What Would Paul Do?

Galatians 1:11-12, "But I make known to you brethren that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. For I neither received it from man, nor was taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ."

If the apostle Paul were to visit the church you attend, how would he view it? Would he observe the things he wrote of in Galatians 5:22-23, deemed by the Holy Spirit as the "fruit of the Spirit;" love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control? Would he see the brethren focused on the kingdom of God above all, denying themselves for the sake of Christ? Would he see a zeal for witnessing and missions? Would he see Christlike people? Or.......

Would he see what the Holy Spirit calls the lusts and works of the flesh, which are "evident" to the one walking in the Spirit: immorality, idolatry(anything in our life that comes before God is an idol), wickedness, hatred, contentions, wrath, selfishness, dissensions, heresies(actions and words contradicting God's word, false teaching), envy, murders(anyone who has anger in his heart has already committed murder in his heart according to Jesus), and many other things listed in Galatians 5:19-21? What would Paul see? What would Paul do?

Paul is the person Christ revealed and established the church through. The verse from Galatians 1 above has Paul saying this information came directly from Christ. It was Christ who instituted what we call church discipline(Matt 18:16-20, 1 Cor 5:1-13, Gal 6:1-2). It was Christ who would not tolerate hypocrisy in His midst. It was Christ who told us how to correctly judge(Matt 7:1-5). It was Christ who said you would know His, "by their fruit."

Well, if we read the letters of Paul, it's clear what he would do. If he encountered a church body that truly worshipped and walked in the Spirit, he would praise them and encourage them to continue to fight the good fight, in spite of the hatred and persecution anyone who desires to live that Spiritual life will encounter. Worldly, carnal people will despise the word and things of God, as they condemn them and their lives.

If Paul encountered a church body that exhibited the lusts and works of the flesh, it's equally clear what he would do. Paul would do everything he could to rebuke this spirit of the world and encourage repentance to return to a right relationship with God. He would do so toughly, but in love, exercising self control but also condemning hypocrisy, just as Jesus did.

If Paul were to walk into the church you attend, what would he do? Chances are if the church you attend is a carnal church, and let's be honest people, many if not most of our churches are carnal churches, they would not tolerate Paul. In fact, if Paul were pastor he'd be run off as a troublemaker. It happened to Paul many times in his day. The apostle Paul was: chased out of Thessolanica, called a fool in Corinth, laughed at in Athens, lowered over a wall in Berea, jailed in Philippi and Jerusalem, caused a riot in Ephesus, stoned in Galatia and eventually beheaded in Rome. By the worlds standards he was a troublemaker, because anyone who stands for God and upon His word amongst worldly and carnal people will cause troubles. He was hated, persecuted, he suffered. If he were called to the church you attend he'd last about 3 days. Why?

Well, because of what Paul would do. Paul would not tolerate carnal people and unrepentant sin in the body of Christ. Paul would not suffer easily people satisfied with salvation with no visible fruit in their faith. Paul would not compromise the word of God. Paul would not go along to get along. Paul would expect and exhort you to holiness. And remember the words of Paul, "imitate me, for I imitate Christ."

Jesus was a troublemaker too. You don't get crucified while innocent of all charges if you were not. Our Lord Jesus, and men like Paul, Peter, John, Timothy, and many other saints we read of in the bible caused trouble wherever they went, why? Well as Jesus said, "If the world hated Me, it will hate you also...the servant is not greater than the Master." As Paul writes to Timothy, "Anyone who desires to live a Godly life will suffer persecution." Their is a cost for being a disciple and follower of Christ.

So, if you were to honestly evaluate the church you attend, which would it be? Living in the Spirit or lusting and working in the flesh? If it is the former, praise God!!! You are few and far between, but chances are, you had to fight a battle to get to that point. If you attend a carnal church, what will you do? Will you go along to get along? Will you simply say, well...that's just the way so and so is, what can I do? Will you stand on the word of God, or compromise to avoid conflict? What will you do?

Ask yourself this question, what would Paul do? Jude 3 tells us that we as the church are to "earnestly contend for the faith." And while it is not a natural instinct for a sheep, a lamb of God, to fight; sometimes it is necessary. Far more is at stake than your personal comfort, Christ's body, His bride is! What will you do? Friends, the Christian life is a life of conflict. Conflict with the world and worldly people, many of whom may be in the church you attend. What will you do? If you claim to be a follower of Christ, there's only one real answer from scripture. If you want a true, spiritual church, you'll do what Paul would do.