I get it . . . I can relate to peer pressure . . . I can understand being corralled into a manner of behavior because others are doing it. But it still comes across as a bit of a shocker when I read of Peter caving to pressure from the “old school.”

After all, Peter had experienced the vision . . . he had heard firsthand that what God had made clean was not to be called unclean . . . he had truly understood “that God shows no partiality” . . . he had seen the Spirit descend upon Gentiles who believed the “good news of peace through Jesus Christ” . . . he had directed a Gentile family to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ and into the fellowship of believers (Acts 10). But you get to Galatians 2 and he also withdraws himself from eating with Gentile believers “fearing the circumcision party” (Gal. 2:12).

And so often I’m quick to react, “Tsk, tsk . . . there goes flaky impetuous Peter again.” But, shouldn’t I be reading this God-inspired, God preserved record of a mighty man of God stumbling and instead be taking note that there is a right way and a not so right way to live out the implications of the gospel? To be reminded of the importance of keeping in step with truth of the gospel?

Paul was a defender of the fidelity of the gospel . . . “even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed” (Gal. 1:8). Tough words. Radical unwavering stance. No “wiggle room” when it came to the gospel message. But proclaiming a true gospel wasn’t just a matter of words spoken . . . of crossing the appropriate doctrinal “i’s” and dotting the right theological “t’s”. Paul’s jealousy for the truth of the gospel extended to how it was lived out. Don’t talk of freedom through the gospel and live in slavery to sin. Don’t talk of Jesus as Savior and Lord and live for self. Don’t talk of the fellowship of believers but only fellowship with some believers. No, for Paul, it was important that conduct aligned with creed.

And so Paul opposed Peter to his face because Peter’s actions were clearly wrong (2:11). It was hypocrisy to preach “for God so love the world” and avoid hanging with those who were not of the circumcision. And hypocrisy has a way of breeding more hypocrisy. If Peter withdrew from eating with the Gentiles so would others . . . “so that even Barnabas was led astray” (2:13). And so, for one determined to protect the fidelity of the gospel message, Paul would not only call foul when “another gospel” was preached . . . but also when “another gospel” was portrayed. Equally dangerous . . . equally destructive.

Paul saw “that their conduct was not in step with the truth of the gospel” (2:14a ESV). What they were doing was not lining up with the good news they were proclaiming. Their actions didn’t align with their words. Their decisions didn’t coincide with their doctrine. The weren’t keeping in step with the truth.

And I need to pause . . . and reflect . . . and first agree with the mind of Christ that says there is a right way and a wrong way to walk the Christian walk. That there is a manner worthy of our calling and a manner unworthy of our calling by which I conduct myself in this world. That, while there is freedom in Christ, it is not the freedom to do whatever seems right in my own eyes . . . or right in the eyes of a peer group which seeks to direct me according to its pattern . . . but instead freedom from the flesh, . . . and the world, . . . and the slavery of sin, . . . and others, . . . so that I might follow in a way consistent with the truth of the gospel of life.

Oh, that by the grace of God I might keep in step with the truth of the gospel. That I might have brothers and sisters in Christ who, when they see me getting out of line, love me enough to tell me to “fly right.” That nothing in my conduct would confuse the implications of grace. That I be might keep in step with the truth of the gospel . . . for the glory of God.