Weekend Word: Standing together for the gospel
May 19th, 2009 by Todd JohnsonPhilippians 4:1-4 is such a practical passage & application of so much that has already been said throughout the letter.
Paul had encouraged submission to one another & unity in 1:27; Emphasized it again in 2:1-3; and Illustrated it in the person & work of Jesus in 2:5-11.
AGREE
Phil 4:2 ESV
I entreat Euodia and I entreat Syntyche to agree in the Lord.
Euodia & Syntyche were significant women & Christian women, but that did not keep them from disagreeing with each other. Disagreeing is actually expected and OK, but being disagreeable is not & we need to strive to maintain the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace.
HELP
Phil 4:3a ESV
Yes, I ask you also, true companion, help these women
CH Spurgeon – “There is an office, in the Church of Christ, which we do not sufficiently recognize; but which ought to be abundantly filled. Paul mentions it in writing to the Corinthians. He says, “And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.” It is the office of certain Christians to be “helps.” May we always have many such “helps” amongst us!”
REJOICE
Phil 4:4-5 ESV
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice.
How could Paul be sorrowful YET always rejoicing?
I suggest that Paul allowed something far more Rock solid than his feelings or his circumstances dictate his joy.. It was TRUTH that dictated..
• Our minds MUST inform our emotions
• Our minds MUST challenge our wills
But when our circumstances (when our emotions) rule our minds, we have nowhere to go for joy & rejoicing!
- The order of things has been overturned by sin–
- So our wills (our actions) are so often ruled by our feelings
- And rejoicing is then ONLY possible when you are feeling good
Any thoughts about agreeing.. helping.. or rejoicing??
I’m all ears (eyes).
In response to “minds informing emotions”, during my lunch hour hike through the hills today I encountered a woman with a large, black dog on a leash. She struggled to keep her dog under control as I passed.
I write this from my desk unbitten (all glory to the Father). Reflecting on the event, I was reminded of what sometimes happens when I try to control, rather than inform, my emotions. They become a bit unruly and occasionally someone (usually Mr. Crabby aka The Crab Whisperer) is snapped at. This is an improvement for I no longer gnaw but nip at irritations.
I have found that people who are best at controlling their animals do so because they have established a relationship with them, understand their limitations and strengths, and do not take them places where they are apt to get out of control.
[S]he who is slow to anger is better than the mighty and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city. Prov 16:32
P.S. Welcome back, Todd. I was going through withdrawal.
Keeping our eyes focused on the cross, and Jesus, allows us to have disagreements yet remain unified. The sermon this week had so many implications and applications to muse over, that quite frankly, I might have gone off the deep end.
1. I realized that if properly applied (and believed), the cross will bring reconciliation to any relationship.
2. A deeper understanding formed as to why Paul said to the Corinthians “For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.” In a church with so many divisions the only way to keep the ship sailing strait was to have one singular, all consuming, message. The gospel.
3. Doctrinal, and methodological difference exist in our fellowship. Maybe to numerous to count. And this same melting pot of denomination, and ideas, is happening everywhere. The world is getting so small its almost getting hard to breath without inhaling someone else’s ideological fumes.
So I guess the greatest question that arose from this meditation was
“what should we, as the body of Christ, “universally” unify under?”
The question scared me to be quite frank again. Does the list only contain the cross? What about the Holy Trinity? What about the atonement? Immaculate conception? Anything else?
I dont presume to answer these questions. Just curious as to what anyone else thinks. The scriptures swing on a pendulum between “Jesus, in ultimate authority, praying for His body to be unified” to Paul saying “put out the false teacher and unrepentant ‘brother’.”
Anyone else feel their head exploding?
“For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.”
I think the passage you selected summed it up elegantly, Mike. With all eyes on the same goal, the ship is bound to arrive at its destination. The Holy Spirit directs each unit as He interprets the Father’s will for the life of each individual believer.
Todd,
I too am glad your back and that we are still in Philippians! Sorry it has taken so long to get to this as I left on Sunday thinking about the Blog. For me this letter is perhaps the most pertinent book in the Bible. If we all only did what it says our worlds (individually and corporately)would be really different.
Yes, if we imitate Christ by becoming a servant our chances of being able to be some sort of common denominator between Eudoia and Snytyche is possible and encouraged (implored?) by Paul. If we can find those things that bind us together (agreeing) then those things that separate us (disagreeing)have some chance of being overcome. The goal is unity within Christ (one mind and one heart)overlooking (and hopefully overcoming)the facts of our disagreeing. Paul tackled one of the greatest dangers late in the book perhaps to first build his case and to prompt hearts. The Christians at Philippi were alerted to this situtation and so should we be within our own world. If we can somehow defer those disagreed points off until we get to heaven perhaps we will see that both parties were not exactly correct.
Spurgeon’s addressing the “under recognized” function within the body underscores the proposition that when helps are functioning and properly recognized the body will be better off (blessed). It is often repeated that it is the act of giving (helps)that you receive the most. I believe that (and looking forward to your series on depression I some how believe this will be fit in somewhere – maybe).
On the rejoicing part, I’m not sure about a couple of things.
Yes:
The order of things has been overturned by sin–
- So our wills (our actions) are so often ruled by our feelings
But do you really think or mean that :
- “rejoicing is then ONLY possible when you are feeling good”?
Feelings are not what allows me to rejoice. Faith (knowledge of the Truth you mentioned)and the resulting Hope (perhaps an expectancy of the realization of the eventualities) are the cause for me to rejoice, regardless of circumstances (and they are bad right now). By the way I see this more clearly than I did 30 years ago (a function of age or maturing maybe). I think of those suffering with cancer and I know there is rejoicing despite the circumstances. Paul expresses this continually and speaks of his changing circumstances yet he still rejoices – (II Cor 6:1-13).
Getting past the feelings is the issue and often this cannot be done by ourselves. In so many cases it takes help from others. Helping others comes when we are prompted by the Spirit to be like Christ….. may this happen more in all of our lives! I love Philippians!
I should add that I really found merit in Mike’s point’s one, two and three. I use to struggle a lot with the resulting questions. Honestly, after several years of study that produced fewer certainties I had to leave the determination to others (those called to that function). Then all I had to do is sit under the teaching of godly men and rely on spiritual discernment. And as we seek it, He will give it. I am looking forward to Heaven as some of the things that are not totally clear will be.
Mike – a lot of what you are asking depends on the definitions of “unity” and “body”.
UNITY – There is this mission of some to “unify” all of the Christian churches. What that usually means is having concerts together in the park or inter-church prayer meetings. I’m all for that when warranted, but unity is much greater than that narrow focus. I might not worship in the local Baptist church, but I’m unified with them. I might never meet the pastor at the Lutheran church, but he’s my brother and I can pray for him. I might not agree on many open hand theologic stances taken by all of the above but that doesn’t mean we’re not “agreeing” in the Lord (as Paul phrases it in Philippians 4).
BODY – When Paul wrote to the Philippians he was speaking to the issue of two women in ONE local church that were fighting. I think for us to start asking about the unity of ALL the churches over ALL the theological issues is to take this too far. Remember that when we read and apply a letter written to a local church 2,000 years ago we must first apply it to them before we apply it to us. This is the only way to properly make application in our day. The order is ROME to PHILIPPI to Grass Valley.
Hope that answers some of the questions.
PS You mentioned differing theologies in our church. Of course there are, and that’s true of every church. There’s room for a whole lot of difference. Where the need for agreement becomes narrow is in eldership. In other words, the door to the church is really big and generous… the door to the pastor’s offices becomes far more narrow, and that is for the sake of mission & vision.
Todd thank you for your response. What you said about the church being open to many differing doctrines at the front door but becoming more narrow in the elders office doors makes a ton of sense.
Just a curiosity, have the elders ever discussed a rewritten affirmation of faith? Our body seems to be in a limbo theologically and knowing what the eldership believes would be immensely helpful. Well helpful to some I suppose.
Thank you for serving us.
Mike – If our body is in a limbo theologically then I’ve wasted 5 years of my life teaching the Bible, and the class on Biblical theology was a waste of time.
If what you’re looking for is a “ism” (Calvinism, Arminianism, etc.) or a label (reformed, charismatic, liberal, conservative) you know me well enough to know you’re not going to get one here.
As for a rewritten affirmation of faith, we’ve done so (in statement form) and keep it available in the church foyer & on our website.. here..
http://www.crossroadslive.com/about/statement-of-f aith/
At the same time, I wouldn’t mind revisiting any affirmations that exist (I’ve been a pastor in Calvary Chapels for 20 years and have never seen one).
If you’ve got something more specific in mind feel free to contact me by email as I think the “helpful to some” is probably correct.
PS – None of what I’ve written above is meant to be derogatory. Just my honest answer to the questions as I understand them.. so please don’t take it in a negative way at all..
Again.. the limitations of print can really mess with you.
My comment about our body being in limbo theologically was not ment as a dig on your teaching. Maybe another word besides limbo should have been used (maybe theological purgatory) ok ok that was a joke. Forgive me if that isn’t funny
I guess I was thinking about more definition in what the eldership believes. But like you said, your not one for giving ism’s or placing yourself under a banner of tradition. I guess I just wanted more definition.
I know written words have a hard time being deciphered sometimes. Probably why God gave us the Holy Spirit to interpret scripture.
I’ll email you with any future idea’s or comments. Thanks again.