Fight For Your Right To....

Week 4 Scripture: Galatians 2:11-14

Being accused of hypocrisy is often the worst kind of attack. I remember a few years ago speaking with someone very close, and because they did not agree with how I chose to handle a particular situation they began to accuse me of hypocrisy. This person was irate, and they would not allow me to even get a word in to explain the situation, they just continued to scream at me, “Hypocrite, Hypocrite!!!” Personally, it hurt so much because it questioned my character and integrity. Hypocrisy suggests a type of double-mindedness in which a person says or believes one thing, but fails to back it up with their actions. The Beastie Boys song, “Fight For Your Right” best expresses the nature of hypocrisy:

“Your pop caught you smoking, and he said, ‘No way!’

That hypocrite smokes two packs a day”

We have all dealt with hypocrisy in some form, possibly from a parent, friend, or teacher. I have personally experienced hypocrisy with all of the above—however, I have also been the hypocrite at numerous occasions. Notice in Galatians the charge of hypocrisy (ὑπόκρισις) is leveled against the Christian Jews, Barnabas (Paul’s co-worker in his mission to the Gentiles), and especially Peter in Antioch during a visit to Paul (Gal 2:13). So what is the charge against Peter? Why is Paul calling Peter out “in the presence of everyone”?

            This whole controversy is centered on a meal. Why so much controversy because of dinner guests? Western society often has a difficult time wrapping their minds around this controversy. We don’t stop—at least I hope not—before a meal to question the ethnic background of our lunch partner (co-worker or associate). However, in some places of America, distinctions between skin color, religious association, or dress may deter one from engaging in a meal with another. This is because association through a meal usually implies a close relationship between individuals. A meal is often a sacred time between peoples who intentionally choose to engage one another. The meal in Paul and Peter’s time was no different; it was a symbolic gesture of closeness and acceptance of the other party. And this is especially true for Christians where “communion” was a full meal symbolizing God’s saving work through Jesus to bring both Gentiles and Jews under the banner of one family. Because it represented close connection, Jews made it law for their people not to associate by meal with any persons except Jews. Engaging in a meal with non-Jews (Gentiles) was taboo, and made the Jew ceremonially “unclean.” This means they could not engage in Temple services, and other important religious duties. They would, in a sense, be shunned. When Paul says that Peter cowered because of “fear” (Gal 2:12), I think this is what scared him. Even though he was already convinced that eating certain foods was not required for Jesus followers (Acts 11:27-30; Gal 2:14), his fear of the “circumcision group” (Jewish Christians) caused him to deny what he believed, and had already proclaimed, and act out of sync with his own beliefs.

Questions To Ponder:

1.     Why is Paul so upset? What is being threatened? Why do you think this is significant?

2.     In what ways have you acted hypocritically to friends, co-workers, parents, etc.? Why did you act this way? Like Peter, was it pressures from others, your own insecurities, or…? 

3.   How can you positively use the meal in your own life to “connect” with others?