(Philippians 2: 1-13)
One of my favorite movies is Cool Hand Luke starring Paul Newman, George Kennedy and Strother Martin. Newman is a small-time petty thief who ends up in a southern prison farm for sawing the heads of parking meters for the spare change. Newman, as Luke, is a bit of a non-conformist and, as Kennedy described him, a “hardcase”. Strother Martin plays a wonderful part as the “captain” of the camp and, at times, he goes to great lengths to impress upon the men under his charge the importance of getting along and following the rules. For those, like Luke, who can’t quite get it, he has ways of helping them “get their minds right”. This usually means a “night in the box” which is a small building about the size of a one-holer outhouse without the luxury accommodations. It’s hot and cramped. If a couple of nights in box doesn’t get your attention and there’s a “failure to communicate”, other more extreme measures are imposed like longer stretches in the box and maybe even a chain around your ankles to serve as an ever-present reminder. With the exception of Luke, the other men serving out their sentences were of the same mind and in full accord with the rules and regulations of the camp enabling them to do the work and the will of the “captain”.
And, being of one mind and in full accord is what the Apostle Paul is talking about in our scripture reading for this morning. If you remember last Sunday’s sermon: What Can I Do?, you’ll recall the message Paul was conveying to the Philippian church that they should live their lives in a manner worthy of the gospel and doing for others what they could with what they have. In the message for this morning, Paul is building upon this theme that once they’ve gotten their minds right, they all need to work in the same accord pursuing the interests of others in the name of Jesus Christ. He goes on to say; If then there is any encouragement in Christ, any consolation from love, any sharing in the Spirit, any compassion and sympathy, make my joy complete: be of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. He says to do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves. What he’s saying is that many people, even Christians, live only to make a good impression on others or to please themselves. But this selfish ambition or vain conceit brings nothing but discord. He continues by saying; Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interest of others. Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ.
That’s an interesting point and how do we make it relevant in today’s chaotic and self-centered world? Well, as I was researching this sermon, I engaged in one of those all-too-common Facebook exchanges that seem to be dominating our lives. The poster I responded to was making the point that he was going to support the candidate he believed was a Christian and supported churches. Yeah, that got my attention. So, my response was that as long as we were playing the religion card, I was interested in supporting any candidate for public office who understood what Jesus was saying in chapter 25 of Matthew’s gospel. I told the readers the story about Jesus separating the sheep from the goats and went to the part where Jesus said that when he was hungry he wasn’t given anything to eat, when he was thirsty he wasn’t given anything to drink, when he was a stranger he wasn’t invited in, when he needed clothes he wasn’t given anything to wear, and when he was sick and in prison no one came to visit him or tend to his needs. When asked by the goats when it was that they didn’t do these things, Jesus responded it was when they didn’t do it for the least of one of his brothers or sisters that they didn’t do it for him. I said that, based upon these words of Jesus Christ, I would be interested in any candidate who passed laws and spent my hard-earned tax dollars on programs that fed the hungry, provided housing for the stranger, clothed those or provided for those needing the basic necessities, provided basic health care for people who need to see a doctor when they’re sick, and supported restorative justice programs for those who find themselves in jail due to poor life choices or alcohol and drug addictions.
You see, that’s what Paul is talking about. He’s stressing spiritual unity, asking the Philippians, and us, to love one another and to be in one spirit and purpose. When we work together, caring for the problems of others as if they were our own problems, we demonstrate Christ’s example of putting others first, and we experience unity. Considering others’ interests as more important than our own links us with Christ, who was the truest example of humility. I see that in what we are able to do with our mission effort. I love giving people tours of our Mission Work Room and Clothes closet. I know most preachers would take a visitor to the sanctuary but, in our church, unity of mind and spirit is born and cultivated in our efforts to help others. It lives and breathes in those two rooms. I can tell you that when you meet one of these desperate people on their own terms and can personally provide them with a hygiene kit, new socks, a warm blanket, shoes without holes in the sole, decent clothes and some of the other items we have, it can be a very humbling experience. And, that’s what Paul is saying when he describes the humility displayed by Jesus Christ. He was in the form of God, yet he did not exploit it. He emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being human, he humbled himself and became obedient to God to the point of death, death on the cross. And because of this humble service to others he was exalted by God above all others. Jesus showed a genuine interest in people which helped them feel their worth and value as a brother or sister.
Paul is telling us that showing genuine interest in others is a positive step forward in maintain unity among believers. And, like Christ, we should have a servant’s attitude, serving out of love for God and others, not out of guilt or fear. The key is remembering that you can change your attitude. You can approach life expecting to be served, or you can look for opportunities to serve others. It’s never too late. In his full humanity, Jesus showed us everything about God’s character that can be conveyed in human terms. It just requires getting your mind right. Unfortunately, people often excuse their selfishness, pride or shameful behavior by claiming that it is their right as free thinking and independent persons. They’ve figured out a way to justify the way they act or don’t act. And yet, they can also be the same people who say they follow Jesus Christ. I’m not sure who they’re following, but it’s not Christ. If we say we truly follow Christ, we must also say we want to live as he lived. What? You mean serving and helping “those” people? What did they ever do for me! Sorry, that’s exactly what the Apostle Paul is saying. We need to develop Christ’s attitude of humility as we serve, even when we are not likely to get recognition for our efforts like a plaque we can hang on the wall.
We close out this portion of Paul’s letter with him saying; Therefore, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed me, not only in my presence, but much more now in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who is at work in you, enabling you both to will and to work for his good pleasure. He says for us to “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling”. He knows we know what to do and where to go for help and guidance. He wants us to work together to rid ourselves of divisiveness and discord. He wants us to be careful about what we believe and how we live, especially when we are on our own. We may think nobody is watching, so what can it hurt, but people are always watching our every move just so they can see us when we fall, using our falling short to justify why they aren’t doing for others. If those Methodists in Port Hadlock aren’t doing it, why should I? It’s God who gives us the desire and the power to do what pleases him. The secret to this changed life is to just submit to God’s control and let him work in you and on you. You may be an old chunk of coal, but someday with the right amount of pressure, you’ll be a diamond someday and oh boy will you shine!
So, Paul is calling for a counter-cultural movement in the church in Philippi and within our own churches. And, it’s the life of Jesus Christ that serves as our model of a life worthy of the gospel. Citizens worthy of Christ do not use privilege and status to advance themselves. They renounce status as a means of advancing others and by so doing they advance the cause of Christ. So, to be like Christ, we must train ourselves to think like Christ. And, to change our desires to be more like Christ we need the power of the indwelling Spirit. We need the influence of faithful Christians to keep us on track. We need obedience to God’s word, not just exposure to it, not merely reading the Word, but living the Word. And, we need sacrificial service, walking the talk. And, it is in doing God’s will that we gain the desire and courage to take that leap of faith and commit ourselves to service. Do what he wants and trust him to change your desires. To accomplish this goal of being of the same mind, of having the same love, of being in full accord and of one mind, we must not suffer a failure of communication with God, and must rely upon the guidance and direction of the Holy Spirit and Jesus Christ to get our minds right, right in the service to God and his beloved children, the least of his brothers and sisters.
Please pray with me.
Lord, we know that in our unrefined selves we’re just old chunks of coal, but with the right amount of pressure we can be a diamond someday. We pray that in your love and guidance we will become blue, pure perfect putting smiles on everybody’s face as we serve others as you would want them served. Guide us through the Spirit to kneel and pray every day so we won’t become vain along the way. Teach us the best way to walk in your service and lay upon our hearts a better way to talk to those who need to hear your message of hope, joy, mercy and love. Help us to polish the rough edges of our lives as we work to rid ourselves of every single flaw. Move us through the example of your loving Son, Jesus Christ, to become like him, the world’s best friend. Help us Lord, to be a diamond someday. Amen.