Galatians 1: One Message

I am the shovel and I write to you who struggle with the truth of freedom. I am not backed by any religious establishment, and I offer no program or formula. I am well aware that what I'm about to tell you will sound overly simplistic and out of touch with reality! Despite your better judgment, there's nothing that happens in your life that is not directly affected by Christ's message of freedom.

I have viewed the Christian scene for years, and it disturbs me. It disturbs me because you are so willing to try any means of freedom other than Christ. More than likely you'll write this off as an optional ministry that some Christians may need. You have been so influenced by the religious system and all its methods of freedom that this idea that "the gospel is all you need" probably sounds ridiculous. So, what formula or program have you settled for to help you cope with daily living? It may seem to work, but it's not freedom.

There is only one message that brings freedom! Aren't you aware of the attempts to twist it? It makes no difference who it is - a messenger from God or a respected preacher - anyone who tells you there is freedom in anything other than the finished work of Christ should be viewed as offering death! Picture this: You go to a restaurant and order the "Freedom Plate Special" and when you get it you notice that the meat is rotten and has maggots in it! How would you view the meal? Well, pour on extra A-1 sauce and hold your nose, though I think you should be used to it by now.

There are lots of deceivers who say they believe in grace. Of course, if they actually did believe it would they be so caught up in the reputation game? Oh, I know what it's like to be considered an authority in spiritual things, it used to be important to me, too. I don't care that the system doesn't validate me. As a matter of fact, if I did care I wouldn't want anything to do with Jesus Christ because the system didn't validate Him, either.

They claim I have nothing different to offer, that I'm just a product of my upbringing. Sure, I've studied theology and I've read many important men's views, but I didn't learn this message of freedom from a book or from a man. This truth comes from Christ. If He hadn't opened my eyes to it I wouldn't have seen it! The fact is that I used to resist this freedom just as you have. Though I had shown great promise and was actively involved in ministry, I turned out to be quite a disappointment to my teachers, my peers and my family. Why wasn't I "moving on with my life"? Why didn't I have my "own" church?

I thought I already knew God's grace, but what was being revealed to me began to blow my whole belief system apart! God, who makes no mistakes, purposed this inconvenient interruption before I was even born. Had I followed the advice of my peers I would have abandoned this so-called heresy before it ruined my chances of operating within the system! Why do I tell you this? So that you don't try to credit any man with the message of freedom that I speak. It's understanding comes directly from God! And what proof do I offer? Only that those who hear me give God the credit for it.