Encouraged by Christ himself, moved by God's love, and participating in the
work of God's Spirit, the Philippian church is challenged to bring Paul's
joy (an often repeated theme of this letter) to its ultimate end (vv. 1-2)
by living out together a certain kind of life. In verses 3 and 4, Paul proceeds
to paint a vivid portrait of just what this life is to look like: a community
comprised of persons who do not live for themselves but rather who live for
each other. Self-serving motivations are disregarded (v. 3) and replaced by
the desire to serve the interests of the other person (v. 4). The other person
is thus regarded ahead of oneself.
Breaking out into an ancient hymn of the self-emptying life of Jesus Christ
(vv. 6-8), Paul presents for the people the very image of what they are called
to be as a community. Their community is to reflect the Christ who did not
strive for greatness or equality with God (v. 6). Like Christ, they, too,
are to be humbly emptied and serve one another, even to the point of death
itself (vv. 7-8).
However, the challenge that Paul gives to the Philippian community is not
one of mimicking Christ's actions. It is not a challenge to "try harder
to be like Jesus," nor is it a charge to "change your ways to those
of Christ." In order for the people to live out the self-emptying life
of Jesus, that is, in order for the people to be selfless rather than self-serving,
their minds must be transformed. Their way of thinking must be changed. Therefore,
Paul calls the people to be "of the same mind, . . . the same love, .
. . and of one mind" (v. 2, NRSV). The hinge between Paul's call to action
(selfless serving) and the hymn of Christ's self-emptying is found in this
admonition: "Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus"
(v. 5, NRSV). Paul is not concerned first with reformed actions but rather
with transformed minds. In order for the people of God to live out such a
Christlike life, their very minds must be transformed to Christ's way of thinking--a
reality that can take place only by the gracious work of God!
As the people of God, we are called to embody Jesus Christ through the life
that we share together. This shared life is so clearly articulated in Paul's
admonition to live for others rather than for ourselves. However, we are repeatedly
confronted with the reality of the human dilemma: all we have ever known is
living life for ourselves. How is it that we could even begin to live life
in any other way?
Paul provides some answer to this dilemma by supplying the model of self-emptying
as seen in Jesus Christ. However, no matter how hard we try to be like Jesus
in word and in deed, we seem never to be able to live fully this life of selflessness.
The world continues to revolve around our own desires, plans, and dreams.
Are the people of God simply destined to a lifetime of the never-ending battle
between Christlike selflessness and human selfishness?
Into this human dilemma erupts the divine answer to the never-ending battle:
"Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus." Reforms,
cosmetic makeovers, and strong determination will always end in defeat. The
people of God are not called simply to "try and act like Jesus";
we are called to have the mind of Christ. We are admonished, not simply to
live in a different way, but to think with a different mind. God's answer
goes far beyond human reformation; it ultimately is found in divine transformation!
If God's answer is a transformed way of thinking, that is, the mind of Christ,
how are we to respond? A new mind does not occur simply by "trying harder"
or "committing more." Only by the grace of God can our minds be
transformed. Transformation, like creation, is the work of God, not the work
of human beings. Nevertheless, we do not simply sit by idly and hope that
God will transform our minds. We respond to the grace of God by partnering
with that grace.
As we faithfully live in the presence of Christ, availing ourselves of the
means of God's grace and participating in the disciplines, we are indeed transformed
into the very image of Jesus Christ from glory into glory.
(For a full manuscript of this sermon, go to www.preachersmagazine.org.)
This sermon might most appropriately be approached as a mutual journey between
the preacher and the congregation. As the sermon begins, the congregation
might be asked the question, "What do the people of God look like?"
Certainly, many different answers are given in contemporary society. One might
even wish to read the way some communities of faith describe themselves from
the church advertisement section (without naming specific churches). Some
emphasize their educational program, some their age-group ministries, some
their music ministry, and others their facilities. This introduction provides
an entry into Paul's description of the people of God: life lived for others
(vv. 3-4).
Here the journey will begin. The preacher might ask the question: "How
are we to live that type of life?" Again, the sermon might provide answers
that have been attempted in the past--for example, through the establishment
of certain ministries, through giving of special offerings, and so on. However,
Paul's answer is the imitation of Jesus Christ. The self-emptying life and
ministry of Jesus would then be described.
However, another question emerges: "How are we to imitate Christ?"
Again, many attempts have been made. Particularly many attempts reflect the
human attempt to try repeatedly to do the things of Christ. Once again, Paul
provides the answer: the mind of Christ. The answer is found not in a simple
reformation of what we do but in a transformation of how we think. As such
a transformation is ultimately the work of God, we are called, by God's grace,
to place ourselves in such a posture that the grace of God can continue to
transform our minds "from glory to glory" into the very image of
Jesus (2 Corinthians 3:18, KJV).
