LX Minutes

Today on LX Minutes we are interviewing an up and coming star of the Galatian church, Yoal bar Yohanan. Since Yoal has come into town and begun preaching his flavor of 'The Way', his synagogue has grown by leaps and bounds.

Reporter: "Yoal, what is your secret? How do you 'pack 'em in?"

Yoal: "Well, I don't sit around explaining a bunch of Scriptures to the people, that is not my gift; I just tell them that they need to get circumcised, do their best, follow the instructions that God has given them in the Torah, and He will make their lives successful. If You do your part, God will do his part. If you will simply obey his commands, He will change things in your favor.”

Reporter: "Well, isn't that contrary to what others have taught these people; that Jesus Christ came into the world to take upon Himself their sins, making these outward signs no longer necessary, as Jesus Christ has paid it all in His life, death, and resurrection?"

Yoal: Beginning to weep, "Do you know how many lives I have touched... I mean, God has touched in my ministry? It is very humbling!"

Reporter: "humbled by having them perform circumcision?"
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We then went to talk to Paul of Tarsus, a well-known conservative rabbi, and opponent of Yoal bar Yohanan's methods.

Reporter: "Paul, how do you feel about the happenings in Galatia? It seems that Yoal bar Yohanan is drawing quite a crowd. Could it be his looks, you know, he is much better looking than you, or is it that his message is more culturally relevant?"

Paul: "Am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ."

Reporter: "Uhhh, OK -- well, could you tell me what you think Yoal's appeal is?"

Paul: "For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths."

Reporter: "OK, well Paul, do you have a message for the church in Galatia?"

Paul: "I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel — not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But 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. As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed! O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified. Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? Did you suffer so many things in vain — if indeed it was in vain? Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for The righteous shall live by faith. But the law is not of faith, rather The one who does them shall live by them."

Reporter: It seems Paul that you are either intolerant or jealous of Yoal's success, but we thank you for your time."