Why are we, Christians, so gullible?
How do we avoid being manipulated by the hucksters of this world?
Lured by the deceptive success of the false teachers, the Galatian believers were bewitched by heresy. Paul warned them harshly, "O foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you?" (Gal. 3:1)
The word translated "bewitched" (ἐβάσκανεν) conjures up the popular superstition about the power of the evil eye in first century folklore. Many writers closed their letters by wishing the reader protection from the evil eye (M&M, Vocabulary, 106). One superstition suggested that a person could ward off the influence of the evil eye by spitting three times (BAGD, 137). Spells and incantations could fascinate a person so powerfully that they were brought under the control of the bewitcher in Paul's metaphor (Lightfoot, Galatians, 133).
While it is possible that Paul could be inferring a literal demonic influence in this delusion, he is using the term as a figure of speech, a trope, to warn the believers that false teaching is a serious threat to their spiritual health. Paul is shocked that the believers were so easily deluded and deceived by this mixture of law and grace. The false teachers exerted their influence without any use of magical arts. No extraordinary means were needed because of the gullibility of the believers. Paul uses the term as a rhetorical device to show them how easily the influencers could pervert the gospel and confuse their thinking through the clever use of words and symbols (Burton, Galatians, 143-144).
Bewitching (βασκαίνω) was used metaphorically for the ability to harm others through words. The power of praise and insult, flattery and shame, could harm people as much as black magic. Even hostile looks or the sound of the voice can control others in a bewitching manner. Certainly, there was an understanding that the world was filled with non-human powers seeking to control us, which gave rise to formulaic incantations like "heaven preserve us." The magical power of a look or a word can influence others because there are demonic forces at work in this world. However, the word for "bewitching" (βασκαίνω) is never used for the magical powers of the supernatural world. It is used rhetorically for the power of words to influence others (TDNT, 1:594-595).
What are the bewitching methods that influencers use to confuse and control us as Christians?
FALSE REASONING
Lying and deception stand behind all magic. Bewitching people depends on deceiving them. Foolish people succumb to the power of falsehood, and so are led astray. Paul bitingly calls them "foolish" twice in these verses (Gal. 3:1,3). The word "foolish" (ἀνόητοι) can mean unintelligent (BAGD, 70) but more often refers to someone unreasonable (M&M, Vocabulary, 45) or unperceptive. Foolish people lack discernment (Longenecker, Galatians, 99). They are not so much stupid as they are confused. Foolish people lack the ability or the will to think clearly and deeply about matters, so they are easily manipulated by influence peddlers.
Foolishness is a characteristic we all share before we become believers (Titus 3:3). Once we become Christians, we are supposed to leave foolishness behind. Sadly, this is not always the reality. Many believers surrender to false reasoning far too easily and often. It is the bewitching of believers! Believers seem highly susceptible to the power of conspiracy theories with their emphasis on secret knowledge and inside information. Political manipulation and marketing schemes lure too many Christians under the power of the "evil eye!" We seem especially susceptible to the power of abusive spiritual authority, proven by the long list of authoritarian pastors in recent years. All of these are aspects of the bewitching of believers through false reasoning.
SPIRITUAL DISTRACTION
When Paul calls the Galatians "foolish" (ἀνόητοι), he might be thinking of them as childlike in their simplemindedness (TDNT, 1:595). They struggle to resist the bewitching of the false teachers because they are easily distracted, like little children attracted to the latest flashing lights and sparkling toys. Foolish Christians are so busy chasing the idols of our world that they lose sight of the truth of the gospel. Too often, we become caught up in political battles, social quarrels, and methodological arguments that have no eternal value. We focus on buildings, programs, and culture wars while losing the gospel's centrality to our mission. The result is that we lose sight of Christ in the pursuit of the bangles and baubles that dangle before our eyes.
We are too easily bewitched through false reasoning and spiritual distraction. Christ must be the focal point of our lives, and the cross of Christ must be central to our message. Having begun our spiritual lives by the power of the Spirit, we must not turn to the methods of the flesh to live our Christian lives (Gal. 3:3).
Beware the bewitching of believers!
