FOGGY DOCTRINE

Many churches intentionally tolerate fuzzy theology to attract a wider audience. They say, "We don't care about doctrine here. We just love Jesus." A murky picture of Christ emerges through the haze. Paul argues in Galatians that fuzzy theology actually denies the Christ we claim to love. Foggy doctrine leads us to betray God.

"I am astonished that you are so quickly betraying the one who called you by the grace of Christ for another gospel" (Galatians 1:6).

In what may be his earliest letter, Paul begins with rebuke, not thanksgiving as in all his other letters. Conventional practice in Greek letter-writing used a thanksgiving formula in the introduction, but Paul refuses to follow the practice. The news of their defection from the gospel compels Paul to cut to the heart of the matter with intense urgency (F.F. Bruce, Galatians, 80).

"I am amazed" (θαυμάζω) is a common rebuke formula used in first century Greek letters to imply not merely surprise but displeasure (Longenecker, Galatians, 14). Astonishment is certainly part of Paul's reaction (NIDNTT, 2:622-625). The word describes the feelings of people at the healing of the demoniac (Mk. 4:20); the cursing of the fig tree (Mt. 26:20); and the calming of the storm (Mt. 8:27). There is even a strong reaction of fear combined with shock in the story of the storm (cf. Mk. 4:41; Lk. 8:25). But Paul is more than surprised. He is upset as the rebuke formula implies (Burton, Galatians, 18). Lightfoot calls it "an indignant expression of surprise" (Galatians, 75). Foggy doctrine should produce indignation in all who truly love Jesus.

The timing of their defection is a partial source for Paul's indignation. They are "so quickly" (οὕτως ταχέως) deserting Christ. The phrase could indicate that Paul was surprised by how quickly the apostasy developed once it started. However, it is more likely that Paul is thinking about how soon the apostasy developed after he taught them the truth rather than how rapidly the process took place once it started (Burton, Galatians, 19). The interval of time was short. How short we do not know. The sad reality of church history is that theological defection comes soon after theological instruction. If we are not constantly vigilant, the fog of false doctrine quickly obscures the beauty of God's grace.

The verb translated "deserting" (μετατίθεσθε) meant to bring to another place in secular Greek. It is used for the transfer of the patriarchs' bodies from Egypt to Shechem (Acts 7:16) and the rapture of Enoch (Heb. 11:5). Here the word is in the middle voice which means to fall away or apostasize (TDNT, 8:161). In the middle voice, the verb is used of (1) military desertion or revolt and (2) a philosophical, religious or political change (Lightfoot, Galatians, 75). In an infamous case, the word is used of Dionysius who deserted the Stoics for the Epicureans and is called "the turncoat" (ὁ μεταθέμενος, Vocabulary of the Greek N.T., 405).

Theological apostasy is a personal betrayal. Paul views their doctrinal fogginess as a betrayal of "the one who called" them, namely God Himself. They are turncoats who betray Christ. Be warned! How quickly preachers can become betrayers and destroy the work of faithful pastors who have gone before. Martin Luther wrote:

"That work which is built up of long labour, may be overthrown in a night. ... So great is the weakness and wretchedness of the present life; and we so walk in the midst of Satan's snares, that one fantastical head may destroy, and utterly overthrow, in a short space, all that which many true ministers, have builded up in years before. This we learn at this day by experience, to great grief, and yet we cannot remedy this enormity" (Galatians, 19).