Relational sins

Reading

Galatians 5.16-26

Live by the Spirit, I say, and do not gratify the desires of the flesh. For what the flesh desires is opposed to the Spirit, and what the Spirit desires is opposed to the flesh; for these are opposed to each other, to prevent you from doing what you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not subject to the law. Now the works of the flesh are obvious: fornication, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, anger, quarrels, dissensions, factions, envy, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these. I am warning you, as I warned you before: those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also be guided by the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, competing against one another, envying one another.

Reflection

This passage in Galatians is a difficult one for us, and it often feels easier to ignore it. When we do, rarely, look at it, we often seem to focus on the “juicy” sins – “sexual immorality, impurity, debauchery, idolatry, sorcery… drunkenness, carousing”. We often forget or overlook the more boring relational sins: “enmities, strife, jealousy, anger, quarrels, dissensions, factions, envy”.

And yet how often do we see these particular “works of the flesh” consuming churches and communities, as people fall out with each other, fail to love each other, and descend into factions and parties (and not the fun kind)?

These sins of “communal discord” which Paul lists in Galatians 5 are very much evident in both the Church and the wider world. But what marks the Church out as different – as God’s Church – is our willingness to love those with whom we differ, disagree and whom perhaps we even dislike.

Challenge

Where there are communities, there is often discord. Think for a moment about a Christian community you are part of. Do any of the sins Paul talks about in Galatians seem to be present?