#thestruggleisreal Day 1

Monday, May 16th - Paul an apostle…

Over the next six weeks, Toni Ruth and I will be preaching a series based on Paul's letter to the Galatians (called #thestruggleisreal).  During this six weeks, starting today*, I'm going to make every effort to post every day with some brief thoughts on various passages from Galatians.  I hope that you follow along as we look for God's grace in the midst of some very real struggles!

I don't remember exactly when I learned about the difference between a disciple and an apostle, but it was sometime during college. I remember being surprised that I had never been taught the distinction because it really helps in understanding why there was a change in what this group of people was called once we leave the Gospels and head into the Book of Acts. 

Paul spent a good amount of time defending his position as an apostle in the early church.  He does this in Galatians 1, I Corinthians 9, and 2 Corinthians 10.  Paul was facing accusations from opponents about his legitimacy as an apostle.  Understanding what Paul meant when he used the term "apostle" helps us to understand how Paul viewed himself and his ministry.

The word disciple comes from the Latin word discipulus, which simply means "student".  So, the 12 disciples were such when they were with the Teacher.  After the resurrection and before he ascended, Jesus commissioned the disciples (Matthew 28:18-20, John 20:21, and Acts 1:8), sending them into the world to proclaim the Gospel through the power of the Holy Spirit.  As soon, as they were sent, they became apostles.  The word apostle comes from the Greek word apostolos, which means "messenger, envoy". Perhaps more precisely, it comes from the verb apostello, which means "to send".  So, an apostle is one who has been sent with a particular message. 

Here's the interesting thing that I'm not sure occurred to me until yesterday morning while reading Galatians 1 - the word "apostle" indicates both the authority of a designated leader and the humility of an obligated servant.  "Apostle" quickly became a title of authority in the Church.  So much so that it has historically been limited to only that first generation of Church leaders.  We might send missionaries and delegates and servants and evangelists, but we don't send apostles (not in the UMC, anyway).  But, the very word itself indicates that it is a position of humble service.  An apostle is sent by a higher authority with a message that is not their own.  Paul seems to hold these two realities in balance - having authority while at the same understanding that the message he proclaims is not one that he created, having "received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ." (Gal. 1:12)

So, for us today: even though we don't refer to ourselves as apostles, we are still sent into the world (to our neighborhoods, our workplaces, our schools, wherever) to proclaim a message that we didn't invent or create.  We go as students, as disciples - still learning, still growing, still seeking to be present with the Teacher.  We go with a message of grace and salvation that we have been blessed to receive.

So, here's a question as we begin this 6-week journey of looking for God and for good news in the midst of our very real struggles - how are you taking the message of God's love and grace into the world today? 

*ok, so I know this didn't get posted on Monday and that today is Tuesday, but better late than never, right?