One Spirit, One Mind

The Spirit Comes
Woven together in Love

The Spirit Creates One Body

Philippians 1:21-30  The Message

^18-21 So how am I to respond? I’ve decided that I really don’t care about their motives, whether mixed, bad, or indifferent. Every time one of them opens his mouth, Christ is proclaimed, so I just cheer them on!
And I’m going to keep that celebration going because I know how it’s going to turn out. Through your faithful prayers and the generous response of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, everything he wants to do in and through me will be done. I can hardly wait to continue on my course. I don’t expect to be embarrassed in the least. On the contrary, everything happening to me in this jail only serves to make Christ more accurately known, regardless of whether I live or die. They didn’t shut me up; they gave me a pulpit! Alive, I’m Christ’s messenger; dead, I’m his bounty. Life versus even more life! I can’t lose.
^22-26 As long as I’m alive in this body, there is good work for me to do. If I had to choose right now, I hardly know which I’d choose. Hard choice! The desire to break camp here and be with Christ is powerful. Some days I can think of nothing better. But most days, because of what you are going through, I am sure that it’s better for me to stick it out here. So I plan to be around awhile, companion to you as your growth and joy in this life of trusting God continues. You can start looking forward to a great reunion when I come visit you again. We’ll be praising Christ, enjoying each other.
^27-30 Meanwhile, live in such a way that you are a credit to the Message of Christ. Let nothing in your conduct hang on whether I come or not. Your conduct must be the same whether I show up to see things for myself or hear of it from a distance. Stand united, singular in vision, contending for people’s trust in the Message, the good news, not flinching or dodging in the slightest before the opposition. Your courage and unity will show them what they’re up against: defeat for them, victory for you—and both because of God. There’s far more to this life than trusting in Christ. There’s also suffering for him. And the suffering is as much a gift as the trusting. You’re involved in the same kind of struggle you saw me go through, on which you are now getting an updated report in this letter.

 For Reflection 

Paul understands the deviations in style of the Christian message is of little consequence.  Paul applauds all who speak of Christ because they contribute to God's plan for the Kingdom.  Is this an early recognition of an often used truism that all publicity, good or bad, is good?  I suppose the dialog that is created regarding differences in theological and practical Christianity is healthy; mostly because it raises the level of the awareness of Christ and His meaning for the world.

The USA Today reports (05/13/15) that many are leaving institutional and traditional Christian denominations.  Some who have left the faith have no particular faith at all.  What accounts for this exodus?  What about our common culture is more seductive than becoming a child of God?
What can Christians do that will reverse this trend? 

Perhaps Paul had it right when he suggested that Christians should continue to live in such a way that one is a credit the the Message of Christ.  Perhaps we Christians should live the Way boldly, loudly and with celebration.  We should not flinch or dodge.  Rather our lives should become a joyful celebration of the values of living in a community of faithful. Our joy should become so seductive that it overwhelms those whose false joy comes from individualism and self-sufficiency.

Pray

for those who pursue false hope rooted in self.  Pray that you will engage the world with demonstrations of your joy which is rooted in the gospel community.