Lent 5Philippi
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.