Birds Of A Feather.....

From time to time, I will here an old cliche that I have heard my entire life and ask myself “What exactly does that mean?”  Several times I have heard people say “Birds of a feather flock together” but never stopped to think of what it meant.

One of my favorite hobbies is duck hunting.  I have spent many cold mornings in a duck blind with my dog, watching and learning the different species of ducks.  Whether it’s Gadwalls, Mallards, Pintails, Wood ducks or Redheads, one thing is for certain;  They all stay together. 

People tend to be the same way.  No matter what you are like, you surround yourself with people who are of like mind.  That is why what Paul says in Galatians 2 is so radical.  Paul confronts Cephas for hanging out with “his own kind”.

Before and during the life of Christ, the people of Israel observed Jewish law.  One of the most important laws to follow was that of circumcision.  On the 8th day of birth, Jewish parents would bring their son to the temple to perform circumcision.  It was God’s way of marking his own people and saying “I want you to follow me”.  Circumcision was a sign of the covenant God made with Abraham.  God told Abraham “I will be your God, and you will be my people.”

When Christ died on the cross, salvation by observing the law died with Him.  When Christ rose again from the dead, He established a “new covenant” with His people, both Jew and Gentile.  In other words, circumcision was no longer a requirement.  God now requires circumcision of the heart through the saving blood of Jesus, not by observing Jewish law.

Later, when Paul arrived for supper, he noticed that Cephas was acting one way towards the gentiles, but when Jews came to supper, he acted differently and wouldn’t eat with the gentiles.  He only “flocked” together with the Jews.  Paul rebuked Cephas harshly and said “If that’s the way it’s supposed to be, then Christ died for nothing.”

 

Many people grow up in a Christian church.  They spend all of their time together in Sunday worship, Wednesday night meals, and youth group outings.  In their day to day life, many Christians won’t get there hands dirty  by getting to know and love non-Christians.  They only want to “flock” with their own kind.

The same thing Paul rebuked Cephas for 2,000 years ago stands firm today.  Look at your group of friends.  Think about who you speak with on a daily basis.  Who do you socialize with each week?  If you are a Christian but only “flock” with other Christians, then you are not living out the Gospel.  How will they see Christ if you won’t have anything to do with them?