Perspective - Religious Externalism

The Apostle Paul was both hurt and upset when he wrote the letter to the Galatians. Titus had given him a very disturbing report about the situation there. Paul's letter refers to both personal attacks on his character and credentials and a perversion of the gospel message. Not one to "pull his punches," Paul asks them: "Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now made perfect by the flesh?" Much of the letter concerns the debates of faith vs. works and grace vs. law. You don't earn your salvation. It is clearly and only a gift of God. If, however, you have real, honest-to-goodness faith, it will be demonstrated through works.

The author, Chuck Missler, labels the book of Galatians "a call out of religious externalism." We often have a tendency to evaluate a person's spiritual commitment level by the number of religious activities in which we are engaged. This is not a good measure at all. Paul associates this with the law and/or works. And while religious activities can be very beneficial to one's spiritual growth and development, they can also be a very poor barometer of spirituality.

I have now been retired for four years. I lead a rather busy life. I obviously have much more time available for me to choose how to use than I did when I was working and raising a family. I am able to spend more time in church activities, in Biblical pursuits and study than previously, and I do. Hopefully, this is beneficial to our church and to me spiritually. But such religious externalism does not necessarily transfer itself into internal spiritualism.

Paul makes it clear that the measure of spiritual growth is the fruit of the spirit. He lists nine such fruit. The first three, love, joy and peace, are of the heart. The next three, longsuffering, gentleness and goodness, relate to my neighbors and my brethren. The last three, faith, meekness and self-control, relate to God. The value (or lack thereof) of my religious activities can only be measured through the lens of the fruit of the spirit here listed.

We are called out of simple religious externalism. We are called into internal spiritualism. What is the condition of my heart? Is it being controlled and monopolized and transformed by God's spirit? Am I in love with my Lord Jesus Christ? If so, my life will naturally (maybe spiritually is a better choice here) show it. My life cannot be perfected by works of the flesh, even religious ones, but only through the transforming power of God freely given to me by grace. May I be still enough to let God do His work in and hopefully through me.

L. Urbaniak