Philippians 1 &2: It's All About Attitude

The letter to the Philippians was written later in Paul’s ministry than Acts 16 (in fact, probably written from Rome in prison as mentioned in Acts 28), but it is a good opportunity for us to enjoy this inspirational writing. Philippi despite the difficult beginnings in Acts, became one of Paul’s home bases of ministry and an ongoing inspiration to him.

The letter is written to thank the Philippians for their special offering they have sent for his ministry. He begins with a statement of encouragement. Chapter 1, verse 6, is an affirmation on our last week’s class conversation about salvation as event and process.

“Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”

In United Methodist understanding, salvation includes the whole work of God in our personal and societal lives (justification, sanctification and entire sanctification; personal salvation and social salvation). And Paul’s prayer in verses 9-11 would be a worthy one for us to pray for each other,

“That your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ - to the glory and praise of God.”

Paul was under house arrest (for at least two years in Rome), but it was also where he did some of his finest writing. His discussion of ministry that is done for impure motives is interesting. I’m not sure there is such a thing as “pure ministry,” totally emptied of ego, hypocrisy and self-interest. Yet God still uses us. I’m reminded of an article that talked about preaching in terms of Numbers 22, how the word of God can be spoken even by a donkey (it sounds so much better in the proverbial “french”). Paul has learned to rejoice in God’s good work, even through those who seem to be in it for themselves.

Chapter 2:1-11 is one of my favorite passages of scripture. He uses the “self-emptying” of Christ as a model for how we live together as Christians. We don’t assert our status or our rights, but rather empty ourselves and choose to serve one another, preferring and exalting others more than ourselves. The Philippian church was in conflict (described more fully in 4:2-3), and he calls them to selfless service as their point of reconciliation. What if we got to the point that everything wasn’t all about us, but rather about touching the world with God’s love and making present his kingdom? Scholars believe this passage was one of the ancient hymns of the Church. I bet they had to sing it often! The contemporary example of this hymn for me is “They’ll Know We are Christians by Our Love.”

I'll stop for today. Have a good day and may you give yourself away for the glory of God.