Following the Leader [Galatians 2:11-13]

Gal 2:11 But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face because he stood condemned.
Gal 2:12 For he used to eat with the Gentiles before certain men came from James. However, when they came, he withdrew and separated himself, because he feared those from the circumcision party.
Gal 2:13 Then the rest of the Jews joined his hypocrisy, so that even Barnabas was carried away by their hypocrisy.

I’m sure we have all heard the song “Following the Leader” and the famous line, “following the leader, wherever he may go…” The question is: Is this always right? We see in this passage the Jews separating from the Gentiles. Specifically, Paul mentions Peter no longer eating with the Jews and it seems that he even gathered a large following to separate with him. Even Baranabas fell into this trap.

Even though the leader is doing it does not always make it right. We have to make the decision based on what we know and read from God’s Word. What does it say? Does what my leader is asking me to do go against it? How should I respond? What should I do instead?
Our leaders deserve our respect and admonition, but don’t ever just “go with the flow.” Confirm what they say and develop your own conclusions based on truth.

Aaron Taylor