Concern and Contentment
“So, I rejoice in the Lord greatly for even now you have blossomed in your thoughts for me. You did think about me, but you lacked opportunity. Not that I am in poverty, I have learned in everything to be self-sufficient.”
(Philippians 4:10-11)
I have ranted more than a few times in this series of reflections about our modern Bible translator’s tendency to express the idea of thinking and reasoning in terms of feelings and emotion. In verse 10 the word in question is frone/w (phroneo), which means to think or to form a reasoned opinion. Yet, as we have often seen, the ESV, the NIV, and the NASB have chosen to use the term “concern” and the KJV and NKJV have used the words “care.” While it is most certainly true, given all that Paul has already written, that when the Philippians thought about Paul and about his situation, these thoughts did evoke concern, that is an inference from the text, not what Paul wrote. Further, while we might also argue that concern should be considered a thoughtful activity, in our culture it often is nothing more than an emotional response to difficult events in the lives of those around us. So, concern is not out of line, yet the concern that is being expressed is a thoughtful concern based on reasoning through the situation their beloved friend, Paul, was in.
The last clause in verse 10 is a little awkward in English. What does it mean that they did think about Paul but lacked opportunity? The Greek word that is translated as “opportunity” is ajkaire/omai (akaireomai), which refers to the time or opportunity to act upon something. In this case, to act upon what they perceived that Paul had need of while Paul was in prison. So, he is saying that he is aware that they had been thinking of him all along, but now, in sending Epaphroditus with their love gift, they had opportunity and acted upon the thoughts that they had.
Paul reminds them that he has not been utterly impoverished but in all things he has learned to be self-sufficient (he has a marketable trade that he often used to provide for his own needs). Many of our Bibles, again, translate this as “content,” conveying that in all situations Paul knows how to be content in his trust for God…that is certainly what is being communicated in the two verses that follow this one…but not so much here. This term only shows up once here in the New Testament, but also shows up 5 times in the Apocrypha as well as once in the Greek translation of the Old Testament, which helps us to discern its meaning. Literally, the term aujta/rkhß (autarkas) is derived from the Greek words aujto/ß (autos — or self) and ajrke/w (arkeo — meaning to be satisfied or to have that which is sufficient for one’s needs) — thus, “self-sufficient” as has been suggested by some scholars.
When looking at the Old Testament and Apocryphal uses of the term, it seems to be used in one of two ways, either to refer to being satisfied with the provision given (content) or that of being able to endure hardships. Thus, the idea of contentment is a legitimate translation of the term as reflected in most of our modern translations. At the same time, one must ask why Paul what Paul is doing during these times of hardship — namely, we know that he is working to provide for his needs (see Acts 18:2-3 and 2 Corinthians 11:9). One might argue that I am inferring just as I charged many of our translators of doing when they rendered “think” as “concern” above, and that charge would be accurate were the literal meaning of the term not before us, which reflects the idea of self-sufficiency.
The purpose of this point is not to parse hairs but to illustrate that Christian contentment does not mean that we sit back and just rest in whatever circumstances we may happen to be in. No, as a Christian, when we are in need (real need that is), we should strive to meet that need with the skills that we have or even by learning new skills.
In many cases, Christian missionaries were expected to learn a trade before they went onto the mission field. It was a means by which they could support themselves in the context and culture that they were ministering. For many small Christian churches today, pastors are bi-vocational, providing the majority of their own financial needs through a trade while serving a church that is not in a position to support them (this I did in my first calling right out of seminary). It is certainly the right of the pastor to have his needs provided by his flock (1 Corinthians 9:18, 1 Timothy 5:17-18), but because of the needs of the congregation, it is also his right to refuse that compensation. Too often Christians fall into the trap that conveys almost a poverty mindset — God will provide so I can be content! Indeed, God does provide, but often he provides through the sweat of our brow and the labor of our hands. In the end, we need to be content, but recognize that often our contentment comes through work.
Active Learning
“Those things that you have learned and taken and heard and seen in me, engage in these things. And the God of Peace will be with you.”
(Philippians 4:9)
The idea of the disciple being an imitator of Christ by being an imitator of Paul is a theme that we have already seen in Philippians and that is common to Paul’s writings. But notice just how specific Paul is when he speaks of this here. Paul speaks of those things that the Philippian church has learned from him — their reception of Paul’s verbal instructions is in sight here. He goes on to speak of that which they have taken from him. Some of our Bibles render this as “received,” which is an equally legitimate rendering of the Greek word paralamba/nw (paralambano). I prefer to translate this as “take” in the context of learning, though, for while “receive” can be understood in a more passive sense, “take” is always understood in a more active way. It is not good enough to passively receive the instruction that Paul offers, but we must be prepared to actively engage with the ideas that Paul presents and apply those ideas to our lives and situations. Further, Paul says to learn even from those things that have been seen and heard in him.
Paul goes on and says, all that has been learned in this sense…it is this that the people of the church are to live out in their lives. For many professing Christians, faith is practiced in a more passive sense. Yet, Biblical faith is lived out in every aspect of one’s life. For many more professing Christians, the corporate worship of God’s people begins when they walk through the church doorway on Sunday mornings. Yet, imagine how different our witness would be if we saw all of the week as a time of preparation for that Sunday service of worship? Think about how much more people would get out of the service and the sermon if Christians spent the night before praying that God would help them understand both the Word and its application in the Sunday message — and then if they took notes and actively tried to live out those things that were applied from the text! Oh my, would our churches and our public witness be radically different if we engaged in this way.
So, what of this language of the God of Peace? Often peace, when referred to in this way, refers to peace from the oppression of evil. And, while the enemy will attack at every corner when the Church is faithfully being the church, God will be faithful as well and preserve his own even in the midst of trials and tribulations. So, be of good cheer, learn from Paul’s words and example and live out those things in life and while the enemy will be relentless, God is infinitely greater than all the power at the enemy’s disposal.
Think on These Things
“The last thing, brothers, is that whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is upright, whatever is holy, whatever is lovely, whatever is praiseworthy, if there is virtue and if there is praise, think on these things.”
(Philippians 4:8)
There is one more aspect of Paul’s counsel to us here that we need to dwell upon…something of which we have spoken repeatedly throughout this letter that Paul writes. Paul writes of these things that are good and holy and praiseworthy and states that we must think on these things. Paul does not speak of how these things might make us feel or of how these things might move us. He says that we are to think on these matters — we are to reason them through and apply our minds in an orderly way to the ideas conveyed within that which is good and holy and praiseworthy.
The word that Paul uses here is logi/zomai (logizomai), and it means to come to a conclusion through a rational process. It refers to the notion of looking at all of the options that vie for our attention in a given area, to ponder them in our minds, and then to come to a reasoned decision about them. This is not a matter of feeling or of good wishes; this is not a matter of what emotions some experience might stir up within me; this is a matter of reasoned thought.
And if there is something that the church has abandoned over the past several decades, it is reason. Often worship services are all about how one feels. Often worship is only understood in the context of those happy songs that might be sung and one neglects that sitting under the instruction of God’s Word is also a vital aspect of worship. One also often forgets, when only the bouncy, happy songs are sung, that the Prophet-King, David, wrote more laments than he did bouncy-happy songs (not a surprise when you think about the fallen world in which we live!).
Even when it comes to doctrine…which simply is taken from the Latin word, doctrina, which means, “teaching,” people fail to use their reason. Every new idea is evaluated on the basis of preference and the feeling that it evokes rather than evaluating ideas as one rigorously reasons through the Word of God. This reasoning about the Word of God was the practice of the wise Bereans when Paul first showed up in their city (Acts 17:10-12). Shall this not be our practice as well? Woe to the church today that only moves only on the basis of their passions. Woe to the church whose feelings and emotions rule over their minds. For God has not called us to feel these things, he has called us to reason about them…to think them through…and to govern our passions with our minds and what we know is right.
There is no doubt that emotions have their place in the Christian life. God has made us with every expression of life that we attribute to the passions. Yet, the place of the passions is to be governed by the mind. The passions must be reminded by the mind what is right and true or the passions will descend into utter despair and irrationality. The mind must also defend the passions against the seduction of feeling, at least in the way feelings are often manipulated by those leading in worship or worse, from those leading into hedonistic error.
Further, the church in the west has dominantly bought the lie that there is a separation between our spiritual life and the life we live in every other context. The lie states that while reason is reserved for non-spiritual matters. Some even fear that they will lose their faith if they reason about what that which they say they believe! “If it makes you content and fulfilled,” the lie of the enemy states, “go on and have your religion, but keep it out of the marketplace.”
Yet, I tell you that Paul says that we ought to reason about our beliefs and further, if we do, it will mature and strengthen the beliefs we have! Further, Paul tells us that our religion belongs in the marketplace — do you not think that while Paul was making tents in Corinth that he was not “reasoning with” those for whom he made tents, to show the Jew that Jesus was the Christ from the scriptures and to show the Greek that Jesus was ultimately the reasonable redeemer whom we all need? Dear ones, do not give up on your minds. Do not “blindly believe” what is taught in church or in the Bible, but believe because you have reasoned them through, guided and instructed by the whole council of God. “Think on these things,” Paul says, and it will help keep you from error.
Studying God’s Honor
“The last thing, brothers, is that whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is upright, whatever is holy, whatever is lovely, whatever is praiseworthy, if there is virtue and if there is praise, think on these things.”
(Philippians 4:8)
Though in English the words praise and praiseworthy come from the same root, Paul employs two different words here in the Greek to emphasize his point. We already spoke above about that which is worthy of praise, as he closes this verse, he is speaking of that which generates admiration or approval within us. When applied to humans, this word is sometimes translated as “fame,” but perhaps honor is a better term. Towards God, it reflects the notion of giving praise and honor to His name (see Philippians 1:11).
All of that which Paul speaks about culminates in this…honoring God. It is this notion that drives our sanctification and our life as believers. Yet how often we choose to set our minds and thoughts on other things during the day, during the weeks, and during the years. How often we set our affections on the things of this world rather than on the one who is most worthy of our honor.
It has long been my position that while most relationships begin in the shared experiences that people have with one another; lasting and mature relationships make a transition. Instead of falling in love with the person through the things that are done together we fall in love with the person because of who they are — their attributes and personalities and things like this. Genuine love and relationship with God is nurtured in the same way. We may begin our relationship with God through a deliverance from sin, through a grace that was given, or through a recognition of our own wicked and fallen state. Yet don’t stop the relationship there, because the relationship you have with God will mature as you grow deeper in your understanding of God’s character as revealed in his Word.
Thus, spend time focusing on a character trait of God. He is love, he is Truth, he is a God of justice and grace. God is creative and powerful and while loving toward his own, he pours out his wrath upon the wicked. Think on these things. Study how God reveals these character traits of his in the Scriptures. Pursue him through his character. And note too, Paul’s language…think on these things. God has given us minds to understand; he expects us to use our minds to understand his character as he reveals it. Such an understanding will draw us closer to him but such an understanding will also draw us away from the things of the world that distract and pull us away from godliness.
Pursuing Virtue is a Virtue
“The last thing, brothers, is that whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is upright, whatever is holy, whatever is lovely, whatever is praiseworthy, if there is virtue and if there is praise, think on these things.”
(Philippians 4:8)
Virtue is again one of these words we don’t hear a lot in our modern, western culture…perhaps apart from a phrase that no one really seems to take seriously: “Patience is a virtue.” Indeed, patience is a virtue but few people seem to want to work on practicing patience as they live out their lives. Everyone seems to want the things they want… “And we want them, NOW!”
Yet there is more to the idea of a virtue than just patience. The meaning of the term is to have “excellence of character.” Interestingly, this Greek term only shows up 4 times in the New Testament…in each case, commending us to live virtuous lives, but never giving us a detailed exposition of those traits that one might consider virtuous. Yet, as we study the Bible, we are not left to our own imaginations as to defining the term for virtue, because it is also used 6 times in the LXX (the Greek translation of the Old Testament) and in each case, the term is applied to the character of God. Thus, it is God’s character that defines what is virtuous and as we seek to model our lives after the example of Jesus Christ, we then seek virtue.
In historic Christian theology, virtue was often defined as “Faith, Hope, and Love,” reflecting Paul’s writing in 1 Corinthians 13. During the reign of King Louis IX (1226-1270 AD) in France, the notion of Christian virtue was nuanced slightly to become “faith, wisdom, and chivalry,” but again, embracing the notion of excellence in character. In the Roman Catholic Catechism, they present 7 virtues (to contrast with the “Seven Deadly Sins”) by combining the ancient Greek “Cardinal Virtues” of prudence, justice, temperance, and courage with the three “Theological Virtues” of faith, hope, and love.
However you construct or deconstruct these lists, the end result should be the same…we should emulate the character of God as we live our lives and in doing so, that produces virtue within us. God is the source and seat of all virtue, we will only find that virtue in emulating Him and His ways. Further, Peter reminds us that adding virtue to the faith God has given to us is not simply a virtuous thing to do, but it is commanded lest we remain “nearsighted to the point of blindness” (2 Peter 1:9).
That Which is Worthy of Praise
“The last thing, brothers, is that whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is upright, whatever is holy, whatever is lovely, whatever is praiseworthy, if there is virtue and if there is praise, think on these things.”
(Philippians 4:8)
Whatever is worthy of praise…it is upon this that we should set our minds. Indeed, there are many things in this world of which are worthy of our honor and praise (though not worship). The beauty found within a sunset or the majesty of a bright, starry night; the eagle as it soars through the heights yet plummets to the ground with precision to grasp its prey; the complexity of the human body or the art with which one uses that body for dance, making music, or athletics are all examples of things that are genuinely worthy of praise. We give honor to a chef for an exquisite meal, we give honor to a painter for a lovely painting, and we give honor to an author who has written a book that has influenced the way we live. Again, all these things are worthy of praise…even to the extent that it would be dishonorable and disrespectful to deny such praise where that praise due.
Yet, while humans are indeed worthy of praise, it is God who excels the praiseworthiness of humans on an infinite level. We may revel in art or music but God is the one who gives art and music and who defines that which is lovely within art and music. He is the chiefest of all who are praiseworthy. Yet, how often it is that we are quicker to set our minds on the praiseworthy things of humanity and fail to give the infinitely more praiseworthy God his due. How often we will rearrange our entire schedule to attend a sporting event or a community engagement yet we fail to arrange our schedules around the worship of the Living God? If it is dishonorable and disrespectful to neglect giving honor where honor is due when it comes to humans, is it not infinitely more dishonorable and disrespectful to not give praise and honor where praise and honor are due for God? If we want to set our minds on that which is praiseworthy, we must begin by setting our minds on God and his praiseworthiness lest our perception of the praiseworthy things in the world become overinflated.
That Which is Lovely
“The last thing, brothers, is that whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is upright, whatever is holy, whatever is lovely, whatever is praiseworthy, if there is virtue and if there is praise, think on these things.”
(Philippians 4:8)
What does it mean to set your mind on that which is lovely? Literally, the Greek word that Paul uses here means “to engender a kind of brotherly love.” It conveys the notion that there are things in this world that when we look upon them, when we listen to them, when we take the time to appreciate them, there is a certain deep-felt “rightness” and satisfaction that wells up in our hearts. C.S. Lewis referred to this idea as “the Normal” in his novel, That Hideous Strength.
To develop this idea further, there are certain relationships and proportions that we see in the world around us that are naturally beautiful in our eyes. The Golden Ratio, for example, made up of the Fibonacci sequence, is found throughout the created order. This is the ratio found in numerous elements of the human body but the spiral that this ratio creates is found in everything from the structure of DNA to the spiral of the nautilus shell to the spiral of the great Spiral Nebula. Artists talk about complimentary colors and symmetry; architects use varying proportions to create an aesthetically beautiful building, composers use certain progressions of notes and chords, etc… Clearly, beauty is not in the eye of the beholder, it is found in how, when we create works of art, those works mimic or approximate what was made by our creator.
Often we speak about the doctrine of the Imago Dei — that humans are made in the image of God — and all the Imago Dei means when it comes to the inherent dignity found in all mankind. We often do not talk at length about the doctrine of the Imitatio Dei — the doctrine that as those made in the image of God, we best live our our lives in imitation of the God whose image we bear. And as God is a creative God, we too are to exercise our creativity to his glory. That does not mean that we create carte blanche, instead it means that we are to create with a certain degree of continuity between our creation and God’s…that is if we want to create something of beauty.
Today, though, it seems that art has moved away from this notion and instead of seeking out that symmetry and continuity, it seems that many artists strive for just the opposite — creating things that shock us as abnormal and hideous rather than lovely. Paul implies that such is not healthy for our personal sanctification. We are to set our eyes upon that which is beautiful and lovely because it seeks to approximate the beauty of the created order to the glory of God. The abnormal that is prevalent in our culture simply reflects the rebellion against God of our times and the chaos that ensues. From this influence we should flee.
Holiness
“The last thing, brothers, is that whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is upright, whatever is holy, whatever is lovely, whatever is praiseworthy, if there is virtue and if there is praise, think on these things.”
(Philippians 4:8)
The word aJgno/ß (hagnos) belongs to a word group that derives from the root word, a¢gioß (hagios), a word that we typically translate as “holy.” These refer to things that have been set apart for divine use and preserved from blemish or being defiled by worldly things. God is the example of holiness par excellence, but he also calls his people holy (Deuteronomy 7:6; 14:2; 26:19; Ephesians 1:4) because he has set us apart for his own purposes and he calls us to strive toward holiness in lifestyle (Leviticus 11:44-45; 19:2; 1 Peter 1:15-16).
Like the vessels used in the temple worship, everything they did was dedicated to needs of the Temple and could be used in no other context, we are described in the same way. Thus, all we do, we do in the name of Christ for the glory of God (Colossians 3:17) and all that is not done in faith is sin (Romans 14:23). If we live, we are to live to Christ; if we die, we die to the glory of Christ — everything for the believer revolves around Christ (Philippians 1:21).
Does that mean that Christians are only able to pursue sacred professions? Yes! But every profession that is given by God to man is a sacred profession when done to the glory of Christ. So, whether you are a farmer, a lawyer, a mechanic, a carpenter, a secretary, a banker, an engineer, a pilot, a soldier, or a minister…or any other moral profession…you are called and gifted by God for that task so that you may do that task to His glory.
So we are holy because of God calling us to his Son, Jesus. Yet, as we are fallen and yet imperfect, we must strive towards a life that reflects our holy calling. This, Paul says, we should set our minds upon that we might live it out. The question we must all be asking ourselves is what patterns of behavior, what habits, what practices, and what things in our lives take away from the holiness to which God has called us? It is my suggestion that the deeper and more honestly you look, the more you will find. Such is indeed my own experience.
The Upright
“The last thing, brothers, is that whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is upright, whatever is holy, whatever is lovely, whatever is praiseworthy, if there is virtue and if there is praise, think on these things.”
(Philippians 4:8)
If you have spent any time in construction, the term “upright” has a very specific meaning in your mind. It has to do with those posts or rods that stand vertically in a structure which usually are used to support the structure. Whether these are upright walls or pillars, not only must they stand vertically, but they must be structurally sound to bear the weight placed upon them and to bear up against wind and weather.
When applied to a person, we see the significance of this notion. For those who are upright are those who live according to a standard of righteousness set forth by God in the Bible. The upright are men and women of integrity who can be relied upon to uphold their promises and strive for what is right regardless of the cost. The upright are those who seek to model Christ’s life for others.
In addition, the upright also provide the moral backbone of a society. When a society has no upright, but is ruled and filled by the corrupt, like a house with leaning walls, it will fall. When a community undergoes a great tragedy (whether from a tornado or another sort of crisis), it will be the upright that preserve the society from collapsing. My wife and I were living in Mississippi when Hurricane Katrina struck the coastline. Even more than 100 miles inland, we lost power to 80% of the city of Jackson, roads were closed everywhere due to downed trees, and many people in our state lost everything. Yet, what was notable, was the distinct contrast between the events in Mississippi and the events that took place in neighboring New Orleans. For while neither city was without corruption, it seemed that the upright were far more dominant in Mississippi than in their neighboring state. While there were repeated stories of hoarding, theft, looting, and murders in the news of New Orleans, there were largely stories of communities coming together to help one another in Mississippi. Why? It was due to the upright in the communities holding our communities together. Much like the strong pillars that hold up the great architectural wonders of the world, believers should be those pillars for our communities.
And Paul relays to us to think on these things. Why? For if you strive for the things that reflect Jesus Christ to the world, you too will grow to be more like Christ in your character.
Nobility
“The last thing, brothers, is that whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is upright, whatever is holy, whatever is lovely, whatever is praiseworthy, if there is virtue and if there is praise, think on these things.”
(Philippians 4:8)
Nobility is a term that we do not use much on this side of the pond anymore and thus the notion of why Nobles were referred to as “noble” is largely lost in our culture. The Greek word that we translate as noble is semno/ß (semnos) and it refers to a person that is dignified, serious about what it is that they are setting out to do, and worthy of respect. Another way to word it is that those who are semno/ß (semnos) are above reproach when it comes to their integrity — they live out the beliefs that they hold. At one time in history, these things were the earmarks of those who were considered nobles…not just their bloodlines. Sadly, as with many things in this world, we focus on that which is easier rather than striving toward that which is beyond our mortal grasp. We emphasize the bloodlines and not the character.
Indeed, this notion is not new and is what Paul was reacting to when he wrote that “not everyone who is from Israel is Israel” (Romans 9:6), and “not all of the children of flesh are children of God but the children of promise are considered as descendants” (Romans 9:8), and again, “for if you are Christ’s then you are Abraham’s offspring; heirs according to the promise” (Galatians 3:29).
So, what does it mean for the Christian to set their minds on noble things? It means that the Christian is called to set their mind on striving to be noble in every area of their life…the idea that their life would have fidelity toward the teachings of God. It is the notion, as Paul regularly applies to himself, that if people strive to imitate us they will be growing to imitate Christ. Thus, the nobility of the Kingdom of God is not rooted in a bloodline but in faith and in the character of Jesus Christ…he is the true Noble who demonstrates to us what it means to live with nobility — a nobility toward which we are called to intentionally strive.
Set Your Mind on Truth
“The last thing, brothers, is that whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is upright, whatever is holy, whatever is lovely, whatever is praiseworthy, if there is virtue and if there is praise, think on these things.”
(Philippians 4:8)
As valuable as this admonition is, it seems wrong to pass it by to move to the next verse just yet. So, what are the things we are to set our minds upon? How do we apply this in a practical sense? These questions are worth exploring.
Paul says that we should begin by setting our minds upon that which is true. The term that Paul uses here is ajlhqh/ß (alethes), which refers to those things that are honest, in accordance with the facts, and real (as opposed to being imaginary). The term can also be used to refer to that which is upright or righteous, for righteousness is a kind of Truth in action if we recognize that we are made in the image of God and God is always righteous.
How often this, in and of itself, is an obstacle to Christians today. We live in a world that celebrates the notion that truth can be defined and redefined according to one’s preferences and whim rather than carrying the notion that it speaks of something that is genuine, absolute, and outside of individual human experience. Indeed, we can know truth, but what we know is only true in so much as it reflects the truth of God’s revelation to us…found in the ultimate source of Truth, the Bible.
But let us not stop there, either. What does it mean that we are not to set our minds on things that are not real. Should we not read fictional stories? Certainly not, Jesus often told stories to illustrate the Truth that he was revealing as stories are often a vehicle whereby which we can understand ideas. Instead, though, apply this notion to the untruths that we often tell ourselves. How often we create fictions about the way others view us (both positive and negative) and we either puff ourselves up or beat ourselves up on the basis of those imaginative depictions. This we need to divorce ourselves from. Further, how often the seed that becomes gossip is only that which is partially true. Again, this is something that does not belong to the life of the believer. These things destroy. Set your mind on that which is true and good.
Ultimately, though, if we are going to pursue truth we must pursue the source of truth…God himself. And God has revealed himself in his Word. Thus if we expect to know God, we must expect to know him in the context of his revelation. Yet, how many professing Christians go astray because they do not know the Scriptures and are thus misled by those who twist and pervert the scriptures. Beloved, if you are going to set your mind upon the Truth, that begins by committing yourself to a study of the scriptures and a pursuit of the God of Truth who reveals himself in them.
A Pure Spring in our Lives
“The last thing, brothers, is that whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is upright, whatever is holy, whatever is lovely, whatever is praiseworthy, if there is virtue and if there is praise, think on these things.”
(Philippians 4:8)
If we were ever to want advice on a way to live out the Christian life, resisting the distractions of this world, here it is. If there was ever a piece of worthy advice that was ignored by professing Christians, here it is. As a young man I used to canoe along stretches of the Patomic River with my Boy Scout troop. At one point along the river is a natural spring that comes up from its source with so much force, that the spring holds back the water of the river from filling it. If one canoes into the well of the spring, an area that was probably 12’ in diameter at the time. one can look back and see what looks like a vertical wall coming up from the riverbed where the muddy, brown Patomic river flows across the opening to the spring without coming in due to the spring’s force.
What Paul is saying is to allow those things that are good and pure…those things of God…to act like that spring in your life, holding at bay the filth of this world and remaining incorruptible.
While we all know that Christians will stumble into sin and disobedience, what is sad is how rarely many Christians actively seek to live this out. And further, when Christians seek to live this out, it is sadder still that other Christians often seek to mock them as being over-zealous in their faith. Beloved, if you are mocked in your faith for seeking to live this out, do not be discouraged from doing so; it is a sign that you are doing the right thing…remember our Lord’s words about acceptance by the world.
It would be a sad thing were that spring to fill up with mud and simply be absorbed by the river…it has been several decades since I have been on that stretch of the river, it may have already filled up, I do not know. But it is a thing, sadder still, when Christians succumb to the pressures of the world around them and fill their minds and hearts with that which defiles instead of that which edifies. Loved ones, hear the words of the Apostle Paul and heed them. Set your minds on these things and allow the force of these things cleanse your life from the muck and the mire of this world.
Peace
“And the peace of God that is better than anything the mind can comprehend will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
(Philippians 4:7)
In this world of chaos “with devils filled,” how often we yearn for this peace but find it fleeting. Yet, the answer is not to doubt God’s promises, but to seek them out, trusting in God’s hand to provide them. Oh, Heavenly Father, bring this peace that we desperately need in these chaotic hours.
Yet, notice too, as Paul writes, the purpose of this peace. We often speak about the “peace that passes all understanding,” but usually we stop there. That is not where Paul stops, though. Paul goes on to say that this peace is designed to protect our hearts and minds. And thus, when we forego this peace, it is fair to say that we allow our hearts and minds to be exposed to attack. How defenseless we often leave ourselves.
Thus, as you are tempted to fill your days, ask yourself what is needful for your spirit as well as for your flesh. If you are honest, you will recognize that we tend to spend far more time caring for the things of this world that will perish than that which is eternal. When we pursue the things of this world, the best peace we will find is that peace that the world can offer…which honestly, isn’t very much. But when we pursue the things of God we will find God’s peace, a peace that is infinitely greater than what our minds can even begin to comprehend.
Anxiety is not Good for the Believer
“Do not be anxious, but in everything, with prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.”
(Philippians 4:6)
Are we to suggest that God does not know our needs before we “make them known”? Certainly not! Jesus says that our Father in heaven knows our needs even before we ask him (Matthew 6:8). No, the emphasis on the making our needs known to God is not on informing the omniscient one, the emphasis is on how we present ourselves before the King of the Universe.
Paul writes that we first must not be anxious in our manner. Why not anxious? Why shouldn’t we be worriers over every little thing? The answer is that we are adopted by the God of the universe who knows our needs and has the power to see those needs met. It is the pagan who has the right to worry, for their gods cannot act or move or hear their prayers.
Thus, we take our prayers to God in a way that is not anxious, but trusting in his divine hand, his divine character, and his divine goodness and we lift them before the Lord of heaven. Paul uses the phrase, “prayer and supplication,” which is a common phrase for the Apostle (see Ephesians 6:18;1 Timothy 5:5). Supplication speaks of specific entreaties or pleas for help before God and prayers speaks in a more broad and general way. The key is, that with this humble reliance upon our God, we are to lift our cares before him.
The thing, of course, that many struggle with is the anxiety part. How we often ask God for things in such a way that we would not want our children asking us for a need or a concern that they might have. How often we come across (if we look at our prayers objectively) as if we are doubting God’s goodness or power or both. How often we try and make demands rather than being still and having confidence that God is, well, that he is who he says he is (Psalm 46:10). Beloved, do not worry or be anxious and do not allow that anxiety to become part of your prayer life…instead, let your prayer life be such that it takes away your anxiety because you are assured of the one to whom you speak.
Gentleness
“Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is near.”
(Philippians 4:5)
Paul writes that we are to let our ejpieikh/ß (epieikes) be known to all men (or all people). English translations tend to vary in how they render this word, because depending on context it can mean a variety of things. In principle, though, ejpieikh/ß (epieikes) is the idea that we are not to be overbearing. We are not to be known as bullies or people that demand their own way. Instead, we are to be gentle, mild, meek, and even tolerant (at least in the Biblical sense of the term, for tolerance today is often confused with blind-acceptance of any idea without exercising discernment).
Jesus set the standard for Christian leadership by contrasting the leadership of the Gentiles to the leadership of those who are in the Kingdom of God (see Matthew 20:25-28). He says that the Gentiles take their power and lord it over others. In other words, the gentiles see power as an end unto itself and they use that power to keep themselves overtop of the people (sorry, can’t resist, but sounds a lot like Washington, D.C. today, doesn’t it? Aren’t our politicians supposed to be “civil servants”?). Instead, Jesus teaches, that those who will be great in the Kingdom must be servants of all — those in authority using that authority in humble service is the model that Jesus set, that we are called to strive for in our lives, and is the way we demonstrate our gentleness.
Of course, it is easy to knock the government which has embraced a very secular model in our day and age, but let us never forget that the church in many sectors of our culture has also embraced this secular model of the gentiles. Many pastors use their authority to bully their congregations into getting their way. Many church leaders use their influence as well in the same fashion. And many influential people in the church use their standing to bully the official leadership. And we then wonder why people often discount the church as just a bunch of hypocrites…go figure.
We must understand, though, that being gentle does not mean compromising what is right. It means that when we are right, we don’t bully those around us with that truth. We humbly present the truth for what it is and offer a reasoned defense of what he hold to be true…with humility and gentleness (though Peter uses a different term for being gentle in 1 Peter 3:16).
As we think through this, the notion of gentleness may seem to stand in contrast to the many, very militant, commands given in scripture to tear down the arguments of those who lift their thoughts against the knowledge of God (2 Corinthians 10:4-6). Yet, while we see a contrast, the Bible places both side by side in harmony. And that is because ejpieikh/ß (epieikes) is about an attitude that we take toward mankind while the tearing down is the work we do toward those establishments that raise themselves against the work of God. Thus, we can still tear down the strongholds of the devil in our world and in people’s mind while still being gentle about it in our demeanor.
Paul gives a reason for this attitude… “for the Lord is near.” The term, ejggu/ß (engus) is a marker that speaks of nearness, but the nearness can either refer to nearness in time or nearness in space. The question is, based on the context, which it happens to be. Realistically, either can fit the context. The scripture is filled with the sense that Jesus’ return is imminent. Of course, that is a notion that some people struggle with, but again, for the believer, we are to live with a sense that Jesus is coming soon…but that “soonness” is a matter of God’s timing and not man’s. Thus, Paul could be writing that we are to have a reputation of gentleness amongst men because it will aide our “winsomeness” as we share the Gospel.”
As I read this, I prefer to understand this as a matter of nearness in space. In other words, Jesus is physically near to us as a church and thus we are to behave like he is in our midst. This would also be consistent with the language about prayers and supplications that will follow these verses…we are not anxious because the Lord is with us — he is not a distant and unhearing God.
Finding Joy
“Rejoice in the Lord at all times; again I say, rejoice!”
(Philippians 4:4)
Here we have one of the most quoted verses from this letter. And there is no surprise as to why this is such a beloved statement. Yet how often we find ourselves deserting these words and pursuing our own sources of joy. But notice, that these words are not only valuable for our personal worship and demeanor…they are the solution for the quarrel between Euodia and Syntyche. For the reality is, if you focus your mind on finding joy in Christ it is a corrective for all of the areas of your life because it puts them into perspective.
It has become my conviction that many of our psychological and relational problems can be traced back to a wrong view of worship. We come for many reasons: fellowship, instruction, to be encouraged, etc… But if any one of these reasons is the primary reason you come to worship on Sunday, your motives are lacking. The primary reason must be because you are seeking God and his glory. If your aim is to know God and him alone, all these other things will come into place…but it does not work if we come looking for human things first.
Like children, we often think we know what we want but we are so wrong. Often children will say, “if I just had this toy or that toy I would be happy.” Yet they find that even with those toys they are unsatisfied. Are the toys bad? No. Not in and of themselves at least. But the toys cannot satisfy apart from the love of the parent. As adults, we often tell God what we think we need. But what we most need is to be close to the Father. And if we are close to the Father, finding our joy in Him through the Son, then the other things will fall into their proper perspective. Otherwise, they just aren’t that satisfying.
C.S. Lewis used to argue that there were “First Things” and “Second Things.” First Things are the things of God; Second Things the things of this world. Lewis’ point is that if we pursue Second Things alone, not only will we lose the First Things, but the Second Things will never satisfy. Yet, if we pursue First Things alone, God will also give us the Second Things that we need.
So, beloved, find your joy in the Lord Jesus Christ…and in nothing else in this world. Pursue Him. Adore Him. And allow Him to define your perspective of all of life.
Euodia and Syntyche
“I call on Euodia and I call on Syntyche to be of one mind in the Lord. Yes, I ask you also, true friend, help them who have labored in the Gospel with me and Clement and the my other fellow workers whose names are in the Book of Life.”
(Philippians 4:2-3)
We find inserted into Paul’s exhortation a kind of private admonishment. He says that he urges, he calls upon, or he pleads with Euodia and Syntyche to be of one mind in the Lord. We really know very little about these women nor do we know much about their dispute, which has led people to a great deal of speculation. We might infer, perhaps, that these women might have been amongst the women who were praying with Lydia when Paul first went to Philippi (Acts 16:13, but again, that is speculation as we cannot say for sure.
Some commentators have gone on to suggest that these women each represented a faction within the church (perhaps a Jewish one and a Greek one), but again, there is no evidence in the text of such a matter and the names attributed to each are singular. Further, given Paul’s emphasis on the principle that women were not to be teachers of the church (1 Corinthians 14:33-34; 1 Timothy 2:12), it seems hard to believe that Paul would not have addressed the matter of factions in more depth and rebuked their folly (as he does in the Corinthian letters). What is best to presume is that these two ladies ,who were known to Paul (they had been his fellow workers in Philippi), had a quarrel that had separated them from one another’s fellowship. And thus, Paul is calling on them to reconcile and upon the church to help them do so.
Like with of Euodia and Syntyche, we also know little of Clement. There is no evidence that this Clement is the same Clement as who would become a leader of the church of Rome in the late 1st century. Again, we simply do not know for sure. It is possible, but that is speculation.
What we do know about these people is that they are genuine Christians despite whatever disagreement these ladies had. Paul speaks of them as having their names written in the Book of Life. And where such is the case, reconciliation should always be the goal. How sad it is when we find professing believers in our midst that refuse to forgive and to reconcile with one another. Beloved, strive toward reconciliation with those believers from whom you have become separate, you will spend eternity together, you might as well start getting the relationship in proper order in the here and now.
Stand With Conviction in the Lord
“Therefore, my beloved and longed for brothers, my joy and my crown, be firmly committed to the Lord, my beloved.”
(Philippians 4:1)
The message that Paul leaves us with in this verse is simple, but profound. He begins with another display of affection for this church. He speaks of them being the object of his love and of his longing — his desire, as he said before, is to be with them face to face, not at a distance. He calls them his joy and his crown, which may seem a bit odd to us at first, for we usually see Paul applying this kind of language toward Christ, not men. That said, these Christians in Philippi have embraced Christ through the message of the Gospel brought by Paul. In addition, they have been faithful in aiding Paul in his ministry and they are continuing to uphold Paul in prayer. Thus, it should be no surprise that they have earned a special place in Paul’s heart…thus his words of affection. The notion of a crown is that of the garland a runner might earn for running a race well. Paul has done just that as he awaits his execution in prison. Then the verse closes with a reference to the people as beloved (while we could read this final “beloved” as applying to Christ, context seems to dictate that it again applies to the people of Philippi).
We are left with one instruction, then, in this verse. “Be firmly committed to the Lord.” You could render this also as “stand with conviction in the Lord.” Both would convey the same notion. Those things that are right and true and given to us by God are things that we must stand upon and stand for — even fight for when necessary. I am sometimes accused in the broader community of holding too fiercely to those things that I believe to be revealed in Scripture — things that some people would call “Evangelical Truths” in some circles, though the word “Evangelical” seems to be thrown around so often today that I venture that many can no longer define the term. I have sometimes been told that I am too narrow in my position that there is salvation in no other person than in Jesus Christ alone. To those who so challenge me, I ask, what would the Apostle Paul have to say?
So, beloved, be firmly committed to the Lord Jesus Christ and to everything that our Lord has spoken and taught. Further, be committed to everything that our Lord has revealed, which is the entirety of the 66 books of the Bible. Do not back down from these things, for as Peter remarks, Jesus is the only one that has the words of eternal life (John 6:68). If Jesus alone has the words of eternal life, why would we bother listening to others? Stand firm in what is true and do not fear the criticisms of those who would water down the truth. They are of this world and will not listen to us because we are not…our homeland is in heaven.
Subjection Before Christ
“who will change our body of humiliation to be similar to his body of glory according to the act by which he is able to subordinate all things to himself.”
(Philippians 3:21)
Here is the other half of Philippians 2:10-11. Indeed, there will come a time when all will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, though some will do so under judgment for indeed, in that day when he returns in the air, Jesus will subject all things to himself — even all things in subjection under his feet (Hebrews 2:8). Those who reject Christ will be perfected in that hatred and crushed under the boot of the Lord of Glory, forcing them to admit that which they most hate is true — that Jesus is Lord of all.
Ordinarily we don’t think of our fleshly bodies as “bodies of humiliation,” but what better word could Paul have chosen for what we experience? We are fallen and as such, we suffer all sorts of diseases, ailments, injuries, and ill effects from weather changes, hard work, as well as just overall weariness. We get frustrated at our own limitations as well as with the limitations of others and death is before us all. Add to that those things that are the common lot of living in this fallen world…storms and natural disasters, crime and the presence of the wicked in our midst, accidents and turmoil. The bottom line is that this world is not “okay,” and though we endure, life in this world has a manner of humbling us and wearing us down. As a pastor, I cannot begin to count how many older people I have sat with who have outlived spouses, children, and other loved ones and have simply asked, “Why hasn’t God taken me home yet.” Indeed, this world is not okay and humiliation is as operable a term as any to describe the overall struggles of life.
Yet, we have here, Paul echoing his reminder that we have something to look forward to — glorified bodies made similar to the glorified body of Christ. No, not exactly the same, Paul uses the term su/mmorphoß (summorphos), which means to me remade in a similar form. So, we might not be able to fly or walk through walls, but we will be raised whole from the dead to live forever without the effects of sin in this world. Is that not enough? Is that not more than you can imagine? Is that not the greatest and most marvelous thing? Indeed, how greedy we unworthy beggars are, who have been brought into the household of God. May our souls never cease to give thanks for all that God gives to us.
Colonists Away from the Homeland
“But our country exists in heaven, from which we also eagerly await a Savior — the Lord Jesus Christ,”
(Philippians 3:20)
While many of our English translations will render this, “our citizenship is in heaven,” to do so requires a degree of inference. Literally, Paul writes that “our country” or “our homeland” is in heaven. The language paints a picture of a group of colonists living in a land that is not their own. One must recognize that in Paul’s era, this was a common experience. Rome was expanding its borders and oftentimes Roman citizens would relocate to newly expanded territories for economic reasons and thus found themselves as strangers in a strange land.
Some of our translations, then, infer the language of citizenship to emphasize the permanent connection to where the people of the church belong. This world is not our home. Peter describes us a sojourners (1 Peter 2:11), the author of Hebrews says that we await the permanent city to come (Hebrews 13:14), and Paul contrasts the Jerusalem above with the Jerusalem below (Galatians 4:21-28). Satan is referred to as the prince of the power of the air (Ephesians 2:2 — often used as a reference to this world but also a reference to idolatry — vanity of vanities says the Preacher!). Like Abraham, we are travelers amongst a people who are unlike us.
How are they unlike us? Go to the previous verses. They are those whose end is destruction, who revel in their sin and seek to satiate their bellies. They are those who will not follow the model of Christ but who pursue the things of the flesh. In contrast, we live a different lifestyle, pursuing the pattern of behavior that we have observed in Paul and in other faithful believers before us.
I find it interesting that when I travel, everyone knows that I am an American even before I open my mouth. Perhaps it is the cowboy boots and the blue jeans, perhaps it is the way I carry myself, whatever it is, when I travel it is as if I carry a neon sign over my head that says, “American.” And note that I am not complaining about that reality; I am grateful to have been born in this great nation. I simply make an observation that should carry back to Paul’s language here. By the way we live, the people of this world (unbelievers) ought to recognize that we don’t belong to this world. Sadly, for many professing Christians, that is a stretch.
But Paul does not stop with the idea of belonging to a different country. He also speaks that while we are colonists here in this world, we are awaiting the coming of a Savior — the Lord Jesus Christ — the Prince of Heaven who will return to this world in glory and call all his citizens to himself. Therein lies our hope. Our hope is not in simply returning to heaven in spirit after our death, but it is in the physical resurrection, like Christ’s resurrection, that will come when our Savior returns from the homeland to claim his own people. That is our hope. Sadly, too, it seems that many professing Christians do not have this hope in sight either.
Like Abraham before us, we are sojourners and aliens in a land not our own. Like the Israelites in the wilderness, we are a church moving through the wilderness on the way to the promised land…but we are not there yet. Yet, let our lifestyles reflect the land to which we belong.
What is your God?
“whose end is destruction, whose god is the belly and the glory that accompanies their shame — they are setting their minds on worldly things.”
(Philippians 3:19)
I can’t help but anticipate the contrast with Paul’s language in 4:8 as to what Paul would have believers think upon — that which is true and honorable and righteous and pure… The unbeliever — those who reject the cross of Christ in word and action — they set their minds on the things of this world: wealth and sensuality and vengeance and fame. These two notions could not be further apart…but nor could the two ends…heaven or hell. How often, even as believers, we are tempted to set our minds on things that do not belong to us.
The wording of this verse is a little awkward, which causes a degree of variation in some of our translations. Paul is stringing together some ideas, as he describes those who will not follow the imitation of Christ through his own example, and he is doing so in a quick staccato, much like a preacher might do in a sermon. Even so, as he describes those who reject the cross, they are headed for destruction. He goes on to say that their god is the belly and the glory that accompanies their shame. In other words, in these things they revel.
I expect we have all known those who not only pursue sin, but flaunt that sin. Many in the pro-homosexual movement and in the pro-marijuana movement seem to be doing just that in our American culture today. Yet, we see it all over. People brag because they “get one over” on a business or on another person, people break civil laws and then tell eagerly listening ears of their exploits, and people perform all sorts of immoral behaviors and revel in the shamefulness of their actions. These are those whom Paul is speaking of most directly here, but do not stop there, what Paul is saying is that this kind of thing is the end to which their rejection of the Cross takes them. It is a reminder to us that the notion of a “moral atheist” is little more than a folk-tale. They might start that way, but as one pursues their atheism with integrity and mind set on worldly things, they will speed further and further from that which is good and righteous and pure.
Worldly things pass away, but the Law of God is forever. While the former may be tempting to us, for they can be seductive, the latter will bring lasting peace and joy. Which is more valuable?
Hatred of Christ
“For many are walking — as I frequently told you, and even now tell you with tears — as ones who hate the cross of Christ.”
(Philippians 3:18)
What happens when someone refuses to follow the model of Paul as Paul follows the model of Christ? Sadly, Paul reminds us, that person demonstrates their hatred for the cross of Christ and for the redemption that was achieved on that cross. The Heidelberg Catechism words it that we have a natural tendency to hate God and to hate fellow man.
But why such a strong word? What is someone is just ambivalent? Could there just be a kind of agnostic position where a person is just not interested but is not actively engaging in hatred? The answer is clearly, “no.” Jesus stated very clearly, “If you love me you will obey my commandments” (John 14:15). Jesus further builds on that notion that “whoever has my commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves me…and will be loved by my Father” (John 14:21). In other words, obedience is the mark of one’s love for the Son and if we do not love the Son we will not be loved by the Father. That in itself should be a convicting message.
But why hate? There are some, for example, that will argue that ambivalence is the opposite of love, not hatred. There is something to be said there…but let me suggest a different explanation, as I would argue that ambivalence is a form of hatred…typically expressed in passive-aggressive behavior. Hatred can be lived out either passionately (we might call that enmity) or passively (passive-aggressive behavior, ignoring the person, etc…). Either way it is hatred and in both contexts, obedience is not present.
Jesus tells a parable about two sons (Matthew 21:28-32) and each was asked to work in the vineyard. The first said yes but didn’t (passive-aggressive behavior) and the second said no (active refusal — an expression of enmity) but then repented and went to work. The first clearly represents the priests and the Jewish establishment who committed themselves to obedience in their vows yet didn’t; the second represents the active sinners who had openly rebelled against God and then repented and did what God commanded. Jesus asks the question…which did the will of the Father? Doing the will of the Father is another way of speaking about obedience and thus when Paul looks upon those who are actively or passively in disobedience, he speaks of them as hating Christ.
With this before us, we should be reminded, then, that Paul’s language is not just speaking about those who are outside of the church, but of those who are inside of the visible church but who, by their very actions, demonstrate their hatred for Christ and the cross. Most who are in this group in the church would not like to think of themselves as hating Christ, but if they do not walk in obedience as they live out every corner of their lives, then what does that say about their hearts? What does it say about our own hearts, too, when we choose to be disobedient in small things or in great things in our lives? And no, we don’t get the choice of picking and choosing either…Jesus is the Word of God made flesh, that means that all of Scripture is ultimately what He has commanded and what we are to obey in its proper context. No, we will not get it correct perfectly in this life, but we ought strive in that direction. Will you?
Fellow Imitators
“Become fellow imitators of me, brothers, and pay attention to the ones who walk in this way — according to the pattern you have from us.”
(Philippians 3:17)
So, to whom do you listen? To whom do you pay attention? Whose life do you seek to model your own life after? Is it the rich and famous that you seek to emulate? Or are it the godly that you seek to model your life after? How important this question is for us to answer, but how rarely we get this answer correct.
The Apostle Paul is clear, if you claim to be a Christian, you must emulate the life of mature Christians…namely the example set by Paul himself for Paul seeks to emulate Christ for us (1 Corinthians 11:1). And even Christ sets the same pattern for us as he is the very image of the invisible God (Colossians 1:15). A pattern has been laid out for you and for me; the question is, will we follow that pattern? And, if we intend the follow that pattern, how will we go about following that pattern? Will we simply guess at what we think that Paul or Jesus would do? That practice sounds pretty subjective to me. Or will we immerse ourselves in the scriptures so we know that Paul and Jesus did do — further — so we know what the Father commanded given such things.
Broadly, as I look over the evangelical landscape in America, I am concerned that we have turned Paul’s command here into either a suggestion or into a context that is open to pure speculation. People often live multiple lives in the sense that they behave one way in church and another way in the community. Or they belive that just about anything goes as long as it “feels” spiritual. We find churches even incorporating pagan practices into their worship under the umbrella of being “inclusive” or “culturally sensitive.” Yet, if the Bible is able to prepare us for every good work, why do such churches seek practices outside of the scriptures to guide them?
May I simply close with the observation that the phrase above: “pay attention to…” is an imperative in the original Greek text. In other words, what it says and what follows is not a suggestion nor is it just a good thought. It is essential for the believer to submit to and follow. So, beloved, pay attention to those who are truly godly (in a Biblical sense) in the world around you, seek out the model of the Apostle Paul in the scriptures, and seek out the model of Christ. Then apply it to your life and live it out. If you lament the collapse of the church in America today, understand, that if more professing Christians lived out their faith with such intention, that hunger and thirst for righteousness would become contagious and God may very well use our example to point people to himself.
Conforming to the Status
“Nevertheless, in that which we have attained, to it shall we conform.”
(Philippians 3:16)
The principle that Paul is placing before us is that God has brought us out of our sinful estate, yet, having been given that great gift or forgiveness and reconciliation with God, we should strive to conform our lives to the new “status” we have been given. Or, in other words, in salvation we have been brought into the presence of God, pardoned, clothed in the righteousness of Christ, and adopted as sons and daughters of the King. We should now live like it. Our behavior should reflect the new household into which we have been brought and not the old household from which we came.
All too often Christians take a passive attitude toward their own sanctification. They think that it is time to sit back and enjoy the ride. While certainly the power of sanctification comes from God, we also share a role as ones who actively participate in said growth or who resist the work of the spirit in a kind of passive-agressive stance.
But how do we do this? The simple answer is that we actively seek to apply the Law of God to our lives and try to obey it in every area, disciplining ourselves in the hopes of conforming to God’s law. I should note that in our culture sometimes people wrongly label this as a form of legalism. Yet it is only legalism if I judge you with a standard by which I am unwilling to judge myself. When one examines the Law of God one can either use the Law as a sledge-hammer or as a mirror. If we use it as a sledge-hammer to beat one another up for each other’s failings, then we will fall into legalism. If we use the Law as a mirror to examine our own life, then it becomes an effective tool in God’s process of sanctification in our lives…this is what Calvin referred to as the “Third Use” of the Law (first two uses are civil morality and to drive us to Christ as we recognize how far short we fall).
Beloved, let us not conform to the things of this world. Let us be conformed to the standard of God’s Kingdom into which we have been brought by Christ.
Spiritual Maturity…”Think Like this”
“Therefore those who are mature will think thus. And, if you think differently in something, God will also make that known to you.”
(Philippians 3:15)
From a pastor’s perspective, this verse is one that I would love to see painted over every doorpost, placed by every bathroom mirror, and embossed on decorations throughout the homes of my people. This is not the first time that Paul has given such a piece of instruction, but here he is short and succinct. He has spoken of living for Christ and not for self and he has spoken of how (as a believer) he makes nothing of his own work. And then, in the wake of these very powerful Christian teachings, he makes this statement… “Those who are mature will think this way.”
Wham. Right there, we see Paul take the majority of the western church today to the mat. Paul is essentially saying, Do you think that you are mature — then how do you live your life? Are you proud of your own accomplishments? If so, you are not a mature believer. Do you seek to draw attention to yourself? If so, you are immature in your faith. Do you wish to do things your way instead of the way God teaches in the Bible? If so, you are immature in your faith. Are you not studying the Word with the intention of applying the Word to guide your every action? Yep, you guessed it, that is a sign of your immaturity. Do you consider your own needs more important than the needs of others? Yes, you too fall into the category of the immature. Are you willing to sacrifice…not just give of your excess, but really sacrifice…for the wellbeing of the church? If not, you are being childish in your faith…and notice that I said, “childish” and not “childlike.” There is a huge difference. If as a church, you only focus on the “milk” of the Word (that which is easy to swallow and digest), then yes, you too are not mature as a church body.
As a pastor, I often engage with people who are in conflict. And truth be told, after some sermons, that conflict has been directed towards me! My grandfather, who was also a minister, used to say, “if you don’t step on some toes, you are not preaching.” Jesus said that if we belong to him, the world will hate us (John 15:18-21). And yes, Jesus also reminded us that there will be unbelievers (people of the world) who will be a part of the visible institution of the church (Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43). The point being, don’t be surprised when persecution comes from within the church, there are unbelievers mixed amongst the immature…and sometimes the two can be difficult to tell apart.
Yet, in times of conflict, after we have prayed, I typically begin by showing them what the Bible says concerning a given struggle that is being had and what the Bible says about resolving and working towards reconciliation. How often people respond by saying, “I know the Bible says that, but…” And I say, “sorry, there are no ‘buts’ about it.” Paul would say that when people will not submit to the plain teaching of scripture, they are immature. So, where are you this day? Are you making excuses for your spiritual immaturity? Don’t. Instead, apply the word to your life and grow mature. Are you struggling to grow mature but the abuse and discouragement of growing up alongside of the weeds is weighing upon you? Then remember Peter’s words, “God knows how to rescue the godly from trials while keeping the unrighteous under punishment…” (2 Peter 2:9). Be encouraged, you are being refined in the Lord’s hands. Are you a leader in a church surrounded by the spiritually immature? Take the council of the author of Hebrews:
“For everyone who partakes of milk is unpracticed in the word of righteousness since he is an infant. But solid food is for the mature, for those who have been trained in the practice of discernment, distinguishing good from evil. Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not again building a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God.” (Hebrews 5:13 — 6:1).
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