I’m an Apostle Not One-of-the-Boys

[Read: Galatians 1:1-2:10]

Paul goes to some pretty extreme lengths in this letter to form and support the fact that he is a genuine apostle. His whole argument culminates in 2:8 where he says, “For God, who was at work in the ministry of Peter as an Apostle to the Jews, was also at work in my ministry as an apostle to the gentiles.” Chapter 2 verse 8 is the climax, but check out these verses leading up to it: 1:1; 1:12; 1:15; 1:17.

Paul is building a case for his authority and his leadership; and he’s doing it boldly and unashamedly!

I used to play basketball in a church league and I had a local Pastor on my team. After one of the games (as a side note: we were completely slaughtered) we were outside debriefing and this Pastor said, “Hey guys, thanks for letting me be one-of-the-boys”. Here’s the thing, he was not “one-of-the-boys”. He was a pastor! God had chosen him, set him apart, and set him up with a platform of leadership and a voice so that he could proclaim His truth and lead His church!

Now, I know what he meant and the statement itself wasn’t really a problem in the context but let me attack the philosophy for a second. We can’t escape from God’s call on our lives unless we chose to live in disobedience. Let that sink in for a second, or for more proof, check out these verses (Proverbs 3:5; 8:22-24; 16:3, 9 and 33; Jeremiah 1:5 and Galatians 1:15). If God has called you to a task or a position He didn’t do it for you, He did it for the people that He is planning to reach through you. If God has set you apart in your job, family, or community and trusted you with a position of influence then fight for it and leverage it for His purposes.

To be continued…