Influence

Galatians 2:11-18
In 1517, Martin Luther questioned the some practices of the Catholic Church like salvation by works, papal infallibility and the sale of indulgences. In 1520, Pope Leo X demanded Luther retract all of his writings. Luther’s refusal led to him being brought before the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V and civil and church authorities at the Diet of Worms in 1521. The issue really had to do with the truth and integrity of the Gospel. At 38, Martin Luther was a priest, the son of a simple miner.
His writings had been published and spread throughout Germany. The people who were saved as a result considered Luther a hero. They were ready for revolution. When the council demanded he recant his writings, Luther replied, "Unless I am convinced by Scripture and plain reason—I do not accept the authority of Popes and Councils, for they have contradicted each other—my conscience is captive to the Word of God. I cannot and I will not recant anything, for to go against conscience is neither right nor safe. Here I stand. I cannot do otherwise. God help me.”
As a result, Martin Luther was excommunicated from the Catholic Church and charged as a dangerous heretic by the emperor. He had the courage to stand up for what is right regardless of the cost to him. His leadership was forged by using his influence as the person God wanted him to be. His relationship with God gave him a good testimony before others. The Bible tells us about the testimony we should have in Titus 2:7, "In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works."
You and I are not only called to believe the message of the Bible and also to be living the message of the Bible. It is not merely something internal, but we must work to externalize what the Bible teaches. The Gospel is not just something for Sunday but for every day.
In our scripture today, Peter visited the church at Antioch where Paul was working. It was a great visit until some other Jewish people from Jerusalem came to visit. Peter caved to social pressure and thereby gave credence to a dangerous division in the church. God had not intended this distinction between Jew and Gentile to spill over into the church, but it had. Paul blames and confronts Peter for his actions.

CAUTION-
Each of us have influence on someone, but what kind of influence are we?
Peter was generally a great influence, but sometimes his influence was negative
Peter, as a Jew, had learned that God put Gentiles on the same level
He was fellowshipping and eating with the Gentiles, which most Jews found offensive
When the Jews arrived from Jerusalem, Peter was afraid of the repercussions
The word withdrew here means to cower, shrink out of sight or to conceal
Several of the Jewish believers including Barnabas followed his lead
Other people are impacted by what you do: your children, weaker believers, unbelievers
Peter’s actions distorted the Gospel message and justified Jewish prejudices
How often do we feel that same pressure to conform and do the accepted thing?
Maybe you are at work or school and someone tells an off-color joke or racist joke
Maybe you are with a group of people who use foul language and you feel pressured
Or perhaps people pressure you to skip church to spend time with them
People are watching how you deal with being put on the spot like Peter. What do you do?
Peter