Not just a happy story

Not just a happy story

As Christians we often face the accusation that our faith is just a happy story that we tell ourselves… a fairytale we tell children… or a happy ending to calm our fear of the afterlife.   Basically they say the gospel is a people-pleasing message that placates the Christian masses.  Paul was also accused of being a people-pleaser with the gospel he preached in Galatia… accused of preaching salvation by grace alone as a way of getting the Gentiles to like him.  How Paul responds to this accusation gives us hope that the gospel we cling to today is not a message contrived to please people but the only message that can save people.

Galatians 1:10-24

For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.

For I would have you know, brothers, that the gospel that was preached by me is not man’s gospel.For I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ. For you have heard of my former life in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God violently and tried to destroy it. And I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people, so extremely zealous was I for the traditions of my fathers. But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son to me, in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with anyone; nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia, and returned again to Damascus.

Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas and remained with him fifteen days. But I saw none of the other apostles except James the Lord’s brother. (In what I am writing to you, before God, I do not lie!) Then I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia. And I was still unknown in person to the churches of Judea that are in Christ. They only were hearing it said, “He who used to persecute us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.” And they glorified God because of me.