HOW CAN WE HELP CHRISTIANS STRUGGLING WITH GALATIANISM?

Anthony Zarrella
Conservative Catholic, Attorney/Councilor, Constitutionalist
HOW CAN WE HELP CHRISTIANS STRUGGLING WITH GALATIANISM?

As near as I can tell, 'Galatianism' is a term used almost exclusively by Protestant theologians, but it appears to be a belief (interpreted as the error that Paul was criticizing the Galatians for) that even though faith in Christ produces salvation, obedience to the TORAH is necessary to retain that salvation.

In retrospect, it makes sense that this would be a heresy of peculiarly Protestant concern, because the Catholic Church had already worked out its doctrines on 'faith and works' long before.*

How do we help Christians struggling with this heresy? For the most part, there's little need because the distinction in question is one that is very important to theologians, but of very little practical import in day-to-day Christian life.

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Shlomoh says:
I have never heard this interesting term before. But my question is this: Why would any Christian STRUGGLE with Galatianism? Years ago, I had a Catholic friend who found that observing the Jewish SHABBAT was emotionally fullfilling. So she stopped using electricity on Saturdays, etc. BUT I told her, observing Jewish MITSVOT will not get her any brownie points up above since she is not obligated to perform them. Actually, Orthodox Jews think that nonjews should not observe SHABBAT but I am too American to feel that way. Hey, It's America. If you like some religious activity, do it, as long as it doesn't involve chopping my head off because I'm an infidel.

Well, it turns out that some Christians living in Galatia [now modern day Turkey] wanted to be Jewish or act Jewish. Who knows? But the prophet of Christianity tells them:

Galatians 5
5 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. 2 Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing. 3 For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. 4 Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.

I have a problem with this. Paul does not want his Christians to become Jewish because he sees Jews, especially Nazarenes, as militantly opposed to the Roman Empire, and Paul is more Roman than Jewish. And wasn't YESHUA the Nazarene executed by the Romans for insurrection against the Empire?

But aside from all this, Paul, who created Christianity, seems not to know about Eternal Security. Eternal Security is a Protestant belief that once you are saved by accepting Christ, you can never lose that salvation, regardless of your subsequent behavior. And that is because you did not gain salvation due to your behavior - therefore your behavior cannot undo your choosing to be saved. So how is any Chrsitian fallen from grace by doing a MITSVAH or two?

But Paul already has expressed his desire to see Jews who have accepted Christ divorced from their Jewishness.

Galatians 3
28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, ... for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

Then there is the issue about circumcision. The Greco-Roman world which Paul was immersed in chided Jews about circumcion which was a visible reminder that Jews were different from all other people. And what's curious to me is that while Christians revere Abraham as their religous father, early on, God commands Abraham to circumcise himself so as to manifest his difference from all other people. Nevertheless, Paul chides his Judaising converts, warning them that 'if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing.'

Oh, is that all?   NO!

Philippians 3
2 Beware of the dogs! Beware of the evil workers! Beware of the cutters!

This guy just doesn't like circumcision. He hates it and he calls people who circumcise - DOGS! OMG!

Well, that being said, I say to all misisonaries who want to bring me Christ's salvation, that I am fully circumcised so Christ is useless to me. End of story. As to Christians who are "struggling" with Galatianism, I say stop struggling, brothers. If you feel like being circumcised, just go ahead and find a dog and make the cut.