Timid People Pleaser or Bold Defender of the Gospel?

“But when Cephas (Peter) came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. For before certain men came from James, he was eating with the Gentiles; but when they came he drew back and separated himself, fearing the circumcision party.  And the rest of the Jews acted hypocritically along with him, so that even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy.” Galatians 2:11-13

A precedent was being set. It may have seemed harmless, but it wasn’t. Jewish Christians were continuing the practices of the Mosaic law while Gentiles were following a gospel of grace. Paul wanted to nip this in the bud and thus, he opposed Peter to his face in this passage in Galatians.

What stands out to me in these verses in Galatians is the intensity (and lack of intensity) of Paul and Peter’s actions. The passage tells us that Peter acted timidly; he drew back and separated himself out of fear. It seems Peter cared too much about what the circumcision party thought of him. It was Peter’s “people-pleasing” actions that caused him to withdraw from the Gentiles he was eating with. His actions implied that the circumcision party was correct, that the law is to be kept. Or, at a minimum, his actions were confusing. It’s as if he wanted to keep both the Gentiles and the circumcision party happy. He wanted to people-please. However, by attempting to preserve the practices of the Jews, Peter destroyed the integrity of the Gentile Christians as believers. Ambivalent. Apprehensive. Timid. That’s how we see Peter in this passage.

Paul, on the other hand, was unequivocal and bold. When he saw Peter acting so as to hurt to purity of the gospel, he was not afraid to reprove him. Paul publicly opposed Peter to defend the purity of the gospel that salvation is through grace by faith, not works. Peter’s public hypocrisy became the catalyst to underscore Paul’s message that adding works to grace pollutes the gospel. It makes Jesus’ death inconsequential. For if there were any other way to salvation, why would Jesus die for us? Paul saw that Peter did not live according to the principle of the gospel that by the death of Jesus, the law is no longer in force and that Jews and Gentiles together are united on the grace of Jesus. And so, he rebuked him. Bold. Public. Unequivocal. That’s how we see Paul in this passage.

It is also important to note what Paul didn’t do in this situation. He didn’t go to others and whisper about Peter. He didn’t seek to undermine Peter’s authority by slander. He didn’t speak falsely of him or malign him. Rather, with sincerity, Paul openly addressed Peter directly before the Church. In this case, because Peter’s actions led the church into error, Paul addressed Peter publicly. In essence, Peter’s actions were causing injury to the gospel of Jesus. Paul knew that a polluted gospel is no gospel at all. He had to speak up.

At times, we’ve probably all been timid people-pleasers, afraid of what others may think of us. We’re human and none of us is free from sin, after all. However, just as Paul charged the Galatians, we should courageously follow his example as bold defenders of the true gospel. This means we may forfeit peace, status, relationships and more. For it’s not enough to simply believe the right way. Peter did that. It’s not even enough to say the right thing. Peter did that too. We must openly live the right way, unafraid of the criticism and rejection of others, in a Christ honoring way as consistently as we can. We must speak up directly and we must challenge lies. The gospel is worth it. It’s more important than anything else.

Will we live in fear as timid people-pleasers? Or will we live boldly and unequivocally by openly defending the truth of the Gospel no matter the cost?

~ Nicole Bryan has been a member of LIFE Fellowship for over 10 years and holds a M.A. in Biblical Studies from Dallas Theological Seminary. She and her husband Callan have three children.