Lent 5
Philippi
The ministry of Paul and his friends in Philippi lead to some spectacular results. Lives
were changed, whole households where baptised, slaves liberated, a prison destroyed
and a jailor saved from suicide. In all of this, Acts evidences that Paul and his friends
came through with faith intact but were arrested, badly beaten up and tossed into jail
for their efforts. They were certainly no strangers to suffering. Sadly, the evidence of
Paul’s letter to the church in Philippi is that there was suffering within the church later
on because on the attitudes of some members who were focussed upon themselves
more than upon Christ and others.
In Philippians chapter 1 Paul says that some preached the Gospel because of their
ambition, perhaps seeking adulation, advancement within Church structures and
otherwise seeing it as a career in the worldly sense. Some were motivated by envy
and rivalry, seeking other proclaimers of Christ as the enemy, perhaps comparing
their evangelistic efforts to others. In this way they may become jealous of the results
of the efforts of others or themselves become discouraged by their inability to match
up to the achievements of others. Paul writes encouragingly that while some indeed
proclaim Christ with wrong intention there are also folk who are motivated by love
and goodwill.
What may say in response to Paul’s prison troubles and his experience of the church
in Philippi generally?
Firstly, we must be reminded that the church is not a club of righteous people but a
school and hospital for sinners. As it was in the Philippian church, there are people
engaged in ministry and evangelism in our churches whose their motives are often
less than honourable. We must be realistic about it but must also affirm that this is not
the sort of attitude that is useful within the body of Christ. In our Anglican Dioceses
we have developed strategies for discerning potential ministry ability in people who
seek ordination and an aspect of this is personality assessment. The church must do
it’s very best to try not to ordain inappropriate people. Our Dioceses have also put in
place strategies for dealing with breakdown of relationships between members of
parishes and between clergy and people. Our church is taking seriously the need to
have sound ministry and the opportunity for healing.
Secondly, like Paul and his companions, many thousands of Christ’s followers
through the ages and still today, suffer undeserved ill treatment for daring to live as
God would have them do. How did Paul and company respond to the embarrassment
and pain of prison? They didn’t threaten the authorities and police, but politely and
firmly stood up for their rights. They didn’t despair but trusted God and spent the
night singing and praying. When they had the opportunity to escape after the
earthquake they remained in their cells because they didn’t want the jailor to get into
trouble or harm himself.
Just as Paul was no stranger to hard times and copping punishment for following
Jesus, so we must be prepared to accept rejection or loss if it comes our way as
Christ’s disciples. Paul’s experience of suffering for the sake of the Gospel continues
in the lives of many millions around the world today.
The worst that Christians can expect to get for following Jesus in Australia is a bit a
light hearted ridicule. Following Jesus in many countries and cultures around the
world however can be downright dangerous. People in many places endure beatings
and imprisonment and even lose their lives for their faith. Christians in parts of
Africa, Indonesia, India, central America and middle eastern countries have been lost
their lives in recent decades. In these and other places following Jesus can also restrict
work and marriage prospects.
Within the body of Christ, sufferings and achievements should be shared (1 Cor 12)
and so we who are in more comfortable circumstances must share in the suffering
experienced by those who bear the name of Christ. This must be in for form of
practical support where possible, making others aware of their plight, challenging the
real causes of their suffering and providing prayerful support.
Whenever and wherever people suffer they never suffer alone. Even if others are
unaware of their suffering, Christ has entered into the situation of suffering. In his
famous book Night, Elie Weisel tells the story of the execution of young men in an
Nazi concentration camp. They were being punished for trying to escape. The other
prisoners were forced to stand and watch in silence but one person cried out from the
ranks – “where is God”. Wiesel wrote that he heard a voice rise within himself “I am
twitching on the end of the rope”. God is always within and between suffering people.
In every way we must embody the attitude that was evident in Paul’s letter Philippians 2:5 “Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though
he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be
exploited, 7 but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human
likeness. And being found in human form, 8 he humbled himself and became obedient
to the point of death--even death on a cross”.
As we approach the business end of Lent we are invited to enter into the suffering of
God who suffers with his people.