Philippians 3:1-11
This is an instance where the translators' sensibilities get in the way of what Paul was actually saying (although, to translate directly would have probably distracted from the overall message because people would have been shocked and/or offended - "good Christians don't say those words!).
So, trying not to get distracted by Paul's choice of words, what is the point? Paul starts by telling the congregation to rejoice in the Lord (one of the major themes of the letter - which he picks up on in 4:4) but then gets distracted with amazing anger and almost bitterness towards those legalistic Christians who are trying to pervert the message of Christ. Paul's point here is that obedience and service is the new circumcision. Then he lays out his own credentials as a legalist which are great, but, when compared to the greatness of knowing Christ are shit (or, to be nice liek the NIV, "garbage"). The point: nothing even comes close to knowing Christ, to having a righteousness granted by God through faith, to knowing the power of his resurrection and the privilege of sharing in his sufferings.
And that's where it gets me... Actually, this passage gets me on two points: first, I love credentials. I love earning gold stars and letting people know - in subtle ways so they don't realize that I'm boasting - just how great I am. If I had to choose between earning credentials and knowing Christ, I would have to think about it. Obviously I don't understand the greatness of knowing Jesus. Obviously I've become jaded to the wonder. God, renew me!
Secondly, I'm great with wanting to know the power of Christ's resurrection but I'm not so sure about sharing in his sufferings. I am not afraid to die but I am afraid of pain and humiliation and ridicule. I know that it is a privilege to share in Christ's sufferings and I know that I am not sharing in them because I am not capable of handling it. I am almost ashamed at how I have insulated myself from any suffering. Am I better than Christ? Then how can I defend the comfortable, safe life I am living?
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1 comment:
I can relate on so many levels, oh how we all just want to live in comfort. But following Christ does not give us that, it gives us the opposite. It can be really hard. When we think though everything should be rubbish to us, except for Christ, essentially nothing else matters. Easy to say, but so much harder to live out.
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