Reflections on Preaching

Galatians 1:6-9 (New American Standard Bible)

Perversion of the Gospel

6 I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel;
7 which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ.

8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed!

9As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed!


Whenever I read a passage like this I am reminded of two things. First the reality of evil, and second how insidious it is. "Oh foolish Galatians" Paul proclaims! How could you see before you Christ portrayed as crucified and settle for this mud? You were given Gold and you showed off dirt instead. It is so easy for us to look back on the accommodated Gospel of this early church and realize how faulty it is, and yet we too are pulled away from the Gospel of Christ. The evil of this world slinks into our good intentions and proclaims good antidotes and warming words. Words of affirmation and soft soothing, all the while the brutality of our own call to the feet of the crucified Lord are lost. How quickly can we water down the Gospel that once struck us deep with sober repentance and exchange it for mere wise words. Yet Paul leaves no ambiguity; there is no Gospel that can be preached but that of Christ. Christ Crucified, Christ Resurrected and Christ who's spirit gives us even now breath with which to preach. Any other will be accursed.