’s scribe for the letter to the Romans and inserts his own greetings. I Tertius, who write the epistle, salute you in the Lord” (Rom 16:22). As possibly a mark of genuineness, Paul would pen the last little bit himself. He says “I, Paul, write this greeting in my own hand, which is the distinguishing mark in all my letters. This is how I write.” (2 Thess. 3:17 NIV) Again, in his first letter to the Corinthians, Paul said to them I, Paul, write this greeting in my own hand. (1 Cor. 16:21 NIV)
The most interesting of Paul’s handwritten remarks occurs at the end of his letter to the Galatians. This letter deals with the Judaizers who were destroying the churches they invaded with their legalism.
I used to think that when he wrote the Galatians See what large letters I use as I write to you with my own hand, it was because Paul had poor eyesight. This was further evidence to me that partial blindness was Paul’s much debated “thorn in the flesh.” (2 Cor. 12:7) This may be the case, but I would like to suggest an alternative interpretation. It may be that this is roughly equivalent to our emailing someone in ALL CAPS. This is understood to be the e-mail equivalent of raising our voices. In fact, you will notice that it can be taken by the reader as quite offensive to write in ALL CAPS.
Galatians, it may be argued, is Paul’s most impassioned letter. This church was being destroyed so it became very personal to Paul. He even writes in the letter about concerns over his tone. “How I wish I could be with you now and change my tone, because I am perplexed about you!” (Gal 4:20 NIV) To the Judaizers in Galatia, who preached circumcision to the Gentile converts as a means of salvation, Paul takes the proverbial gloves off when he says “As for those agitators, I wish they would go the whole way and emasculate themselves!” (Gal. 5:12 NIV) These are not the words of a man who is trying to “turn the other cheek” with his opponents but of a spirit-led Apostle who is fighting tooth and nail over the salvation of four churches (Derbe, Iconium, Antioch and Lystra).
With this background in mind, let’s review what Paul says in LARGE LETTERS at the end of his letter and what we can glean from this diatribe.
SEE WHAT LARGE LETTERS I USE AS I WRITE TO YOU WITH MY OWN HAND! THOSE WHO WANT TO MAKE A GOOD IMPRESSION OUTWARDLY ARE TRYING TO COMPEL YOU TO BE CIRCUMCISED. THE ONLY REASON THEY DO THIS IS TO AVOID BEING PERSECUTED FOR THE CROSS OF CHRIST.
A lot of us sit on the sidelines in controversies because it is the easiest thing to do. We try to position ourselves as moderates when in fact the more fitting description might be lukewarm. We placate ourselves with verses like “turn the other cheek” when in fact our true motives are that we are not willing to take a stand for Christ. Perhaps we are too invested in making a good impression on everyone instead of making a good impression on Christ.
NOT EVEN THOSE WHO ARE CIRCUMCISED OBEY THE LAW, YET THEY WANT YOU TO BE CIRCUMCISED THAT THEY MAY BOAST ABOUT YOUR FLESH.
Paul addresses inconsistency here. His opponents made a big show about how righteous they were, but Paul calls them out for their hypocrisy. Just like their Pharisaic predecessors, they talked big, but did little. Jesus gives us this eternal principle in Matthew 7 which states “by their fruit you will recognize them.” (v. 20 NIV) This is no less true today. Doers do. Talkers talk.
MAY I NEVER BOAST EXCEPT IN THE CROSS OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, THROUGH WHICH THE WORLD HAS BEEN CRUCIFIED TO ME, AND I TO THE WORLD. NEITHER CIRCUMCISION NOR UNCIRCUMCISION MEANS ANYTHING; WHAT COUNTS IS A NEW CREATION. PEACE AND MERCY TO ALL WHO FOLLOW THIS RULE, EVEN TO THE ISRAEL OF GOD.
I am reminded of the numerous controversies of Jesus’ day that his enemies tried to engage him in. They wanted him to choose A or B and almost inevitably Jesus chose C. The issue of Paul’s day was whether a man should be circumcised or not. The real issue, Paul says, is not whether a man is circumcised, but whether he lives according to the New Creation in Christ. Paul, like Jesus, chose a “C” answer.
How many of our controversies are like that? In North America, for example, there are many who want you to choose between Amended and Unamended. I think the answer, quite frankly, is C: neither. Both schisms are part of the body of Christ and asking us to choose between the two is the equivalent to choosing between Paul or Apollos (see 1 Cor. 1:12). It is an unspiritual choice foisted upon us by modern day Judaizers. Maybe I should have put that last sentence in all caps because it needs to be shouted from the housetops: cease and desist immediately from this sinful, schismatic behavior.
Notice that Paul talks about “peace and mercy” only to those who follow this rule. There is no fence-sitting here.
FINALLY, LET NO ONE CAUSE ME TROUBLE, FOR I BEAR ON MY BODY THE MARKS OF JESUS. THE GRACE OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST BE WITH YOUR SPIRIT, BROTHERS. AMEN.
Paul’s body must have been something to behold with all of the torture he endured for Christ. As much as his handwritten endings to his letters were his seal of authenticity to his pen pals, his body was witness to his authenticity to those in his presence.
Very few of us today, with perhaps the exception of believers in extreme Islamic states, are in mortal danger for our faith. We don’t worry about being beaten or crucified. Most of us today use these terms metaphorically, such as “he was crucified at that meeting”, but treat the danger as if it were literal. Our reputations may be bruised and battered for taking a stand for Christ, but seldom do we face literal bruising. How might it feel to stand by someone at judgment like the Apostle Paul who literally suffered so horribly when we were unwilling to even risk being beaten up figuratively?
Regardless of whether these personally-penned statements by Paul are to be written in ALL CAPS or not, we should take heed to the message he delivers. Our eternal lives may depend on it.
Have a great week,
Comments»
Thank you Kyle for all of your hard work and wonderful thoughts.
It struck my that making a good impression outwardly can be alright if what’s inside is right, “And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.” Luke 2: 52.
I hope we pick “C” not one or the other side which just causes all of us to hurt.