ἔργον and θαῦμα are the Greek words for work and wonder or amazement. By combining the two we get our English word thaumaturgy which means magic or witchcraft. Paul begins the substance of his letter to the Galatians by saying, “Θαυμάζω”–“I am amazed.” This is the verb from of the word I mentioned before, θαῦμα. Paul’s amazement is based the fact that many believers at Galatian church had quickly turned away from the simple and true word of God which Paul had preached and begun practicing a complex “religion” full of rules and regulations that had nothing to do with the true gospel. Essentially they had been bewitched by false teachers who desired to enslave them with regulations of “religious” worship.
Later in the letter Paul writes:
Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods. But now that you know God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you are, turning back to those weak and worthless principles? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again?
Today in history some amazing things happened:
- The Thirteenth Amendment was passed stating: “Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.”
- The Irish Free State was established ended a centuries long struggle against Britain and allowing four fifths at least of the Irish people to slip the bounds of English servitude.
- The Washington monument was completed honoring the chief architect of American freedom from British oppression
Today many religious institutions are promoting the same kind of witchcraft today. Things like the Prosperity Gospel, the growing movement to promote Centering or Contemplative Prayer , and the belief that simply saying “The Sinner’s Prayer” is assurance of salivation are just some examples of the other gospels about which Paul warned saying:
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.
Many are being led astray by these teachings. No wonder Jesus said, “Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”
On this day, when so many celebrated their earthly freedom. Please take some time to study the Word of God carefully and ask the Holy Spirit to teach you to worship Him the way he wants to be worshiped and not according to the traditions of men.
Today, I celebrate the fact I am alive and have freedom to move about.