Next Jerusalem Visit
The first part of the second chapter (Galatians 2:1-10) Paul details his return to Jerusalem after fourteen years of evangelical work. By this time, Paul would very rightly feel that he had been doing the Lord's work for a long time. He had brought Titus and Barnabas with him. There were no issues with Barnabas, but since Titus was a Greek, he had never been circumcised. This limited the places Titus could go as Paul carried on discussions with the luminaries at Jerusalem. The fact that Paul wasn't imposing the Jewish rituals on his converts became a bone of contention.
James, Cephas, and John had no issues with Paul and his ministry, after observing their testimony and work. They also saw no reason to put further ritualistic bonds on those Paul was converting as his ministry was primarily to the gentiles. Peter appears to have been leading the work of converting the Jewish people to Christianity.
These men's only request was that Paul give heed to the poor, primarily in Jerusalem, but also, by extension, everywhere he preached. Paul was happy to do that as it fit with his own ideas about spreading the gospel message.
But from this passage, it is also clear that Paul knew what was going on in the work of Christ in his ministry and had no real interest in taking orders from the group back at Jerusalem. He wasn't happy that he felt spied upon by those observing Timothy, and had no intention of being brought back under the bondage of the law. Christ came to free us from that, after all.
The church has seen many struggles through the years, and has had many growing pains. When differences come up, it is always wise to listen to the Holy Spirit to resolve differences and true disagreements. There have been too many splits in Christianity already.
Look at what God is doing. Be clear that this isn't a numbers game. A Christian denomination can swell to huge numbers by simply not preaching about eternal consequences of people's sins and permitting the sins to exist and continue. That doesn't mean that God has anything to do with what is going on or a church or denominations growth. If such lack of attention to people's sinful lives continues, it will soon cease to really be a Christian denomination at all.
Look for the evidence that God is at work. Look for the gifts of the Spirit in operation, and all of them - not just one or two. See if the fruit of the Spirit is likewise widespread in the work, which caring for the poor alluded to in this passage. There were many Christians in the area that had suffered loss in commerce and family due to their conversion. Number growth alone is meaningless without God being part of the process.
If you see God at work, then take any advise you get and bring it before the Holy Spirit. People do have good ideas sometimes that you haven't thought of yet. Criticism and suggestions can have a place. Just be sure that you clear them with God before altering something through which God is clearly working.
It seems to me that Paul didn't really come asking for advise or direction. He was pretty sure he was doing what God wanted him to do and that God was blessing his ministry. But even if you come with a self assured status, it is still always good to listen to advise, and then take it to God. Try to be a peacemaker, and if it is apparent that there will be no resolution, then walk away and go on about God's business in as peaceful a manner as possible. We are supposed to love each other as Christ and God loves us, after all.
Strife Between Paul and Peter
Galatians 2:11-21, however, indicates that Peter was having some new issues of his own. Peter was, after all, the one who had had the vision of the net of unclean animals being let down from heaven three times before he went off with the servants to meet Cornelius (Acts 10). But it appears that when some Jews came up from James to see him in Antioch, he stopped eating with the gentiles and tried to be Jewish in his manner.
Paul called him out for his hypocrisy, and did it in public. Paul's statement in Galatians 3:16 is a primary statement of the sufficiency of Christ. We are not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Christ and His sacrifice. Nobody is going to be justified by doing the good works of the law (or any other good works for that matter). That isn't an excuse to not do good works, by the way, but good works won't save you.
By trying to put back on the trappings of the law, Peter was trying to resurrect something that should have been dead to him. We face that same battle in our own lives (or at least most of us do).
We are supposed to be freed of and dead to sin. That is the purpose of Christ's sacrifice. He died to free us from Satan's power. But each of us may face temptations to bring the dead back to life in our lives, and give up our hard won (by Christ) salvation. It was our free gift.
If the law was sufficient to save, then there was no reason for Christ to come to earth and die. Christ, however, wants to give us the power to live a life that is completely free of our old sin nature. The Holy Spirit, living in Paul, worked on Paul daily to keep Him true to Christ. The Holy Spirit wants to do the same for you. It is our faith in Christ's sacrifice that we are called to stand on.
Peter was dealing with a specific issue (food) from the law. However, we also need to be careful that we do not add our own list of requirements to be "saved" to Christianity. The Bible is very clear that the grace of God saves us through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9).