“I opposed him to his face because he clearly was wrong.” (Galatians 2:11)
Faced with a serious difference of opinion, the first Christians sought the Lord: should Gentiles be expected to undergo circumcision and adhere to the Law of Moses? The apostles resolved the crisis peaceably by hearing first-person accounts of how God was working in a new way (Acts 11).
However, in the incident Paul recounts in today’s reading, neither he nor Peter seem to have acted very charitably. The Spirit had clearly led Peter to preach to Gentiles in Caesarea (Acts 10). But later, in Antioch, Peter had given in to pressure from separatists who didn’t think Jews should eat with Gentiles. Because Peter was the head apostle, his behavior scandalized many.
Paul reacted swiftly. Instead of taking Peter aside to reason with him privately, he rebuked him in public, shaming a fellow apostle and the leader of the Church. He seems to have forgotten Jesus’ teaching on correcting an erring brother (Matthew 18:15-17).
Despite the mistakes of both apostles, Paul’s intervention succeeded because both Peter and Paul were steeped in the practice of forgiveness. Paul probably apologized for his harsh words. For his part, Peter most likely accepted the correction and humbly acknowledged how his actions wounded Christian unity. We may not know all the details, but we can be sure that in the end, the two retained a deep respect for one another (2 Peter 3:15).
If you see another believer doing something that strikes you as wrong, take it to prayer first. You may discover that this person is actually following the lead of the Holy Spirit. If you are still uneasy, express your concern privately to that person. Try to commend the good you see in him or her, and speak of the problematic area without condemnation. Listen carefully to each other; then offer to pray together. If you don’t reach a resolution right away, leave the matter there, and agree to continue praying. As Peter and Paul show us, God reveals his truth in peace, not in tumult. He abides in unity, not division.
“Father, I don’t always get it right, but I want to live in harmony with my brothers and sisters. Help me to be open to giving and receiving correction with love.”
Psalm 117:1-2, Luke 11:1-4