Right now society seems like it is on fire, between disease, police killings, riots, looting – but as Christians we are called to serve as a bucket brigade, each doing our small part to put out the fires.
Paul’s words here to the Philippians can help us understand how to do that. It starts with his exhortation to conduct our lives in a way that’s worthy of the gospel. The term “conduct” here comes from the same root as “politics” – it is about how we live in community with others. Our interactions with others should point those people to Christ.
Paul doesn’t know whether he will be able to join them in person (sound familiar?), but wants up know that they are united, like a troop of soldiers or an athletic team. This means a giving up of our personal ambitions in support of the team. As Christians, we sometimes think we’re playing singles when we are supposed to be playing doubles.
Paul continues using picturesque language, urging the Philippians not to be alarmed in the way that a horse can be spooked. Even though they are being persecuted, the ill intentions of their oppressors will be turned back on them.
But that does not mean that such oppression will not come. In fact, Paul writes that suffering is set before us as a task in the same vein as believing. We cannot get one without the other, and in fact each one feeds into the other.
We are not called to go out of our way to seek out suffering, but if we are living a life the way we are called to, we will experience suffering, for the sake of Christ.
That means we are also called to tenacity, and to a unity within that tenacity, supporting each other within the church, and ultimately supported by the power of God.
Today is a good day to recommit ourselves both to the work of God and to our brothers and sisters who we serve with.
-Sermon Notes, Mahlon Friesen, Seed Church, Lynnwood WA, May 31