“Only, live your life in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that… I will know that you are standing firm in one spirit, striving side by side with one mind for the faith of the gospel” (Philippians 1:27).
Phrases such as “standing firm,” “striving side by side,” and “no way intimidated by your opponents” reflect a picture of a community operating as a single person. I served as treasurer of our homeowner’s association. I learned that it’s difficult for a group of 40 members to get beyond individual preferences to what’s best for the whole. Our society values individual rights and freedoms. Even in the church, it’s difficult to gather so many individual opinions into a unified body.
In Philippi, the problem wasn’t so much rugged individualism as factions and divisive groups, so Paul appealed for unity.
We might see the phrases stand firm, strive together and don’t be intimidated as admonitions to bear down and try harder to do what’s right. But Paul approaches it from another direction. He says it’s a matter of receiving God’s gifts. Having one spirit and one mind is God’s doing.
This message is excerpted from the Bible study “Christian citizenship 101 – Paul’s letter to the Philippians” by Phyllis Kersten and E. Louise Williams in the January/February 2016 Gather magazine. Today we commemorate the Confession of Peter. This is the first day of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.
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