"Gateway"
Saint Paul, the consummate missionary to the masses was also a missionary to the Church. The word "missions" usually suggests an organized effort for declaring the redemptive gospel of Jesus Christ in new frontiers. However, in the foregoing scripture, the apostle Paul appears to identify another mission field seldom perceived as such --- the Church!"My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you" (Galatians. 4:19)
In stating that they needed Christ "formed in them", Paul, in his
Galatian letter, is not suggesting that the people be saved again or born
again - again. It was not a case of Jesus being absent from their
personal lives, but rather there was the absence of the form of Christ
in the corporate setting of the local congregation. Paul did not say they
needed Jesus formed in them, but Christ ---there is a difference.
The name Jesus means "saviour", while Christ means "anointed". The form
of Christ is a biblical pattern. The Galatians had forsaken their Godly
heritage and began taking up the "elements [ways] of the world". In this
particular chapter he reproached them specifically for having adopted the
celebration days and festivals of the gentiles and forsaking the biblical
ones, hence losing the "form of Christ".
There is a lesson in this Galatian
letter for the Church today
Our historic drift from the Judeo-Christian motifs of scripture into
a Greco-Roman value system is evidenced by the absence of Judaic contours
in the Body of Christ today. However, a Judeo-Christian awakening is occurring.
A growing awareness that the foundations of biblical faith are more accurately
reflected in our Hebraic heritage is creating a renaissance in Christian
thinking and understanding. Academics, pastors, Church leaders, biblical
expositors, teachers and concerned Christians universally are beginning
to re-evaluate the validity of many of our time-honoured traditions and
doctrinal concepts of traditional Christianity. These individuals could
be identified as restoration missionaries. They are awakening the
Church to important biblical profiles of the form of Christ.
The effect of this awakening has shown a dramatic increase of interest in such things as the use of banners in worship, dancing, the Christ-centered celebration of biblical feast days, observing the "Hours of prayer", drawing lessons from Biblical Jewish customs and values that are impacting personal and family life. Some express apprehension born out of a fear of Judaism and/or legalism. May God hasten the day when something is judged, not by whether it is Jewish or traditionally Christian, but by whether or not it is Biblical and Christ-centered. True, many of these things arenot essential to personal salvation, but they are essential to growth as we conform to the image of Christ, anticipating and preparing for Messiah's return.
"Christ in you, the hope of glory"
"Gateway"