Philippians 3:17-21
Paul continues his thought from the previous paragraph: we should all forget what is behind and strain to take hold of that for which Christ has taken hold of us. Then Paul says that if the reader doesn't know how to do that to look at Paul's own example or the example of someone else who is living in that same way. The urgency of Paul's imperative is that by not living in this way, the reader risks being an enemy of the cross who is destined for destruction.
The characteristics of an enemy of the cross are that their god is their stomach - I think this means that they give in to their basic, animal instincts and have no self-control but indulge in glutony, sexual immorality, greed, etc. Their mantra is likely: if it feels good, do it. They have no thought for eternity but live completely in and for the moment. Paul reminds us that our citizenship is in heaven and so we should have a point of view that extends beyond the present and live according to that.
There is no sense of Paul gloating about the destruction of the enemies of the cross. On the contrary, just the idea that there are those opposed to Christ and therefore destined for destruction causes tears to come to Paul's eyes. I know that I hdon't have that same heart-felt response. I think there are two reasons: I have allowed hell to be a theological belief and not allowed myself to really think about or comprehend what it means in reality and I have isolated myself relationally and emotionally from people who don't know Jesus which makes me callous to the fact that my neighbours are destined for destruction. As I think about it, there is a third reason: Paul's tears may come from the fact that he has a deep love for people but I believe that love for people is motivated by his love for God and his passionate desire for the glory of God. I think he has grasped the heart of God when it comes to enemies of the cross: it is sad because they are destined for destruction but also because they are minimizing the most beautiful expression of God's love for them.
My prayer? Simply that God would awaken my senses to the reality of the destruction that awaits those who live as if there is no eternity, that he would give me eyes to see people they way that he sees them and a heart to love them the way that he loves them, that he would remind me again of the glory of the cross and the deep insult that the enemies of the cross make when they live as if it never happened. I also pray that God would show me who is living like Paul in this regard so that I can model my life after them.
Showing posts with label Philippians 3. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Philippians 3. Show all posts
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Monday, April 21, 2008
don't look back...
Philipians 3:12-14
The key word is take hold or obtain: Paul has not yet taken hold of knowing Christ, the power of his resurrection and sharing in his sufferings (the previous paragraph). The key phrase is forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead.
This paragraph is a comfort to me because it would be easy to get discouraged if Paul had just stopped at the previous paragraph. He lays out the ideal: achieving the righteousness that comes by faith, knowing Christ, knowing the power of his resurrection (and I'm pretty sure that the word knowing here doesn't mean having information that would allow me to pass a test on Christian beliefs but that it means having first hand knowledge or experiencing) and sharing in his suffering. I know that I don't come anywhere close to the ideal but I am pressing on to take hold of it.
The phrase that captures my attention is "I press on to take hold of that for which Christ has taken hold of me." In other words, Christ's purpose for Paul's life is more than just being rescued from hell. Christ's purpose is that Paul would experience Christ, his resurrection, etc. Paul was not going to be satisfied until he took hold of that. I pray that I would have a holy disatisfaction with my present level of faith and experience and that I too would press on to take hold of that for which Christ has taken hold of me.
The key word is take hold or obtain: Paul has not yet taken hold of knowing Christ, the power of his resurrection and sharing in his sufferings (the previous paragraph). The key phrase is forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead.
This paragraph is a comfort to me because it would be easy to get discouraged if Paul had just stopped at the previous paragraph. He lays out the ideal: achieving the righteousness that comes by faith, knowing Christ, knowing the power of his resurrection (and I'm pretty sure that the word knowing here doesn't mean having information that would allow me to pass a test on Christian beliefs but that it means having first hand knowledge or experiencing) and sharing in his suffering. I know that I don't come anywhere close to the ideal but I am pressing on to take hold of it.
The phrase that captures my attention is "I press on to take hold of that for which Christ has taken hold of me." In other words, Christ's purpose for Paul's life is more than just being rescued from hell. Christ's purpose is that Paul would experience Christ, his resurrection, etc. Paul was not going to be satisfied until he took hold of that. I pray that I would have a holy disatisfaction with my present level of faith and experience and that I too would press on to take hold of that for which Christ has taken hold of me.
Friday, April 18, 2008
Washing Paul's mouth out with soap...
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?
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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