|
So this Sunday is all about peace. Not our church, but the word that Paul uses to describe the source of our wellbeing in the face of any of life's uncertainties or obstacles. Paul is describing here practical steps one can take in the pursuit of peace. Yet, due to the abundance of material gathered for this Sunday's sermon, I have struggled to include one important aspect of Paul's words in this section of Philippians, if not the entire letter to the church of Philippi...that maybe this sermon IS about our church.
You see, while it is simple to view Paul's words from an 'internal' perspective, where any individual can translate these steps into their own prayer life while transforming their response to life's challenges, there is also an 'external' perspective that reveals much more of what Paul is getting at. After all, this was a letter to a body of believers. This wasn't something sent to an individual. Perhaps our natural inclination to consider what these words can mean to us individually does not complete our interrogation of the text? Maybe we must also consider how these words compel us as a community of faith to witness and reflect who we know God to be in the world around us?
Case in point is Epaphroditus. You may be wondering who this is, and if so, you'll be happy to know that most commentators believe Epaphroduitus is one of the main reasons Paul wrote this letter in the first place. At this point in time Paul was imprisoned, most likely in Rome, and in need of food, encouragement, and support. Now one could easily jump to the conclusion that anybody, even Paul, would have shifted into a state of 'worry' or 'anxiety' at some point during this time. The church in Philippi was aware of Paul's situation, and so in an effort to bring peace to Paul's heart and mind, they sent Epaphroditus to be with Paul and minister to him in his time of need. This is part of why Paul wrote this letter, it was a letter of gratitude for the generosity and thoughtfulness of the Philippians. What an outward reflection by the Philippians of the peace they had found in God, a peace they were anxious to share.
Yet, there's always more to the story, isn't there? Apparently, at some point during Epaphroditus' journey to Rome, he became sick. In fact, he was so ill that he almost died. So while he was with Paul, there was concern for Epaphroditus and if he would ever be able to return home. Eventually Epaphroditus recovered from his illness, and so out of concern for the Philippians, who were obviously worried about his wellbeing, Paul sends Epaphroditus home to Philippi, along with this letter. In a reciprocal manner, Paul too expresses an outward reflection of the peace he had found in God, a peace he too was anxious to share.
So when Paul gets to these words in chapter four of his letter, his instruction is a treasure trove of ideas for how to strengthen our prayer lives, some of which we will dive into on Sunday. However, we can't miss the fact that he is also giving us an illustration of what it looks like when a community of faith is of one mind with the mind of Christ (Philippians 2:2-5a), being agents of peace in the world around us. I'll finish with this poem that alludes to the tension between individual and corporate expressions of peace, and who the source of that peace truly is:
Three Christian brothers met one day
To speak of things divine;
They had so much of Christ to say,
With joy their faces shine.
The first one said, `My brothers dear,
By virtue of Christ's blood,
My heart retains no guilty fear,
I now have "Peace with God".'
The second brother answered bold,
`You lag on heaven's road;
I grasp the truth with higher hold,
I have the "peace of God".'
The third dear brother drew up tall;
He laughed and scarce could cease:
`My brothers dear, I beat you all-
I have the "God of Peace."
They all had peace, they all were right,
But peace in diverse measure;
The third had scaled the highest height
Of Heaven's exalted pleasure.
- Author unknown
If only it were that easy, right? Let's talk more about how we encounter peace with God, the peace of God, and the God of peace on Sunday. I'm looking forward to seeing you then!
Jim
|
