Philippians 2 SAME-SAME but …different…

Christians are to be unified. How? By accessorizing the same? Not exactly;

SAME IN SPIRIT OF HUMBLE SUBMISSION TO SERVE THE CAUSE OF LOVE

We are called to be about wise love (see Philippians 1). If we have parts of the package (some unity about love) maximize the joy by filling out the unity:

complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love (2:2)

What is our definition of love? John 3:16, or, Philippians 2:5-11. God's purpose is more important than our status. Ironically, when we stop grabbing for status and just serve, we are worthy to be lifted up as an example of God's love. That is what happened in Jesus, the ruling Messiah.

And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him (2:8,9)

How do we do that? With fearful awe that God himself is at work through our lives, making us more than complainers (2:12-16). We can actually become pure and blameless children (remember 1:9-11) who don't wander between the former place of slavery and the future place of abundant living. Here and now we hold out the word of life, shining like points of light in a vast but meaningful universe. That is the life we were saved from missing.

So do we become blended together in one plastic cluster of happy, shiny people? No. Timothy is a great Christian in his diligent sojourning ministry. He travels to new places and helps forms healthy communities. Paul thinks of him as a son.

But you know Timothy's proven worth, how as a son with a father he has served with me in the gospel. (2:22)

Is that the only way to be a meaningfully dynamic Christian? No. Epaphroditus went on a short trip because it was needed, but he really belong in his home town. He was very different in his way of living even if he was the same in his faith.

So receive him in the Lord with all joy, and honor such men, for he nearly died for the work of Christ, risking his life to complete what was lacking in your service to me. (2:29-30)

I rejoice when I see a spirit of unity in the way of Love. I doubly rejoice when I see that the deep unity of love allows for the amazing diversity of live lived from that love.

CHRISTIAN LOVE? SAME-SAME

but

CHRISTIAN LIVES? …different…

Philippian 1: joyfull confident, clear and courageously creative

The letter to the Philippians is a great little New Testament book. It is useful in establishing a mature and informed joyful attitude even when going through difficult times. If you understand Paul's perspective about life as a result of Christ's resurrection and coming display of victory, you will be able to understand and follow the examples he gives.

FIRST – Confidence! The problems for the church are that the one who lead them to faith is in danger of being killed as a criminal, some Christians are making things worse instead of better, and even in the church some people are arguing. It looks like all the things they first believed in were for nothing. That is not true.

"He who began a good work in y'all will bring it to TELOS (maturity/completion) at the day of Jesus Christ." (1:6)

Without yet explaining how, Paul just lets them know: he believes that their faith is still on course in spite of problems. For those of you in our church who have shown faith in the things you have said and done from your heart… have the same confidence!

SECOND – Clarity! What does TELOS faith look like? Wise love; that is what Paul prays will show up from their faith (1:9-11):

Your love growing and showing in leaps and bounds is the point!

How? With increasing ability to know and choose the best in situations.

Why? So that you won't be mixed up, you will be pure, consistent.

Consistently what? Righteous, not wrongeous!! You know, blameless.

How? Through Christ (his word, his Spirit) for God's glory.

THIRD – Courage! If Paul is confident that your faith will actually make it from where it starts all the way to wise love that is right on and glorifies God, what will it look like as you get there? A scary struggle met with bravery.

It has been granted to you for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake, engaged in the same conflict. (1:29-30)

You are not called to be someone who just avoids naughtiness. You are called to be someone who can deliver righteousness. Being 'naughty' is most disappointing not for its direct damage, but more so for its failure to be reliable in regard to the cause. The cause is the Creator, and we who are created in his image to be creative. It is overcoming the rebellion that lets the non-creative (creation) try to rule over the creative. Sinning is not creative, it is destructive. Uptight religious is not creative either. Righteousness, that is creative, strong and beautiful!

Joyfully be: CONFIDENT / CLEAR / COURAGEOUSLY CREATIVE

Dukkha? Rejoice! Philippians 1:1-11

“Life is DUKKHA” said the Buddha. It was his starting point for dealing with life. What is Dukkha? Sickness, financial problems, old age, death. Dukkha is the grinding weariness of knowing another hardship, tragedy or disappointment is just around the next corner. So what is Buddha’s solution? Detach. If you don’t care about the world around you in any attached sense, then tragedy won’t sink you. Eventually you will have nothing in common with this world of Dukkha-ness and will float beyond…
Jesus said to love God and to love people, including ourselves. The problem is, however, that we often feel let down by God and people, including ourselves. How should we respond? Paul says, cheer up!. Actually, what he says is “rejoice!” How is that any more hopeful than what the Buddha said?
First, rejoice, you aren’t crazy. Everyone has Chronic Dukkha Syndrome. Suffering just won’t leave us alone. It is not just you, it is life in this present age. Second, not only are you not unique in suffering, you are not alone. God calls hurting people to love him and others. How can he do that “from way up… wherever he is”? The good news is that God is has not been giving advice from “out there”. God in Christ has come and not only experienced the Dukkha of life, Jesus has in fact borne its full weight and risen in victory. You are not called to love just any God, you are called to love the God who has joined you in hardship, and more importantly, has overcome hardship. Rejoice! Dukkha does not win. In Christ we do not suffer without hope. We suffer as we pass through a temporary world while declaring and displaying a new creation, a world where Dukkha will not find a place.
Philippians is a letter from a guy who started a church through suffering (Acts 16). Paul went on from that episode of suffering to a string of other dramatic and traumatic episodes. In his letter Paul passes on his confidence “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” (Philippians 1:6) Paul’s prayer for people learning to live the life in Christ is that they get good at loving wisely. When they do, they will be able to respond to hardship like he does: “Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. Likewise you also should be glad and rejoice with me.” (Philippians 2:17-18)
As we study the letter of Philippians together, let’s look for the wisdom and power to be people who overcome hardship with joyful confidence. Though we may be tempted to give up hope and become cynical and just find ways to cope, there is a better way. We can get better at loving wisely and living successfully as a result. Let us pray the prayer Paul prayed for those he loved. Let us pray for each other this way:
“And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.”
(Philippians 1:9-11)
(Sunday worship will have a brief retelling of the founding of the church in Philippi (Acts 16) and then we will study Chapter 1 verses 1-11. Memorizing 1:6 and 1:9-11 would really help in understanding and applying Philippians to our lives)