Lessons for August 26
Conflict within the church is a lurking menace
___ Philippians 2:1-11
___By Bobby Dagnel
___First Baptist Church, Nederland
___Greek mythology tells of Cadmus who, while searching for his sister, came upon a dragon blocking his travel. Cadmus fought and killed the fierce dragon. He then extracted the teeth of the savage beast and buried them in a field.
___The next time he traveled that way, he was surprised to discover every tooth had become an armed giant. It seemed impossible that he could pass through their midst. How could he overcome them?
___He thought of a scheme. While hiding behind a tree, he threw a stone, hitting one of the
giants. The giant, thinking another of the giants had struck him, hit back in return. The other giants began to take sides and quarrel. Their fighting escalated and soon involved their weapons. Finally, all were wounded. Then Cadmus was able to pass.
___The church is filled with those who would be spiritual giants. To keep this potential from ever being realized, Satan constantly is at work, sowing seeds of discord and disunity that we might end up fighting one another and destroying not only our fellowship with one another but, more especially, our witness to the world.
___As we examine this week's focal passage, Philippians 2:1-11, and the Apostle Paul's concern for unity of mind and spirit, it does not necessarily mean that there was an atmosphere of dissension in the Philippian church. There may have been an isolated conflict between Euodia and Syntyche needing to be resolved, but having seen the effects of quarrelsome attitudes and selfish ambition in segments of the Roman church, I believe Paul's writing is pre-emptive in nature. He is anxious that such behavior does not come to characterize the church at Philippi.
___The apostle begins by emphasizing how we are to think--"like-minded" (v. 2). It is a word appearing on 10 occassions in this letter.
___Paul is not saying we should have the same thoughts and opinions on every subject that might arise. To be like-minded means to strive for and work toward a unity of purpose and understanding. There can be differences of opinion and yet still exist a unity of mind and spirit. It is not necessary for you and me to see eye to eye to walk hand-in-hand.
___For the Apostle Paul, the mind, how one thinks, is crucial to the manifestation of one's faith in Christ. Near the end of this letter, he will write: "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things" (4:8).
___"Think about" is a favorite expression of Paul, used 34 times in his letters. Our mathematical term "logarithm" is derived from the same Greek word. It refers to a deliberate and prolonged contemplation as if one is weighing out a mathematical problem. The things of the Spirit demand much contemplation and thought.
___Elsewhere Paul would write that transformation comes about by the renewing of one's mind (Romans 12:2). The mind shapes our personalities, who we are, how we act. The greatest spiritual battles in the life of a believer are fought in the mind. What are the sins of pride, lust, greed, covetousness, suspicion and discouragement but sins of the mind?
___Even Solomon recognized the influence of the mind, when thousands of years ago he wrote, "Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life."
___In his book, "Recovering the Christian Mind," Harry Blamires notes that while Christians may pray and worship as Christians, they do not think as Christians. He writes: "The Christian mind has succumbed to the secular drift with a degree of weakness and nervelessness unmatched in Christian history." Elsewhere he sees our generation suffering from religious anorexia--a loss of appetite for growth in Christ.
___In the remaining verses of our passage, Paul brings focus to our behavior. For Paul, how a person thinks is the springboard to how a person acts. Verses 3 and 4 address specifically how we as believers are to act, not out of selfish ambition, considering others better than ourselves, while verses 5-11 offer Christ as an example of such behavior. According to Philippians 4:8, Paul would offer himself as one to be imitated--"Whatever you have learned or received from me, or seen in me--put into practice." Are we consistent enough to offer ourselves as a demonstration and an example for others to follow?
___Late-night talk show host David Letterman asked heavyweight boxer George Foreman how he could at the same time be a boxer and a preacher. Foreman feigned anger and said, "Just hold my Bible and I'll show you."
___While his response brought a laugh, that is exactly what we are to be about and who the world needs to see--a flesh-and-blood demonstration of what it means to be a follower of Christ; not just minds filled with knowledge, but lives flourishing with action in the everyday arenas of life.
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