Today's Passage - Galatians 6:15-18

River of Life Christian Church ︳www.rolcc.net/english Galatians 6:15-18    Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is the new creation. Peace and mercy to all who follow this rule-to the Israel of God. From now on, let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers and sisters. Amen.    In the church, there are often disputes over small things. There are disputes over circumcision or uncircumcision, disputes over what it means to be filled with the Holy Spirit, disputes over whether to be baptized by immersion or by sprinkling, disputes over whether to raise or not raise hands during worship, disputes over whether it's ok to use drums, and disputes over where to put the piano or organ. People forget that in Christ we are to be a new creation. In the church we often compare who is more spiritual, who is not spiritual, yet we do not see that our attitude of pointing and criticizing others is really the most unspiritual thing. We feel we are exercising righteous anger for God, yet we do not see that in the process of venting our anger we hurt others, which is the greater unrighteousness. We only see the short-comings of others, yet very seldom do we see our own short-sightedness.     Paul says very clearly to circumcise or not circumcise is not an absolute truth. We don't need to dispute over these things. Let us learn in the Lord to bear with one other. If a person does not have Christ, he will surely perish, but if he believes and is baptized he will surely be saved. This has nothing to do with circumcision or uncircumcision. It is also the same with worship. There's not one thing that is not an outward form - raising hands, standing, sitting, sitting or not sitting are both outward forms. The most important thing is also what God cares the most about -whether we are worshipping in spirit and in truth? God cares not about the outward forms, but whether we are living as new creations from the inside. Speaking from this angle, what is the harm in dancing during worship? When I was in Africa doing missions work, I saw brothers and sisters dancing very well. Every time they danced joyfully before God at least over 30 minutes. God is pleased with this kind of worship. Yet in the Chinese church, if we see people dancing during worship, we will think how outrageous this is? In reality, to dance or not to dance does not matter. The important thing is to be a new creation!     Do you understand Paul's heart? Paul disputes in the church over many things and he must have been sick of it. He thinks, "Why do I still dispute over these things?" That's why in verse 17, he says, "From now on, let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus." The important thing is:  Do you have the marks of Jesus in your life? May God help us so that our hearts can be free and open to welcome God to do his work in our lives so that we can live out the image of Christ in our everyday life.                                                                                  Pray with Pastor Tong           Dear Lord, please help me to be like you, to value whether I have a new creation life and the vibrant image of Christ. Let me examine myself, live out your beauty, and be in one accord with each another in the church. I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, Amen!