“But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned” (Galatians 2:11).
Today’s text describes how Paul opposed Cephas (better known as Peter, the apostle), because “he stood condemned”. In this case, Cephas knew very well that non-Jewish believers didn’t need to keep the Jewish laws, and that there was no need for Jewish believers to distance themselves from these Gentiles. But he distanced himself out of fear of a group of people who didn’t agree with him. He was acting hypocritically, confusing others because this “conduct was not in step with the truth of the gospel” (Galatians 2:14). All this was particularly harmful because Peter was one of the major church leaders.
Other believers “acted hypocritically along with him, so that even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy” (Galatians 2:13). If a church leader doesn’t live in step with the truth of the gospel, the whole church is seriously endangered.
Nobody is infallible, not even church leaders. Only God’s Word has the ultimate authority. Whenever a believer “stands condemned”, he or she should be confronted lovingly but clearly — no matter his or her position within the church.
Are you open to Bible-based correction from fellow believers?