Galatians 2:11
But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned.
Peter knew better…and Paul called him out on it…publicly. It must have caused quite a scene. Peter had been shown by God (Acts 10:9-15) that Gentiles did not need to become Jews and observe Jewish law in order to become followers of Christ. And after that vision of the great sheet and the various animals (“kill and eat”), Peter was called to the house of Cornelius, a Gentile soldier, where he shared the gospel and all of Cornelius’ house received Christ and the filling of the Holy Spirit. There was truly no partiality anymore—no division of Jew and Gentile in the new family of faith.
But Peter caved to peer pressure and sinned…and even led Barnabas astray, too.
Paul was not the leader of the early church, and his authority was in question by some in Galatia, yet he knew what was right in the sight of the Lord and was willing to step up and confront Peter, a senior Apostle. Most of us don’t like conflict, and some actively seek to avoid it, but when the Truth of God’s Word needs to be clearly proclaimed—especially in light of error—conflict sometimes is necessary. Yes, we are called to seek peace and pursue it (Ps 34:14), as well as attempting to live at peace with everyone (Rom 12:18), but still there are times when peace must take a back seat to truth.
“Called on the carpet.”
Jesus “meek and mild” was also the same Jesus who called the Pharisees and Sadducees on the carpet about their religious hypocrisy. He feared no man nor any government authority. He could lovingly place a child on his lap and authoritatively dismiss the Devil himself in the wilderness. Jesus was a man of peace…but he was also a man of conflict. In the end, He will return as a man of war and a conquering King. We must not let our culture’s view of us or assumptions about us determine our behavior. A Christian is no less Christlike when he stands boldly to proclaim “Thus saith the Lord” in the face of a dark and dying culture. Like Peter, sometimes we allow ourselves to be controlled by the prevailing winds of the moment rather than the Rock of our Salvation. This should never be the case.
“We are foolish to expect to serve God without opposition: the more zealous we are, the surer are we to be assailed… Glory be to God, we know the end of the war. The great dragon shall be cast out and forever destroyed, while Jesus and they who are with him shall receive the crown. Let us sharpen our swords tonight and pray the Holy Spirit to nerve our arms for the conflict. Never battle so important, never crown so glorious. Every man to his post, ye warriors of the cross, and may the Lord tread Satan under your feet shortly!”
Charles Spurgeon
