Galatians 2:4-6 – Yet because of false brothers secretly brought in – who slipped in to spy out our freedom that we have in Christ Jesus, so that they might bring us into slavery – to them we did not yield in submission even for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might be preserved for you. And from those who seemed to be influential (what they were makes no difference to me; God shows no partiality) – those, I say, who seemed influential added nothing to me.
God creates governance in which people are helped. Satan counterfeits God’s governance so that people are harmed.
The governance war started in heaven where Satan tried to overthrow God, and the demons sought to overthrow the angels. After losing and being cast down to earth, the war continued against Adam (head of the human race), Jesus (head of the New Covenant), Peter (human head of the early church), and Paul (head of the mission to Gentiles).
Not only is God at work in your life and church, so are Satan and demons. In the churches of Galatia “false brothers”, counterfeits of real Christians, were sent in to spy on the freedom of God’s people. These are the kinds of folks who like to say they cannot find a real Christian church that has true sound doctrine anywhere, that everyone has been led astray except for them, and that the list of rules they’ve made for how to live the Christian life is the only way to live for God. Like inspectors at a job, or auditors sent to go over the books, these religious judges will make you feel judged, condemned, bullied, and anxious if you let them.
So don’t let them!
That’s the message and example of Paul.
Are you a bit religious, judgmental, or pushy of others in the name of God? Do you have someone like that in your life?