Paul's Passions And Outbursts

By Author: Terry Dashner
Total Articles: 105
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Is a Pastor's Passion too Destructive?

(Warning: This document may contain the author's opinions that are sensitive and highly biased. Read with caution).

Disclaimer: Opinions expressed by the author are, in fact, the heart-felt convictions of the author and are not necessarily the convictions of every pastor.

Now enjoy

One of Paul's major concerns for the incipient churches founded by him was the threat from within the churches. In other words, Paul was very alarmed by the Judaizers, the Gnostics, the philosophers, the disingenuous of faith, and wolves in sheep's clothing who would rise up from within or come from without to deceive, malign, and lead astray the novice believers. Paul was burdened by this continually, and it is expressed often in his epistles to the young churches. To combat the threat, Paul stressed the importance of pastors, like Timothy and Titus, being on their guard against such, teaching only sound doctrine that had been handed down to them by Paul. Paul instructed them to pass along the orthodox doctrines to faithful men who would also carry forth in this ...
... responsible way.

Why was this major to Paul? For one, Paul knew that the young church would become null and void if false doctrines, and insincere leaders made a significant foothold in the churches. This was a real threat in Paul's mind. He had given his life to the spreading of the Gospel and had experienced beatings, perils of thieves, storm laden seas, hunger, and even imprisonment. He recognized the threat because he wrestled (almost literally) with these knuckleheads often, wherever he went. They were always close on his heals to tear down his work for Christ. Therefore he preached it loud, and he stated it in length, through letters and by other means by envoys. Paul was a man of God and a great intellect for certain. You might say that he knew a thing or two about ministry. And what he knew well was the danger of not speaking out about threats to the churches.

I want to share some of these strong and well stated words of opposition that Paul wrote to various churches. The reason I do this is because I have, I believe, a pastor's heart for the local church, as well as the entire body. Because I have a pastor's heart for my parishioners, I turn red in the face sometimes (okay, most of the time), loud, controversial, set-jaw, stern faced, and to some degree even rude because of what I see going on in the local church today. By reviewing Paul's style of ministry (which makes mine tame in comparison), I hope to educate you on why a pastor's passions sometimes seem too extreme.

One place experiencing the ravages of Judaizers (Christian Jews who said gentiles could not be right with God unless they accepted the rite of circumcision) was the church in the Roman province of Galatia. Paul's letter to the church is called the book of Galatians in Bible. From this fascinating book of the Bible, I'm going to highlight some words of rebuke and warning that Paul wrote to the young church and comment on them briefly.

After Paul makes his opening remarks, he gets down to business by writing:
Gal 1:6
6I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel;
(NAS)
Paul opens with these remarks. It's obviously a mild rebuke to the church, but why does he reprimand the church people? They are the victims being preyed upon by the Judaizers. Yet Paul doesn't mince his words. He states clearly that they are too easily becoming victims and deserting their posts for another message.

Let's move along.
Gal 1:8
8But even though we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to that which we have preached to you, let him be accursed.
(NAS)
Paul makes a radical statement here. Surely this upset the Pluralists of his day. Pluralists are those people who want to include all religions of the world as a way to heaven. They are very careful not to offend anyone, so they confirm everyone. Paul would never agree that all paths lead to God. He states plainly that the one who preaches the wrong gospel is cursed or excommunicated. That's certainly an explosive statement. That's like saying that Jesus is the ONLY way to heaven, and those who reject Him are condemned eternally. (Does the modern church still believe this? I certainly hope so.)

Gal 2:11-12
11But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned.
12For prior to the coming of certain men from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he {began} to withdraw and hold himself aloof, fearing the party of the circumcision.
(NAS)
Mercy me! Paul has gone off the deep end. He's confronting his own peer about wrong doing. Doesn't he know who he's talking to? Peter was the man. To him were given the keys to the Kingdom by the Lord Himself. Peter had it going on. But Paul confronts him. Surely we should avoid, at all cost, contention in the local church. But, evidently Paul felt that truth and impartiality were more important to uphold in the church than the risk of confrontation. Sometimes the only way to communicate with another party is to stand firm, stand your ground, and speak out of conviction. They may receive it as contentious, but you don't have to stay contentious with them.

Gal 3:1
1You foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed {as} crucified?
(NAS)
Paul has gone to name calling, now. He calls his Christian brothers and sisters foolish. Would you continue reading a letter after the author called you a fool? I'd probably get real defensive, tear-it-up and throw-it-away. I don't want anyone calling me names. Yet Paul says that the Galatians are unintelligent. He tells them that they are foolish and easily deceived. Man, Paul has some nerve.
Gal 3:3
3Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?
(NAS)

Gal 4:9
9But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how is it that you turn back again to the weak and worthless elemental things, to which you desire to be enslaved all over again?
(NAS)
Gal 5:12
12Would that those who are troubling you would even mutilate themselves.
(NAS)
Paul reserves his real passion for the Judaizers. He makes a play on words here. The Judaizers are so passionate about circumcision, maybe they should mutilate themselves. These are pretty tough words from a man of God, but men and women of God are passionate about the body of Christ and sometimes use extreme language to get their point across. Thank God they do this. At least we know where they stand on the issues. Pastor Terry Dashner.
Keep the faith. Stay the course. Jesus, the one who drove out the money changers is coming again as Judge.


About the Author Pastors a small church in Broken Arrow, OK (918-451-0270).