Identity Markers

We frequently encounter situations that cause us or others to identify someone by their identity marker. Sometimes this is the colour of our skin, or the way we dress, or the accent heard in the way we talk. These are identity markers whereby we may classify people and consider a certain understanding or stereotype at play as well as requiring certain expectations in light of this assessment.

Identity markers are a big thing in the Bible. Especially in Galatians, we see identity markers at play and understand how hurtful such observations and demands are in relationship to those identity markers. There were certain expectations among Jewish Christians in terms of Gentiles displaying the "necessary" identity markers that marked them out as a follower of Christ. These people required others, including Gentiles, to bear the identity markers that would set them apart as Jewish followers of God. Such demands caused a lot of confusion in the Galatian region.

Paul takes on these Jewish Christian followers and criticizes them for adding to the Good News [Gospel] what Jesus did not require of followers - specifically the marker of circumcision. Paul's argument in the letter is that the only identity marker that sets one apart as a follower of Christ is that of the Holy Spirit. Paul identifies this as a circumcision of the heart and not the body - evidence that the Spirit is living in a follower of Christ, helping them live out their life of worship to God as they follow Christ. The Spirit is the sole marker that identifies a person as a follower of Christ.

I know that we are continually tempted to add additional markers to identify each other as followers of Christ. When we do this we actually destroy the freedom that Christ has given us through the Spirit. By requiring more, we are deterring others and ourselves from the freedom that comes in serving Christ. As we finish off Galatians this week, we will look at what this freedom in Christ looks like and how we may stay focused on relying on the Spirit as we continue to follow Christ and helping each other stay focused on the Spirit as the one who guides us in our daily life of worship.

Digging Deeper

Paul makes a very strong statement that causes us to consider what the function of the Law - as he addresses it - is in terms of God's over all plan for humanity and the world. In chapter 2:19 Paul says, "For through the law I died to the law so that I might live for Christ." Literally in the Greek text this verse reads "I for through the law to the law died.." To get at the meaning of this statement, we need to assume Paul is considering that the law is more then just the commands and prohibitions of the Torah but rather the reference to "law" is to the body of God's instruction or the entire Hebrew Scriptures. If this is the case, could it be then that Paul is talking about how the law [God's words of instruction] tells us of God's plan that will help us with the issue of obedience and relationship with God? Does Paul's earlier comment to Peter about "we Jews understand that a man is not justified before God by observing the law?" show that Jews understand that "law-keeping" did not make one right before God? Read this interesting essay on the this point of view in The Ego and I: Galatians 2:19 in New Perspective.