Master 207: What is most real to you? Part 3 of 3
An answer from the Apostle Paul.
In his letter to the church at Philippi, the Apostle Paul exhorts and encourages that Christian community to continue in a certain pattern of life. As Paul talks about his own situation and counsels the Philippian Christians, it becomes abundantly clear what his priorities are, where his focus is, how he looks at the world, and what is most real to him.
Basically what I'm going to do, here, is quote some passages from his letter and highlight the way in which they illuminate Paul's view of the world.
--
Let's begin by considering these words of thanksgiving and commendation.
"I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always offering prayer with joy in my every prayer for you all, in view of your participation in the gospel from the first day until now. ... For it is only right for me to feel this way about you all, because I have you in my heart, since both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers of grace with me." (1:3-5, 7)
If you didn't know already, Paul is writing from Rome where he is under house-arrest. He has been accused by the Jewish leaders who are angry at him for spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ. This is one of many imprisonments that Paul has had to endure in connection with his ministry. Yet, despite the bad situation that he is in, Paul opens this letter with words of thanksgiving. And why is he thankful? He is thankful because the Philippian Christians have been partners with him in ministry--both in the good times and in the bad.
"And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ; having been filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God." (1:9-11)
What would be on your mind if you were facing trial for what you believed in? What would you be thinking about? Would you be focusing on getting out of prison? Would you be focusing on getting help? Would you be worrying about things going badly? What does Paul focus on? At the front of his mind is his desire for the Philippian Christians to grow in their relationships with God. He wants them to be prepared for the day of Christ. He wants their lives to be filled with the fruit of righteousness.
"Now I want you to know, brethren, that my circumstances have turned out for the greater progress of the gospel, so that my imprisonment in the cause of Christ has become well known throughout the whole praetorian guard and to everyone else, and that most of the brethren, trusting in the Lord because of my imprisonment, have far more courage to speak the word of God without fear." (1:12-14)
We simply must stop to meditate on these words of Paul and the attitudes that they evidence. Sometimes we talk as if becoming like Paul or like Christ were just a matter of adding some practices and activities onto the rest of our lives. But it's apparent here that Paul's way of life cannot be analyzed in this way. He really is coming from a different place than most of us. We speak so easily and unaffectedly of Paul's joy in the midst of his imprisonment, and yet we find ourselves going through life frazzled and disturbed and disoriented and confused by the myriad of things that are going on around us--most of which are not close to being as bad as what Paul faced. I'm not trying to level a criticism at anyone. I find that I need to be reminded of just how incredible is the power of the gospel. That's what we're talking about.
For so many of us, what is most real to us is our immediate circumstances: whether our current situation is good or bad, how much money is in the bank, whether I have fun plans for the weekend or not, how many assignments I have on my plate, what repairs are needed on the car, how annoying that one co-worker is, how much noise the annoying neighbors are making, the way in which that car just cut me off, how tired I am and how much I just want to get home and just veg out in front of the TV, how boring this conversation is, and how much I would rather be with my friends than stuck where I'm at. How I feel and how well I'm doing and how ready I am to be sensitive to the people and needs around me may depend on how much I'm wishing that I were in an air-conditioned room, or how cold I am, how frustrated I am with the clerk at the grocery store, whether I got that e-mail or phone call, whether dinner came out the way I wanted, how much I hate seeing that one person's face, how much my partner has inconvenienced me, how many red lights I've had to stop at in the last three blocks, how expensive gas is, whether he (or she) said, 'Hello' this morning, the fact that the toilet backed up and that the front sprinkler system is broken.
We may not like to admit it, but it's very often the case that our readiness to be sensitive to the needs of others depends on (and is undermined by) factors as mundane and insignificant as whether she (or he) squeezed the toothpaste tube in the middle for the umpteenth time. Sometimes it's features of our actual situation that do this. At other times, it's hypothetical or possible situations that do this. What is most real to us might be the fear of being rejected, the possibility of failing, anxiety about the deal falling through, the general lack of certainty that characterizes the future, the fact that he or she might not call, the fact that the car might break down, the possibility of the meeting going badly, the possibility of a poor evaluation.
How troubling that the character and quality of our lives can be undermined by such trivial situational factors. How much more troubling that the character and quality of our lives can be undermined by mere possibilities and anxieties about things that haven't even happened and don't actually exist. It does not require much reflection for many of us to recognize this disturbing reality in our own lives.
Notice, then, that Paul's attitude, the character and quality of his life (A) is not governed by the immediate situation of his imprisonment. Also, (B) it is not governed by the alarming possibilities that loom on the horizon. He is filled with joy! He is able to attend to and minister to the needs of the soldiers who are guarding him. He is constantly praying for the Philippian Christians. Isn't that bizarre?
--
Let's make our analysis even more stark:
"Some to be sure, are preaching Christ even from envy and strife ... [who] proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, rather than from pure motives, thinking to cause me distress in my imprisonment. What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed; and in this I rejoice, yes, and I will rejoice." (1:15-18)
Wouldn't one normally think of this as just adding insult to injury. Not only is Paul imprisoned, but there are people who are taking advantage of his imprisonment to advance their own agendas and (to try) to bring Paul into disrepute. But is Paul phased by this development in the least? Not at all. In fact, he rejoices that the gospel is being advanced--even if it is at his own expense.
Many people, who can tolerate a great deal of trouble and inconvenience, will refuse to tolerate being dissed or disrespected. When people gossip and spread lies and try to tarnish reputations and take advantage of one's troubles or difficulties to make a difficult life even more miserable, who could possibly accept that without a fierce fight? And just think about the thoughts that would be filling your mind if you were in Paul's situation. All of your decades of work may be undermined. All the people who once thought well about you might be giving up their good opinions. New converts might be getting bad teaching and wrong ideas about you. If churches stop supporting you, they might stop sending aid to you during the remainder of your imprisonment. Think of all the bad things that could happen as a result of these terrible people who are spreading dissension during the time when you're vulnerable and out of control.
Yet Paul thinks about none of these things. He rejoices. He isn't just trying to 'grin and bear it'. He's positively ecstatic that the good news is being spread. Unbelievable.
--
And why is Paul able to maintain this positive and focused attitude in the midst of terrible circumstances? Because he is secure in his standing before Jesus Christ. He is focused on one thing: exalting Christ. There are a couple passages that illustrate this, but one of the most explicit is this one:
"For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I am to live on in the flesh, this will mean fruitful labor for me... . And convinced of this, I know that I shall remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy in the faith." (1:21-22, 25)
There are many people for whom the possibility or eventuality of death is one of the most real things. Usually it is fear of the death and the desire to avoid death that characterizes their life and guides their behavior. They undergo surgery and spend hundreds of dollars on cosmetics because they want to avoid the possibility of aging and death are so fearsome and real to them. They don't have time to think about other people, to love others or listen to them, because they are fixated on this one project. They sacrifice so many good and worthwhile things because of their single-minded preoccupation with this reality and inevitability.
For many people, the possibility of death is not so present, and yet it lingers in the background of many people's lives. Again, people may be unwilling to sacrifice or to put themselves at risk because what is most real to them is this project of avoiding death and of avoiding the termination of life. But this attitude does not describe Paul. He recognizes that death is a gain. This doesn't result in his actively pursuing death (i.e. suicide). Rather, he is able to attend to other things and focus on the good of people and the work of the gospel, just because he does not have to worry about avoiding death. He has the same kind of attitude toward suffering:
"For to you it has been granted for Christ's sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake, experiencing the same conflict which you saw in me, and now hear to be in me." (1:29-30)
--
Paul's prescription for the good and worthwhile life is encapsulated in the first eleven verses of chapter two. He invites us to take up a certain kind of life. It is characterized by selflessness and humility. But it depends upon our taking seriously what Jesus took seriously: the goodness of God.
"Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind let each of you regard one another as more important than himself; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others." (2:3-4)
"Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore also God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those who are in heaven, and on earth, and under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." (2:5-11)
"So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure." (2:12-13)
--
I think I'll make fewer comments about these later sections. Hopefully you're getting the idea. Take a look now at all the things that the world does consider valuable--those things in terms of which so many would.
"[F]or we are the true circumcision, who worship in the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh, although I myself might have confidence even in the flesh. If anyone else has a mind to put confidence in the flesh, I far more: circumcised the eighth day, of the nation of Israel, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the Law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to the righteousness which is in the Law, found blameless. But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish in order that I may gain Christ, and may be found in Him, ... that I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings... ." (3:3-10)
Paul's attitude toward his various accomplishments and credentials is nothing short of astonishing if you stop to think about it. If you stop to consider the values system of the culture in which he was living, the things that they valued and esteemed and respected, it must startle anyone to realize that Paul really considered these to be of no value whatsoever.
Where does your sense of value, worth, or identity come from. Is it the job you have? Your title? The position you hold within the company? The number of zeroes in your salary? Is it the kind of car you own are the size of house that you have? Maybe it's having enough nice things, being able to take nice vacations, that new cell phone you just bought. Maybe there are other symbols of status within your circle of friends and acquaintances that define where you stand and how much you're worth. For so many Jews of Paul's time, the things that he mentioned were the things that anchored their sense of identity. They were the things that set them apart from the mass of unclean humanity surrounding them. When Paul abandoned all that, he also lost the connection with the community that had defined his status and position for so long. The people who had respected him for so many years, who had deferred to his wisdom and scriptural insights, who had given him the best seat at the dinner table, and been honored by his company--the people who had admired and respected him, who had sought his advice and counsel on personal matters, who had always offered the highest compliments to him and had sought to follow his example--now all of those people would have rejected him. They would no longer speak his name respectfully. They would no longer defer to his judgments. Instead of complimenting him, they would whisper about him, even plot against him. In their minds, he was a failure, a deviant, at the very best to be pitied, and at the worst to be despised and hated.
None of us would desire to lose all of our social standing and position. Many of us would do just about anything to retain and hold on to some shred of respectability even in the midst of bitter tragedy and loss. But Paul speaks as if letting all of that go did not require a second thought on his part. It may be that Paul had to go through a journey and process to reach that point, but what we should keep in mind and focus on is that he came to a place where his relationship with God was so real to him and valuable to him that everything else paled into comparison--even his social standing and position and everything else that he had to recommend him to the people around him.
--
It is important to keep in mind that Paul does not only talk about the things that he refrains from focusing on. He also talks about the things with which he actively fills his mind. This is an important detail. It's all well and good to say that one should not care about people's opinions and should not care about peer pressure and should not give weight to what the world considers to be valuable. But if our prescription is purely negative, it will not ultimately do us much good. We need to not only empty our minds of what is bad but fill it with what is good. And Paul reveals some of the things that are at the center of his mind and what he recommends for others.
"Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! Let your forbearing spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hears and your minds in Christ Jesus." (4:4-7)
"Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things." (4:8)
If we often find ourselves being weighed down by the expectations of the world and haunted by fears and feelings of our own inadequacy and stressing about how we shall possibly get by, that probably has a great deal to do with our failing to keep our mind fixed on what is true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, of good repute, excellent, and worthy of praise. Does the solution sound to good to be true? If it does, I would invite you to consider just how much time you actually spend attending to the things on this list. Most of us could stand to dwell on them much more and only then assess whether they will be helpful.
--
"I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me." (4:12)
"Now to our God and Father be the glory forever and ever, Amen." (4:20)
This wraps up this series of blog entries on what is most real to you. The invitation has been to consider what is most concretely present to you. What are the thoughts, ideas, facts, people, and circumstances that have the most widespread impact on the shape of your life and how you feel. I've only gestured a little at what is involved in redirecting one's focus and altering what is most real to one. But throughout I have tried to help you to understand that this question really matters. If you look at Paul's life, you see a man whose circumstances were very far from ideal--who experienced severe persecution and suffered acutely at the hands of many who literally wanted to see him dead. Yet throughout, there was a quality to his life that I find to be altogether compelling and attractive. For the purpose of these blog entries, I've considered that difference in quality and character in terms of what he considered to be most real. There are other ways to analyze the difference, but I hope that this one is helpful to some people.
--
God is in this place,
And that reality, seen and understood by the grace of God in Christ Jesus through the work of the Holy Spirit, makes all the difference in the world.
In his letter to the church at Philippi, the Apostle Paul exhorts and encourages that Christian community to continue in a certain pattern of life. As Paul talks about his own situation and counsels the Philippian Christians, it becomes abundantly clear what his priorities are, where his focus is, how he looks at the world, and what is most real to him.
Basically what I'm going to do, here, is quote some passages from his letter and highlight the way in which they illuminate Paul's view of the world.
--
Let's begin by considering these words of thanksgiving and commendation.
"I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always offering prayer with joy in my every prayer for you all, in view of your participation in the gospel from the first day until now. ... For it is only right for me to feel this way about you all, because I have you in my heart, since both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers of grace with me." (1:3-5, 7)
If you didn't know already, Paul is writing from Rome where he is under house-arrest. He has been accused by the Jewish leaders who are angry at him for spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ. This is one of many imprisonments that Paul has had to endure in connection with his ministry. Yet, despite the bad situation that he is in, Paul opens this letter with words of thanksgiving. And why is he thankful? He is thankful because the Philippian Christians have been partners with him in ministry--both in the good times and in the bad.
"And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ; having been filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God." (1:9-11)
What would be on your mind if you were facing trial for what you believed in? What would you be thinking about? Would you be focusing on getting out of prison? Would you be focusing on getting help? Would you be worrying about things going badly? What does Paul focus on? At the front of his mind is his desire for the Philippian Christians to grow in their relationships with God. He wants them to be prepared for the day of Christ. He wants their lives to be filled with the fruit of righteousness.
"Now I want you to know, brethren, that my circumstances have turned out for the greater progress of the gospel, so that my imprisonment in the cause of Christ has become well known throughout the whole praetorian guard and to everyone else, and that most of the brethren, trusting in the Lord because of my imprisonment, have far more courage to speak the word of God without fear." (1:12-14)
We simply must stop to meditate on these words of Paul and the attitudes that they evidence. Sometimes we talk as if becoming like Paul or like Christ were just a matter of adding some practices and activities onto the rest of our lives. But it's apparent here that Paul's way of life cannot be analyzed in this way. He really is coming from a different place than most of us. We speak so easily and unaffectedly of Paul's joy in the midst of his imprisonment, and yet we find ourselves going through life frazzled and disturbed and disoriented and confused by the myriad of things that are going on around us--most of which are not close to being as bad as what Paul faced. I'm not trying to level a criticism at anyone. I find that I need to be reminded of just how incredible is the power of the gospel. That's what we're talking about.
For so many of us, what is most real to us is our immediate circumstances: whether our current situation is good or bad, how much money is in the bank, whether I have fun plans for the weekend or not, how many assignments I have on my plate, what repairs are needed on the car, how annoying that one co-worker is, how much noise the annoying neighbors are making, the way in which that car just cut me off, how tired I am and how much I just want to get home and just veg out in front of the TV, how boring this conversation is, and how much I would rather be with my friends than stuck where I'm at. How I feel and how well I'm doing and how ready I am to be sensitive to the people and needs around me may depend on how much I'm wishing that I were in an air-conditioned room, or how cold I am, how frustrated I am with the clerk at the grocery store, whether I got that e-mail or phone call, whether dinner came out the way I wanted, how much I hate seeing that one person's face, how much my partner has inconvenienced me, how many red lights I've had to stop at in the last three blocks, how expensive gas is, whether he (or she) said, 'Hello' this morning, the fact that the toilet backed up and that the front sprinkler system is broken.
We may not like to admit it, but it's very often the case that our readiness to be sensitive to the needs of others depends on (and is undermined by) factors as mundane and insignificant as whether she (or he) squeezed the toothpaste tube in the middle for the umpteenth time. Sometimes it's features of our actual situation that do this. At other times, it's hypothetical or possible situations that do this. What is most real to us might be the fear of being rejected, the possibility of failing, anxiety about the deal falling through, the general lack of certainty that characterizes the future, the fact that he or she might not call, the fact that the car might break down, the possibility of the meeting going badly, the possibility of a poor evaluation.
How troubling that the character and quality of our lives can be undermined by such trivial situational factors. How much more troubling that the character and quality of our lives can be undermined by mere possibilities and anxieties about things that haven't even happened and don't actually exist. It does not require much reflection for many of us to recognize this disturbing reality in our own lives.
Notice, then, that Paul's attitude, the character and quality of his life (A) is not governed by the immediate situation of his imprisonment. Also, (B) it is not governed by the alarming possibilities that loom on the horizon. He is filled with joy! He is able to attend to and minister to the needs of the soldiers who are guarding him. He is constantly praying for the Philippian Christians. Isn't that bizarre?
--
Let's make our analysis even more stark:
"Some to be sure, are preaching Christ even from envy and strife ... [who] proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, rather than from pure motives, thinking to cause me distress in my imprisonment. What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed; and in this I rejoice, yes, and I will rejoice." (1:15-18)
Wouldn't one normally think of this as just adding insult to injury. Not only is Paul imprisoned, but there are people who are taking advantage of his imprisonment to advance their own agendas and (to try) to bring Paul into disrepute. But is Paul phased by this development in the least? Not at all. In fact, he rejoices that the gospel is being advanced--even if it is at his own expense.
Many people, who can tolerate a great deal of trouble and inconvenience, will refuse to tolerate being dissed or disrespected. When people gossip and spread lies and try to tarnish reputations and take advantage of one's troubles or difficulties to make a difficult life even more miserable, who could possibly accept that without a fierce fight? And just think about the thoughts that would be filling your mind if you were in Paul's situation. All of your decades of work may be undermined. All the people who once thought well about you might be giving up their good opinions. New converts might be getting bad teaching and wrong ideas about you. If churches stop supporting you, they might stop sending aid to you during the remainder of your imprisonment. Think of all the bad things that could happen as a result of these terrible people who are spreading dissension during the time when you're vulnerable and out of control.
Yet Paul thinks about none of these things. He rejoices. He isn't just trying to 'grin and bear it'. He's positively ecstatic that the good news is being spread. Unbelievable.
--
And why is Paul able to maintain this positive and focused attitude in the midst of terrible circumstances? Because he is secure in his standing before Jesus Christ. He is focused on one thing: exalting Christ. There are a couple passages that illustrate this, but one of the most explicit is this one:
"For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I am to live on in the flesh, this will mean fruitful labor for me... . And convinced of this, I know that I shall remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy in the faith." (1:21-22, 25)
There are many people for whom the possibility or eventuality of death is one of the most real things. Usually it is fear of the death and the desire to avoid death that characterizes their life and guides their behavior. They undergo surgery and spend hundreds of dollars on cosmetics because they want to avoid the possibility of aging and death are so fearsome and real to them. They don't have time to think about other people, to love others or listen to them, because they are fixated on this one project. They sacrifice so many good and worthwhile things because of their single-minded preoccupation with this reality and inevitability.
For many people, the possibility of death is not so present, and yet it lingers in the background of many people's lives. Again, people may be unwilling to sacrifice or to put themselves at risk because what is most real to them is this project of avoiding death and of avoiding the termination of life. But this attitude does not describe Paul. He recognizes that death is a gain. This doesn't result in his actively pursuing death (i.e. suicide). Rather, he is able to attend to other things and focus on the good of people and the work of the gospel, just because he does not have to worry about avoiding death. He has the same kind of attitude toward suffering:
"For to you it has been granted for Christ's sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake, experiencing the same conflict which you saw in me, and now hear to be in me." (1:29-30)
--
Paul's prescription for the good and worthwhile life is encapsulated in the first eleven verses of chapter two. He invites us to take up a certain kind of life. It is characterized by selflessness and humility. But it depends upon our taking seriously what Jesus took seriously: the goodness of God.
"Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind let each of you regard one another as more important than himself; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others." (2:3-4)
"Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore also God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those who are in heaven, and on earth, and under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." (2:5-11)
"So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure." (2:12-13)
--
I think I'll make fewer comments about these later sections. Hopefully you're getting the idea. Take a look now at all the things that the world does consider valuable--those things in terms of which so many would.
"[F]or we are the true circumcision, who worship in the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh, although I myself might have confidence even in the flesh. If anyone else has a mind to put confidence in the flesh, I far more: circumcised the eighth day, of the nation of Israel, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the Law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to the righteousness which is in the Law, found blameless. But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish in order that I may gain Christ, and may be found in Him, ... that I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings... ." (3:3-10)
Paul's attitude toward his various accomplishments and credentials is nothing short of astonishing if you stop to think about it. If you stop to consider the values system of the culture in which he was living, the things that they valued and esteemed and respected, it must startle anyone to realize that Paul really considered these to be of no value whatsoever.
Where does your sense of value, worth, or identity come from. Is it the job you have? Your title? The position you hold within the company? The number of zeroes in your salary? Is it the kind of car you own are the size of house that you have? Maybe it's having enough nice things, being able to take nice vacations, that new cell phone you just bought. Maybe there are other symbols of status within your circle of friends and acquaintances that define where you stand and how much you're worth. For so many Jews of Paul's time, the things that he mentioned were the things that anchored their sense of identity. They were the things that set them apart from the mass of unclean humanity surrounding them. When Paul abandoned all that, he also lost the connection with the community that had defined his status and position for so long. The people who had respected him for so many years, who had deferred to his wisdom and scriptural insights, who had given him the best seat at the dinner table, and been honored by his company--the people who had admired and respected him, who had sought his advice and counsel on personal matters, who had always offered the highest compliments to him and had sought to follow his example--now all of those people would have rejected him. They would no longer speak his name respectfully. They would no longer defer to his judgments. Instead of complimenting him, they would whisper about him, even plot against him. In their minds, he was a failure, a deviant, at the very best to be pitied, and at the worst to be despised and hated.
None of us would desire to lose all of our social standing and position. Many of us would do just about anything to retain and hold on to some shred of respectability even in the midst of bitter tragedy and loss. But Paul speaks as if letting all of that go did not require a second thought on his part. It may be that Paul had to go through a journey and process to reach that point, but what we should keep in mind and focus on is that he came to a place where his relationship with God was so real to him and valuable to him that everything else paled into comparison--even his social standing and position and everything else that he had to recommend him to the people around him.
--
It is important to keep in mind that Paul does not only talk about the things that he refrains from focusing on. He also talks about the things with which he actively fills his mind. This is an important detail. It's all well and good to say that one should not care about people's opinions and should not care about peer pressure and should not give weight to what the world considers to be valuable. But if our prescription is purely negative, it will not ultimately do us much good. We need to not only empty our minds of what is bad but fill it with what is good. And Paul reveals some of the things that are at the center of his mind and what he recommends for others.
"Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! Let your forbearing spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hears and your minds in Christ Jesus." (4:4-7)
"Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things." (4:8)
If we often find ourselves being weighed down by the expectations of the world and haunted by fears and feelings of our own inadequacy and stressing about how we shall possibly get by, that probably has a great deal to do with our failing to keep our mind fixed on what is true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, of good repute, excellent, and worthy of praise. Does the solution sound to good to be true? If it does, I would invite you to consider just how much time you actually spend attending to the things on this list. Most of us could stand to dwell on them much more and only then assess whether they will be helpful.
--
"I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me." (4:12)
"Now to our God and Father be the glory forever and ever, Amen." (4:20)
This wraps up this series of blog entries on what is most real to you. The invitation has been to consider what is most concretely present to you. What are the thoughts, ideas, facts, people, and circumstances that have the most widespread impact on the shape of your life and how you feel. I've only gestured a little at what is involved in redirecting one's focus and altering what is most real to one. But throughout I have tried to help you to understand that this question really matters. If you look at Paul's life, you see a man whose circumstances were very far from ideal--who experienced severe persecution and suffered acutely at the hands of many who literally wanted to see him dead. Yet throughout, there was a quality to his life that I find to be altogether compelling and attractive. For the purpose of these blog entries, I've considered that difference in quality and character in terms of what he considered to be most real. There are other ways to analyze the difference, but I hope that this one is helpful to some people.
--
God is in this place,
And that reality, seen and understood by the grace of God in Christ Jesus through the work of the Holy Spirit, makes all the difference in the world.
posted by Metaphysician_delta | 3:08 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home