Is our experience with God by means of ritual or relationship? Paul condemns efforts to live godly lives by maintenance of rules. While ritual points us to a standard for righteousness, it doesn’t provide us with the means of meeting the standard. Only Christ does that.
Paul condemns any teaching that suggests that a particular act will produce a “quantum leap” in our spiritual status. Today, it is popular to teach the doctrine of baptismal regeneration—that salvation cannot be obtained other than by means of baptism. Certainly, there are other “rites” or “rituals” that we know have been elevated—explicitly or implicitly—to such a lofty and hollow status. But the only thing that elevates us is our continued submission to the Lordship of Christ.
Paul did not wait until the Galatians had submitted to ritual (in this case, circumcision). Paul warned them before it happened. It’s better to refrain from error than having to engage in the hard work of trying to correct it.
In Proverbs 22:3, we are told that the wise consider the consequences of their deeds and act according to wisdom. Paul points out the consequences of following ritual—it leads to a forfeiting of God’s grace. There is grave danger in following false doctrine. Knowing this, we should be wise.
Specific to the text, Paul urges the Galatian Christians to reject circumcision. But as general principle, Paul urges us to reject ritual for ritual’s sake. Christianity is not maintenance of rules or engaging in a series of behavioral prohibitions. Christianity is a relationship with God through our acceptance of God’s Messiah, Jesus. It is a relationship that is ever growing, ever evolving, and is rooted not in fear but in love. Our rituals add flavor to our faith-walk, but must never be mistaken as the substance of our faith-walk.
There is but one question that we must ask and answer: “Do we love God and God’s world as God loves us—generously, extravagantly, pervasively?” That’s not ritual; that’s relationship!
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