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Philippians 2:1-12
Matthew 21:23-32
When I was in middle school, I went on a weekend retreat led by a group of college students from Carson Newman College. It was during that weekend that had a mountain top experience. I was among good friends I had grown up with from church, in a scenic state park in VA, spending that weekend worshiping God and studying the Bible. It was there I experienced my first crush on an older woman. One of the folks leading the retreat was a girl named Terri and she was awesome, funny, smart, in love with God…..and I was in love with her. Even though she was 21 and I was 12 or 13. I remember being sad when the retreat was over and they had to go back to Jefferson City. One thing that lifted my spirits was Terri gave me a small picture of her. On the back was written a bible verse: Philippians 1:3. I couldn't wait to get home and see what that passage said. And when I read it, I was ecstatic because it said: "I thank my God every time I remember you." Evidently, I thought, she felt the same way about me. I just knew it. I know you are in suspense so I will let you know how that romance story ends. It is now 24 years after that weekend, and alas Terry and I are not together. But that beautiful greeting from Paul has remained with me all these years, "I thank my God every time I remember you, constantly praying with joy in every one of my prayers for all of you, because of your sharing in the gospel from the first day until now. I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work among you will bring it to completion by the day of Jesus Christ."
But moving forward into the next chapter of Philippians we come to our epistle lesson where Paul is encouraging the Christian movement in Philippi to be of 'one mind.' There were divisions becoming evident in the church at Philippi made known through arguments of one type or another. Later in the letter, Paul even makes reference to the argument between two of the leaders of the church, Euodia and Syntyche and urges them to be of the same mind in the Lord. Now, this is the same Paul who split company with Barnabas and Peter after they went back on their promise to treat Gentile converts the same as those who were baptized into the faith from Judaism. In Paul's letter to church in Galatia you will recall Paul saying, "As many of you as were baptized into Christ have clothed yourself with Christ. There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to the promise." Today we are many miles and years away from the people to whom Paul wrote his letters that are now a part of the canon, however we are nowhere near to being of like mind in the church. Today it seems that Christians argue and fight amongst themselves more than spreading the good news of the gospel. I too have been caught up in this and have on more than one occasion disparaged my Baptist and Catholic friends who say that I must believe this or that in order to have salvation or receive communion. We can't even agree in our own denomination. Are we Catholic or Protestant? Do we believe that scripture contains all things necessary for salvation or is it open to interpretation based on history and context and how does that translate to our society today? Can those who are considered on the margins preach the gospel of Christ when centuries of Christian tradition have normally excluded them, reserving their seat at the back of the bus….or rather in the back of the church?
I personally believe that our differences will NEVER be reconciled. We are diverse and God has created us that way. Diversity plus free will does not and will not ever equal 'one mind' in the church. That's not to say that we can't agree on some of the basics. I like how Paul puts it: "Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others. Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, who though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death—even death on a cross."
How counter cultural; to empty ourselves, taking the form of a slave, and to humble ourselves and become obedient to the point of death. WOW!!! I couldn't help to think about all this last night while I watching the debate. This American culture has built a system based on the philosophy "the person who finishes with the most toys, wins." And we can see what it is doing to our economy. The rich get richer, the poor get poorer and as our economy tanks we survey the damage and try to figure out how we can repair it without losing too much of our own wealth. We keep building our towers to Heaven and God keeps knocking them down as if to say He's been down here all along. Earlier I mentioned Barnabas who with Peter differed with Paul on the 'basics,' more specifically, keeping kosher. However, Barnabas did something incredible that is recorded in Acts. He sold all of his property, and laid the proceeds at the feet of his fellow apostles for distribution amongst the poor. He had become poor, so that everyone might be a little richer. In early Christian communities it was common for everyone to pull their resources together for feasts so that those who had, and those didn't could eat together without distinction. How might we, you and I, be able to establish God's kingdom here on earth in the midst of economic turmoil? How might we become of 'one mind?'
First off, I think we can begin by prayer. Simply holding each other up in prayer is the beginning. Paul said, "Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves. Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others." I'm sure each of us knows someone who is in desperate need; if not financially, then in health or in spirit. This world is ravished by poverty, both physical and spiritual poverty. Uphold friend, stranger, and acquaintance who might be experiencing poor health. Uphold the family member who is ravished by addiction and those around him or her who are desperate for their healing. Uphold the person you might know who has not been faithful in relationships to spouse or family. Uphold the folks you might read about on the front page of the newspaper, those killed in a car crash, maimed by terrorism, left homeless after a hurricane. Uphold your enemies in prayer, those who have treated you with disrespect, who have spoken of you disparagingly, or stolen your dignity. Uphold yourself in prayer, giving thanks for blessings you have received or when you are facing times of great trial, for sometimes you might actually be the poorest person whom you know.
Secondly recognize and use the gifts you have been given by God. We all can't do everything, but we each can do something in the healing of this world. Whether you're a musician, a doctor, a lawyer, a waiter/waitress, a computer tech, an accountant, a construction worker; whether you have a doctorate in philosophy or simply a G.E.D. ; no matter if you are upper, middle, or lower class….God has bestowed upon you gifts and talents with which you can bring about change in the world. Explore the possibilities of how you might use your talents and vocation to bring about change in the world no matter how small.
And lastly, love each other. Look at the diversity of another human being as lovely. Respect another's opinion regardless of your own worldview. For it is in our neighbor…rich, poor, black, white, gay, straight, male, female, Christian, jew, muslim, Buddhist and witch….that we will come to know Christ Jesus. In today's gospel Jesus says, "Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are going into the kingdom of God ahead of you. For John came to you in the way of righteousness and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him; and even after you saw it, you did not change your minds and believe him."
Claiming Christ is not enough. If we claim to be a disciple of Christ, we must each carry our cross and be willing to empty ourselves and loose our life. It is the only way. But don't be discouraged. In the words of Paul, "I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work among you will bring it to completion by the day of Jesus Christ." Amen