There was much in the church in Philippi that filled the heart of Paul with joy. He remembered with a smile those first converts and how they bonded together. And throughout the years they supported him time and time again. And now there were many others, some of whom he could picture in his mind’s eye. There was nothing which made him angry at them or which called for his censure. But that doesn’t mean that the church in Philippi was perfect. That doesn’t mean there wasn’t room for improvement in that congregation.
The Winter Olympics are coming up once again. Why do they play those games every four years? What is the point? One reason those skaters, skiers and bonspielers compete is to get their names in the record books. They are trying their best – not only to be the best on that day, but also to set new records. And at every Olympics there are new records set – old times are broken and new heights are reached. But few athletes have ever reached the point where there wasn’t room for a bit of improvement. And many want to return again in four years to set new records and win new accolades.
Similarly, no scientist has ever said that he’d learned all that there was to learn about a particular subject. Very few mountain climbers have said their isn’t another mountain to climb. And – no church has been 100% of all that the Lord wanted it to be. There are probably dozens of areas where there is great room for improvement even in Philippi. Are we even 50% of what we ought to be as individuals and as a church?
These verses and the tone of Paul’s voice hint that one area of lack in the Philippian church was in area of unity. There doesn’t appear to be any discord, but the concord wasn’t as thorough as it should have been. The church building wasn’t filled with smoke, choking and gaging everybody. But there was just a tiny noxious smell about the place. Beside our text, a second hint of this matter is seen in chapter 4:2 – “I beseech Euodias, and beseech Syntyche, that they be of the same mind in the Lord.”
This reminds us that there are always forces at work in every church to tear it apart. It doesn’t matter how large, how old, how successful, or how spiritual that church might be. In fact, the better and stronger the church, the greater the destructive forces are against it. As one old preacher put it, “Wasps are always attracted to the ripest fruit.” The Devil may be a roaring lion, “walking about seeking whom he may devour.” But unlike earthly lions, he’s not just looking for the weakest and oldest to bring down. He is looking for the strongest and tastiest. While there may not be any doctrinal grounds for a church split, there still might be a chilling breeze.
The words of this text are neither difficult to understand, nor exciting to the heart. For that reason they are relatively boring. In fact we’ve heard these sorts of things so often, that it’s a mundane, easily by-passed scripture. But the very volume of references to this subject throughout the Scripture demands our periodic attention.
So let’s consider the ARGUMENTS for Church unity.
First up, is consolation in Christ. “If there be any consolation in Christ.” By the way, the word “if” in this verse doesn’t imply doubt. This is one those many places which teach – “IF such and such is true, and we know that it is, THEN…” The word “consolation” is the common Greek word “paraklaysis,” but it is translated four different ways. Most of the time it is rendered “comfort” or “consolation.” But several times it is translated as “exhortation” and “entreaty.” Paul is talking, both about the comfort we have in the midst of our troubles, but also about the stimulus we have from the Lord, towards this unity of spirit. The Lord want us to be closer to each other as Christians than we are to those who are outside of Christ. Christ Jesus prayed for us, “that they may all be one; even as Thou, Father, art in Me, and I in Thee?” Aren’t we supposed to all be branches of the same vine? If there is any consolation in Christ, be ye of one mind.
Next the Apostle bases his appeal for unity on our mutual LOVE. We have all been loved by God and the Saviour. You may look at me or some other member of this church, and wonder how anyone could love us. The fact is, whether you do or not, the Lord already has loved us or we would not be here. But then, have you ever loved someone, about whom you wondered if they at all returned your love? In our very imperfect ways, we love and are loved, to differing degrees by different brethren. But that love, whatever the color, and whatever the strength, should bind us together.
Every once in a while, to save Judy the trouble, I will sew a lost button on a shirt or pair of pants. After finding some thread of nearly the right color, I’ll tie a knot in the end. Starting behind the material, I’ll run the needle through and into one of the holes on the button. Then I’ll turn the needle around and run it through another hole and into the material. Again and again, I’ll weave that thin stream of thread around, and around, and around. Usually I’ll do it far more times than necessary, but eventually, I’ll say that it is good. The web of Christian affection serves to act like that thread – tying us all together. But love is not a guarantee that we will like each other as we should. It is an argument for Christian unity, but it is not a guarantee of it.
So Paul’s next argument is our fellowship in the Spirit. If both you and I are truly Christians, then we are both indwelt by the same Heavenly Spirit. If both you and I are living as the Lord wants us to live then we are also both filled with the Holy Spirit. If we are filled with the Holy Spirit, when the Word is preached we will be in doctrinal agreement. If you and your neighbor are both filled with the Spirit, and he has a testimony of God’s blessing, then it is doubtful that you could not be blessed by hearing his testimony. If you cannot rejoice along with your brother, then somehow you are lacking in fellowship of the Spirit. Can one branch not share the nourishment that all the other branches of the vine enjoy? If there is proper fellowship, can one part of the body not feel the pain of another part of the body?
The “bowels and mercies” to which verse 1 refer, speak of the emotions which flow out of our common life. The filling of the Spirit naturally leads to compassion for others. Especially toward those of the household of faith.
Based upon these arguments, of what is it that Paul would like to see more?
That we all be likeminded. Then he reiterates the idea three times: That we have the same love, being of one accord, and possessed of one mind – one, two, three. These things may be similar, but they are not really synonyms. They involve different things in us – heart, mind and will.
The Lord is not interested in mere intellectual agreement. It is not enough to agree in doctrine, or profess to have the same goals. The Apostle is saying that he wanted to hear that their souls were united. The source of all true unity grows out of Christ in us – having the same heart as the Saviour.
Is it possible that we have some Euodias and Syntyches here in our church? You may think that no one knows that you don’t particularly like a certain member of this church. But you are wrong. First, the Lord knows it, and may be withholding some of His blessings as a result. And then too, very often some of the rest of us know it as well. No it is not outright discord, but its not true concord either. Perhaps it has nothing to do with doctrine or Christian ideals. Sometimes it is nothing more than a matter of personalities.
One day the Lord Jesus was walking along with his disciples one day, reachingd their destination, He asked: “What was it that you disputed among yourselves by the way?” Do you really think that He didn’t know? He wants you to know that He knows there is a problem. Both Paul and the Lord Jesus demand: “Fulfil ye my joy – that ye be of the same mind.”
What are some of the HINDRANCES and HELPS to being of the same mind?
First, “let nothing be done through strife or vainglory” – don’t do anything through division and pride. “But in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.” God’s people are often too absorbed with themselves to get along well with their brethren. The antidote to all three of these things are humility and unselfishness.
What is the likelihood that if we looked closely at each other, we’d find things that we don’t really like? I’ve heard Christians say that they don’t like facial hair on men. Do we have a problem? One talks to loudly, while another mumbles or is so soft-spoken that I can hardly hear him. One person always points his finger at people when he talks, while another is almost lifeless and completely unanimated. One person is so fiery that he always seems to be angry, and another doesn’t seem to have an opinion on anything important. What has any of this got to do with anything important?
One day, Jesus’s enemies, the Pharisees, came to him with a woman who they accused of adultery. Christ Jesus stooped down and wrote in the sand after which He said, “He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.” Slowly, from the eldest to the youngest, the accusers all departed. Why was it from the eldest to the youngest that they left? I suppose that it could have been that the oldest had more sins convicting them. But part of it was that they were more mature and aware of things. Everyone matures at a different rate, and everyone who is the least bit mature probably sees things in themselves which they don’t really like. Perhaps it’s not something they can control – like the amount of hair on their head or the facial wart. But likely there are a dozen things over which they could have control, but don’t. He who is without sin is invited to throw stones at the members which have sin. But, in truth, we are all sinners and unfit to throw stones at anyone.
Usually when there are disagreements among church members, someone has too lofty an opinion about himself. The more humble we are, the more tolerant we are about the problems which others possess. Perhaps in addition to spending time thinking about our gifts, we should think about our imperfections. And as verse 4 implies we need to add to that – dwelling on other peoples gifts and not their imperfections.
The cure to ecclesiastical disunity is found in each one counting everyone else better than himself, and caring about the concerns of others before the concerns of himself.