Today we read the
letters of Paul and marvel, or shake our heads, over how much influence those
letters had in the formation of the Christian church. Ironically, with the
possible exception of the Book of Romans, Paul was just trying to put out a
fire in a local congregation. He had no idea we would be reading these letters
as great theological works. Douglas John Hall notes, “When one is reading the
New Testament two things are obvious. First, the church is God’s chosen instrument
for accomplishing the mission of God on earth, and second, something seems to
have gone terribly wrong with that instrument.”
The church in Philippi
was coming apart at the seams. The cause
of the problem was two women named Euodia and Syntyche. I don’t know what the
conflict was. I am not even sure I pronounced the woman’s names correctly. I do
know the conflict had grown bigger than the original problem. Gandhi was
probably not the first nor will he be the last to observe, “I like Christ but I
don’t much care for Christians. Why can’t Christians be more Christ like?” Paul
was probably wondering, “How does one calm the savage soul?” One thing I have
learned in my years in ministry is sermons might challenge the intellect but it
is music that touches the heart.
At my last church we
had a weekly meditation on Sunday evenings. It was set up to accommodate those
who worked or played on Sunday morning. We also thought some kids might hang
around after youth group for a less formal service. As the service become a
fixture on Sunday evening those that attended regularly included the usual suspects
who show up anytime the church doors are open and two families who rarely made
it in on Sunday morning. These two families included six boys of varying ages with
every energy level imaginable except off.
To begin, we would gather in a circle, grab the hand of the adult or
child next to us, close our eyes and sing:
Gather us, O God, body, spirit, soul
and mind;
Gather us, O God, one in union now with
you.
We never sang it just
once. For the first two months it took singing it through twice before all the
boys would take their seats. We would sing as an invitation for God to enter
and make our space holy. It was a nice gesture because for the first month I
feared not even God would enter our chaos. But we kept singing until everyone
joined in and then one by one the adults would fall silent until the only ones
singing were the six boys. The rest of us were transformed by the voice of
angels. I believe some folks regularly came just to experience that moment of
genuine holiness.
I suspect all of us
have a favorite song. I am not talking about “Moon River” or “Jumping Jack
Flash”. I am referring to a hymn, a spiritual, or perhaps a camp song learned
at a retreat. The words and melody are etched in your soul. They are a lifeline
that pulls us to shore when chaos is crashing around our shoulders. A sermon of
mine might make it to discussion during lunch. But these songs have delivered
us from the very gates of hell.
Paul, who was never
one to shy away from his own voice, knew the chaos in Philippi demanded more
than a lecture. In the early church, before the New Testament was written or
the traditional creeds shaped most, churches clung to a song that described the
very essence of Christ.
We find it in
Philippians 2.
Christ, who though he was in the form
of God,
Did not regard equality with God
as something to be exploited.
Christ emptied himself,
Taking the form of a slave,
Being born in human likeness,
Christ humbled himself,
And become obedient to the point of
death.
Therefore God highly exalted him,
Giving him the name above every
name,
So that every tongue should confess
That Jesus Christ is Lord.
We no longer have the
tune to which the song was sung. We don’t know who wrote the original words.
But we are certain Paul used this very familiar poem to remind the church
family that the essence of God is the one who was humbled for the sake of all
of God’s creation.
Those who worship power
prefer to speak of God as Almighty and Omnipotent. The words ring with the very
essence of authority. They might ask if it is even possible to use the word God
and humbleness in the same sentence.
Think of that great
poem that begins the book of Genesis. In the beginning God created. Perhaps a different
translation could be, “In the beginning God humbly gave control of the earth to
us.”
Think of the Hebrews
slaves struggling to remain alive. They cried out and God not only heard them,
God emptied God’s self into the midst of their tribulation.
Think of the Psalms or
Jeremiah. Read Isaiah 53, “Surely he has born of our infirmities, was wounded
for our transgressions, and crushed for our iniquities. By his bruises we are
healed.” Long before Jesus humbled
himself, God was in the humility business.
Does this make you
feel uncomfortable? Does this strip God of power and dominance? Perhaps the
problem is the word itself. What exactly does the word humble actually mean
within the context of the New Testament community?
G.E. Mendenhall
writes, “Humility was regarded as the most important trait of early Christian
life. In dealing with others, humility called on one to do away with selfish
pride, arrogance, especially violence and strive for that which will bring
about peace and harmony within the community. The early Christians were
encouraged to reject power and prestige as the normal foundations of human
society.”
Paul
wrote to his fellow Christians, “Make my joy complete. Have the same mind, the same love, the same
compassion, the same sympathy, the same spirit as Christ.
I
know what some of you are thinking. Here goes Louie spouting off once again
about the Holy Foolishness of Jesus. You may be right. Only I ask you, which
works best in a marriage; an iron fist, or four equal ears. Which businesses
are more successful; those where workers are exploited and abused or the
businesses where respect trumps arrogance? In my church in Texas the clerk of
session was also the janitor. We had 500 members and could have found someone
else. What message is sent when the one who cleans the toilet bowls also your
clerk of session?
Can
our family members, or our church members, or our neighbors near or far see
Christ in us? If they can’t, then perhaps Gandhi got it right. And if that old
peace loving, compassionate, forgiving Gandhi can’t see Christ in us, what do
you imagine the rest of the world sees?
Isak
Dinesen in her wonderful book Out of
Africa tells the story of a young Nairobi boy who appeared at her door and
asked if he might work for her. He was a good worker but after three months
asked if he might have a letter of recommendation to Skeik Ali bin Salim.
Dinesen asked why he was leaving. The boy replied he was deciding if he would
become a Christian or a Muslim. He would work three months for the Skeik and
see how Muslims behaved then he would make up his mind. Dinesen thought to
herself, “I wish he had told me when he came.
We
never know how each moment of our life might make an impression on another.
Remember, it is not what you say, it is what you do. Therefore, Be in the same mind of Christ. Humble
yourself. Place humility before selfishness, harmony before arrogance, peace
before conflict, and community before pride.
If you just can’t quite
get your “righteousness” bridled, might I suggest you quietly sing,
Gather
us, O God, body, spirit, soul and mind;
Gather
us, O God, one in union now with you.
Amen.
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