Altar Call –
Opelika-Auburn News
Walter
Albritton
September 24,
2017
Faith expressing
itself in love
In the 1995 Oscar-winning movie
“Braveheart,” Mel Gibson plays the role of the 13th Century Scottish
hero, William Wallace. A commoner and rebel, Wallace leads a popular revolt
against England’s tyrannical King Edward.
There is a dramatic moment in the movie
when Wallace raises his sword and shouts one word – “Freedom!” That word galvanized
Wallace’s outnumbered forces into an unbeatable army of warriors.
Freedom has been the cry of the human
heart since time began. In every age there have been free men and slaves. One
of the great stories of history is that of the Hebrews who lived in slavery to
the Egyptians until God, hearing their cry for freedom, sent Moses to deliver
them.
In writing to the Galatians, Paul uses
the concept of slavery and freedom to teach the meaning of the freedom Christ
has given to all people. The primary issue with the Galatians was circumcision.
Some insisted that non-Jewish believers should be circumcised. Paul objected,
declaring that “when we place our faith in Christ Jesus, it makes no difference
to God whether we are circumcised or not circumcised.” What matters, Paul said,
“is faith expressing itself in love.”
Paul helps us understand that salvation
is ours by grace through faith, not religious “acts” such as circumcision.
Christ has set us free so we are no longer “slaves to the law.” In our churches
today we need to remember that principle and not allow “outward works” to
divide us. Take the act of baptism, for example. Some insist on immersion,
going “all the way under” while others are satisfied with “sprinkling.” I think
Paul would say, “What is important is faith expressing itself in love, not the
mode of your baptism.”
In church we sometimes argue about the
proper method of serving Holy Communion. Some insist on kneeling to receive the
bread and the cup. Others prefer standing in line to receive the sacrament by
intinction, dipping the bread into a chalice. Again, Paul would say “Stop
arguing; what matters is faith expressing itself in love.”
Some believers insist that their pastor
wear a robe. Others prefer an untucked shirt and blue jeans. Some clerics want
the pulpit in the center of the chancel while others insist on a divided
chancel. Some people love “traditional” hymn-singing while others prefer
contemporary music. It seems there is no end to the list of things about which
we can disagree.
The real issue, Paul insists, is love.
Ritual is secondary. Love is primary. Differences of opinion can deter us from
the commandment to “love one another.” Christ has set us free, free to “serve
one another in love.” We must not forget that one sure way of attracting
unbelievers to church is for its members to love one another!
People want to be included in a loving
fellowship, not a heated debate. If our church programs run like well-oiled
machinery while we fail to love one another within the Body of Christ, it will
not matter by what method we were baptized or by what method we received the
Sacrament. We will have failed in the mission that matters the most – finding
ways to express our faith in love.
Praise God! Christ has set us free – to
love one another instead of arguing about inconsequential matters until the
cows come home! + + +