Set Free to Be Free Part 2 - Is My Story God’s Story? Galatians 1:10-24

Rev. Jim Zazzera ~ June 18, 2017 ~ Faith Presbyterian Church

10 Am I now trying to win the approval of human first job as a dishwasher at the same country club where beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please he worked at as a waiter. I remember dad awkwardly people? If I were still trying to please people, I talking to me as a teenager, trying to assess how much I would not be a servant of Christ. knew about sex. (I’m sure that mom put him up to it.) I remember him leaving donuts for me and my brothers 11 I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that the to eat for breakfast after he worked his graveyard shift gospel I preached is not of human origin. 12 I did not at a grocery warehouse. I remember my father's rapid receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, mental decline after being diagnosed with a rare brain I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ. disease. Mostly, I remember his ease with people, his kindness, his hard work, his smile. 13 For you have heard of my previous way of life in Judaism, how intensely I persecuted the church of My father is fundamental to who I am. In no small way, God and tried to destroy it. 14 I was advancing in his story is my story. It would be hard to write my Judaism beyond many of my own age among my autobiography without many pages dedicated to my people and was extremely zealous for the traditions dad. Perhaps that is true for you too. Maybe for you the of my fathers. 15 But when God, who set me apart memories are sad, or joyful, or puzzling, or thrilling. from my mother’s womb and called me by his grace, Maybe your memory is one of an absent father or of was pleased 16 to reveal his Son in me so that I someone who served as a father figure or of having no might preach him among the Gentiles, my father at all. But like it or not, the experiences and immediate response was not to consult any human emotions about that person are woven into your life. being. 17 I did not go up to Jerusalem to see those Your story would be different without this history, who were apostles before I was, but I went into without the role of this person. Arabia. Later I returned to Damascus. Paul the Apostle, the writer of Galatians, had a story as 18 Then after three years, I went up to Jerusalem to well. He tells us a bit about his story in the passage we get acquainted with Cephas and stayed with him read today. We can hear a bit more in other places in fifteen days. 19 I saw none of the other apostles— his writings. No doubt Paul had parents, a hometown, only James, the Lord’s brother. 20 I assure you and friends, but he doesn’t tell us anything about those before God that what I am writing you is no lie. things. If he chose to write a memoir, no one has ever seen it. 21 Then I went to Syria and Cilicia. 22 I was personally unknown to the churches of Judea that Yet clearly we are dealing with autobiography in are in Christ. 23 They only heard the report: “The today’s passage. To understand what God is saying to man who formerly persecuted us is now preaching us here this morning we do well to understand what the faith he once tried to destroy.” 24 And they Paul is saying about himself in this early part of this praised God because of me. (Galatians 1:10-24, NRSV) letter to the Galatians. This biography is a key to understanding Paul and understanding what God was X X X X X X X doing in the early church.

This is my Dad, Nick Zazzera. [photo of my father] Paul himself tells us in verse 14,

I have many memories of my father. I remember him I advanced in Judaism beyond many among my letting my brother Joe and I watch TV and eat pretzels people of the same age, for I was far more zealous in the back room of the cocktail lounge he owned. I for the traditions of my ancestors.1 remember the one and only year that dad coached my Little League team and gave me a shot at moving from the outfield to shortstop. I remember that he got me my 1 1 Galatians 1:14, NRSV. 2 Galatians 1:13, NRSV. 2 Paul was as Jewish as you could be— faithful, law abiding, acutely aware of the history and traditions of The answer of course, is no. He goes on to emphasize his faith. But then he tells us something quite this even more… troubling… I did not confer with any human being, nor did I go You have heard, no doubt, of my earlier life in up to Jerusalem to those who were already apostles Judaism. I was violently persecuting the church of before me, but I went away at once into Arabia, and God and was trying to destroy it. I was one of the afterwards I returned to Damascus.6 most zealous and faithful proponents of Judaism.2 I listened to no one, I didn’t try to please people, not “Violently persecuting?” Paul loved his faith so much even the church leaders in Jerusalem, but just clung and so detested anyone who challenged it that he did more tightly to what was revealed to me. In fact the violence to them. Today we would call him a religious whole next section of the letter Chapter 2, verses 1-14 terrorist. That was his life. That was his story. describes Paul’s independence from Peter and James, the two “pillars” of the church, two apostles who knew But something dramatic happened in Paul’s life. We Jesus in the flesh. Paul comments: know from the book of Acts that God intervened in his life in a new way. Traveling on the road to Damascus …from those who were supposed to be where Paul planned to kill those who followed the way acknowledged leaders (what they actually were of Jesus he saw a bright light, fell to the ground, and makes no difference to me; God shows no heard a voice, partiality)—those leaders contributed nothing to me.7 “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” (Saul was his name at the time) Clearly he says, I am only depending on what Jesus “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked. alone has revealed to me. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be To be fair, Paul does acknowledge “checking out” or told what you must do.3 confirming that this new wisdom coheres with the teaching of the apostles when he says in verse 2: Here in Galatians Paul gives the same story in shorthand, …I laid before them (though only in a private meeting with the acknowledged leaders) the gospel For I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that that I proclaim among the Gentiles, in order to the gospel that was proclaimed by me is not of make sure that I was not running, or had not run, in human origin; for I did not receive it from a human vain.8 source, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ.4 While his revelation was directly from Jesus, Paul did consult with the church leaders to see that what he He was offered something unique by God. He claimed preached did not divert from the core teachings of the to have a revelation. Paul’s claim, especially as a Christian faith. Yet still he was firm in asserting his Pharisee committed to the Torah, was as bold as independence from anyone but God. This was his life. anything could be. This new reality came to Paul This was his story. through a revelation from Jesus. That was now Paul’s life. That was now his story. But the whole reason Paul wanted to describe his experience carefully, the whole reason for this letter is As if to underline all this, Paul goes even further. In also pointed out in today’s reading. You see, Paul knew verse 10 he asks the rhetorical question the Gospel was good news—good news for everybody. And in that day and time “everybody” meant the Am I now trying to win the approval of human Gentiles. “Everybody” meant including those who had beings? 5 not been included before. So he makes a clear statement of his mission, or his call, of his revelation in verse 15 & 16:

2 Galatians 1:13, NRSV. 3 Acts 9:4-6, NRSV. 6 Galatians 1:16-17, NRSV. 4 Galatians 1:11-12, NRSV. 7 Galatians 2: 6, NRSV. 5 Galatians 1:10, NRSV. 8 Galatians 2: 2, NRSV. 3 …God, who had set me apart before I was born and called me through his grace, was pleased to reveal Knowing that, it is important to get this right—to his Son to me, so that I might proclaim him among really have a sense of what Paul is experiencing and the Gentiles.9 teaching here. Think about it again. Paul’s early life played a central role in who he became. Paul had a Now we will spend the rest of the summer talking about revelation from Jesus, a new perspective that didn’t this particular call that Paul received and its impact on come to him by gradual study or training. Paul had a his world. But let me also make it clear today. revelation from Jesus, and didn’t come to his preaching of the gospel because some leaders told him to do it. The Gospel that was revealed to Paul taught him that Paul had a radically inclusive message that fully God was coming to receive all people. That God loved embodied the Gospel of Jesus, but still would get him in those that many considered unclean. That God cared trouble with many people, including those in the about those who didn’t practice the ancient religious church. Paul’s dramatic life change would be a part of traditions. That God in Christ was in the process of his story that would help people trust the authenticity saving the people outside the circle of the chosen. This of his message. Gospel Paul offered was a radical departure from the practice and beliefs of his day. I wonder, can we see Paul wasn’t simply preaching a message, like an anything like this happening in our day? academic teaching some obscure subject matter—he was living a life. Paul’s story was God’s story. And There was little precedent for this message in Paul’s maybe that is true for us as well. Maybe our lives are history. And it would get him in trouble with people God’s story. both inside and outside his community. Yet this is his life. Yet this is his story. So often we Christians get so caught up in right belief, that we forget that God has entered our lives. The Finally, because of the conflict that this broad welcome, Gospel is not simply a new set of teachings, but a new reality. this inclusive message would have, Paul felt the need to That reality is that God has claimed you and calls you. point out the impact his work was having on the world. Jesus didn’t come to Paul to give him lots of goodies, To demonstrate the authority of Jesus in his message, but to ask him to take on a very hard task. Paul wanted to show the effects it was having on other people. So in verses 22 - 24 Paul comments: Living that life asked a number of things from Paul. Maybe the something similar is being asked of us. Most Then I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia, of us could never come close (nor should we) to the and I was still unknown by sight to the churches of story Paul had. Most of our autobiographies are far Judea that are in Christ; they only heard it said, different from that of this apostle. As the early Puritans “The one who formerly was persecuting us is now would say, proclaiming the faith he once tried to destroy.” And they glorified God because of me.10 God does not break all hearts in the same way…12

The effect of Jesus presence, the effect of this new But our hearts still have been broken. God has entered Gospel reality began to show up in Paul’s life. Those each of our lives. I am sure if it, even if you have never who could have been doubtful were now convinced of seen it. the work God was doing in him. Those who were formerly terrorized by him were now experiencing So how does God show up in our lives? Maybe it starts transformations through him. Those who might have with the questions we ask, questions like this…Does been suspicious of those on the outside of the Jewish God have anything to do with the lung cancer I am now faith were seeing how Christ reached out to all people. facing? Will the Holy One really be present as I travel off to This is Paul’s life. This is Paul’s story. the college of my dreams? Will I find any help from the Lord this month when I have to choose between paying the rent and One author says of Paul’s life, conversion, and call: another bag of groceries? Does being deported from the country in which I grew up most of my life mean that God After the resurrection of Jesus, no single event affected the has deserted me? Where is God when young gay folks are course of the church’s history so much as did the call of massacred in a nightclub or legislators are shot at during a Paul.11 baseball game?

9 Galatians 1:15-16, NRSV. 10 Galatians 1:22-24, NRSV. 12 Paul for Everyone, Galatians & Thessalonians, Tom Wright, 11 Interpretation: Galatians, Charles Cousar, p. 28. p. 9. 4 way of life. Maybe you’ve decided to be honest about some Like a mother, a longtime friend, or a teacher, God has fundamental aspect of your being that you have never told been there in your life. You simply need to learn how to anyone. Maybe you are ready to forgive a hurt that you see. It’s like following a sports game, or bird watching, haven’t been willing to let go of after all these years. Maybe or taking good photos. It takes practice and attention. you want to look for and talk about God as part of your But the good news is that God is there. We just may autobiography in a way you never had the courage to do have missed the voice, the image, the activity. Because it before. is not what we might expect. I like what writer Sara Miles says about this when she talks about the We have been calling this sermon series on the Book of confusion she experienced in her own conversion: Galatians “Set Free to Be Free.” This passage today is a description of how that freedom worked in Paul’s life. Conversion was turning out to be quite far from the greeting- Paul is set free from his past, by the interruption of card moment promised by televangelists, when Jesus steps into Jesus into his life. He is set free for a different future, by your life, personally saves you, and becomes your lucky charm what God asks of him. And all of this freedom is not of forever. Instead, it was socially and politically awkward, as his doing, but comes from Jesus’ voice, God’s love, the well as profoundly confusing. I wasn't struck with any sudden Spirit’s power. Set free to be free…May we too hear conviction that I now understood the "truth." If anything, I Jesus’ voice and know that same freedom. Amen. was just crabbier, lonelier, and more destabilized.13

We don’t always see God because we don’t know where and how to look.

The one other thing that strikes me about Paul’s experience is what he risked in preaching his Gospel. I am surprised he didn’t get killed early in his ministry. Perhaps by Christians who felt threatened by this religious terrorist and didn’t believe his conversion story. Or maybe by religious leaders who saw him betraying his faith in a big way. Or Romans who wondered whether he was challenging the stability of the empire.

How easy it would have been for Paul to soften up the Gospel. He could have taught in a way that didn’t stir the waters so much. That didn’t challenge leaders. That didn’t make people question his authority. That didn’t ask people to believe his crazy revelation.

But God’s grace wouldn’t let him go. Wouldn’t let him compromise. Wouldn’t let him off the hook. As one writer puts it,

Sometimes the fact that there is nothing about you that makes you the right person to do something is exactly what God is looking for.14

Haven’t you ever been that person? Haven’t you ever had that sense? That God is calling you to something different? That the Lord wants your life to challenge life as it exists today? Maybe you want to open up the doors of your family, community, church, nation to those who are said to be unwelcome. Maybe you are ready to release all the possessions and practices that have boxed you into a certain

13 Take This Bread, Sara Miles, p 70. 14 Accidental Saints, Nadia Bolz-Weber, p. 39. 5 The Next Step A resource for Life Groups and/or personal application

1. Is there an experience with your father or a father figure in your life that has really impacted who you are today? If you are willing, share that with the group.

2. Read Galatians 1:10-24 again. On first reading, what does this tell you about Paul’s life? Is there anything else that draws your attention?

3. What is your personal “story of faith?” In a sentence or two - tell others how you first “met” God in your life.

4. As you read this passage that tells a bit of Paul’s life, what is one thing you really admire about him? What is something you wonder about (or dislike) ?

5. From what you read here, (or read further in Galatians 2:1-14) what was Paul’s relationship with other church leaders? Did he see them as a source of his authority? What was his source of authority?

6. Do you think God is part of your life story? In what way? Is there a particular occasion when you “saw,” “heard,” or “experienced” God in your life?

7. Jim quoted pastor Nadia Bolz-Weber when she said, “Sometimes the fact that there is nothing about you that makes you the right person to do something is exactly what God is looking for.” Does that ring true for you? Why or why not?

8. Have you ever felt called to do or say something that you knew was right but suspected would make many people unhappy? What was that like? Have you ever experienced that in the church?

Table to Table Question A question for kids and adults to answer together

Do you think we can see or hear God? Ask your family to tell you how they see or hear God.