Galatians - Introduction

[Jim Watt]

“*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE” MINISTRIES*

*Jim & Marie Watt*

*Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com*

*Web: www.2rbetter.org*

April 28, 2012


 *2012-04-28 - GALATIANS - Introduction*

*(From THE MESSAGE - The Bible in contemporary Language - Eugene H. Peterson
*

*NavPress - Bringing Truth to Life - www.navpress.com)*


 *When men and women get their hands on religion, one of the first things
they often do is turn it into an instrument for controlling others, either
putting or keeping them “in their place.” The history of such religious
manipulation and coercion is long and tedious. It is little wonder that
people who have only known religion on such terms experience release or
escape from it as freedom. The problem is that the freedom turns out to be
short-lived.*


 *Paul of Tarsus was doing his diligent best to add yet another chapter to
this dreary history when he was converted by Jesus to something radically
and entirely different - a free life in God. Through Jesus, Paul learned
that God was not an impersonal force to be used to make people behave in
certain prescribed ways, but a personal Savior who set us free to live a
free life. God did not coerce us from without, but set us free from within.*


 *It was a glorious experience, and Paul set off telling others,
introducing and inviting everyone he met into this free life. In his early
travels he founded a series of churches in the Roman province of Galatia. A
few years later Paul learned that religious leaders of the old school had
come into those churches, called his views and authority into question, and
were reintroducing the old ways, herding all these freedom-loving
Christians back into the corral of religious rules and regulations.*


 *Paul was, of course, furious. He was furious with the old guard for
coming in with their strong-arm religious tactics and intimidating the
Christians into giving up their free life in Jesus. But he was also furious
with the Christians for caving in to the intimidation.*


 *His letter to the Galatians churches helps them, and us, recover the
original freedom. It also gives direction in the nature of God's gift of
freedom - most necessary guidance, for freedom is a delicate and subtle
gift, easily perverted and often squandered.*


 *NOTE**: *Eugene Peterson was a seminary professor in an East-coast
Presbyterian institution. His denominational leaders noted that Professor
Peterson was gifted with a life-giving word. They were also aware that
their churches were slipping into a lethargy and deadness. They challenged
him to consider temporarily leaving his teaching profession, and taking one
of their churches as minister - with the hope that new life could be
breathed into it. Mr. Peterson took the challenge, and was appalled at the
deadness and lethargy that he encountered. What could he do? He fell upon
the idea of taking the book of Galatians, and rendering it into
contemporary language. It produced such life-giving results, that he did
this for the entire New Testament, and taught it in this format to the
congregation.


 The Navigators were enthused over the life-giving results that they too
experienced in its use, and challenged Professor Peterson to do the same
for the entire Old Testament. He temporarily withstood their challenge, but
finally agreed, and produced the entire Bible in “The Message” format. The
Preface to Galatians above shows how powerfully and effective is this
translation.


 It was introduced to me by a friend in the early 2000's, and I too have
been blessed and motivated by it. Back in the mid 1960's Ken Peterson
attended our church in Seattle, the Broadway Tabernacle. Through his mother
he invited me to the Montana area near Flathead Lake to hold meetings. We
later found out that Ken and Eugene are brothers.


 I am sure that all of you who dip into “The Message” - will find it a
life-imparting experience both for yourself and those you minister to. -
Jim Watt



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