Paul insists: 'Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.' A choice about whose approval matters.
I'm a pastor in a large church where people-pleasing is the default. If attendance drops, I try something new. If someone complains, I worry. If we're losing wealthy donors, I'm in panic mode. But Paul is saying I can't serve both God and the approval of people. I have to choose.
I'm slowly making different choices. Preaching harder truths even if they make people uncomfortable. Choosing integrity over popularity. Losing some people and gaining some others. It's scary. But I'm realizing that trying to please everyone means serving no one faithfully. Paul's permission to stop people-pleasing is liberating.
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