Fly United
(Philippians 2: 1-13)
As we fly through life we are often united with flying companions from time to time as we depart and arrive at our various life destinations. Let’s think for a minute about some of the people or entities that we are untied with during our lifetimes. Some of the ones I came up with were our parents, our families, our kids, friends, co-workers, organizations and clubs, and political parties. As Christians and United Methodists, who are we united with? We are united with one another here in our church, other Christians and Methodists locally and around the world, our neighbors, Christ and God to name just a few. We are of one mind with one common goal.
That’s what the Apostle Paul was talking about in our scripture reading for today. He was talking about being united as one with Jesus Christ as he was addressing the church in Philippi. The city of Philippi was a very cosmopolitan city with a lot of diversity pulling people in many different directions with a wide variety of competing interests. We should be able to identify, as a church, with Philippi as we too have much diversity that pulls us in different directions with competing interests vying for our attention and allegiance. Paul tells his readers that if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort in love, any sharing in the Spirit, any sympathy, complete his joy by thinking the same way, having the same love, being united, and agreeing with each other. Paul tells them not to do anything for selfish purposes, but with humility think of others as better than yourselves. Instead of each person watching out for their own good, he tells them to watch out for what is better for others. He tells them to adopt the attitude that was in Christ Jesus. Paul points out that even though Jesus was in the form of God he did not consider being equal with God something to exploit. Instead, Jesus emptied himself by taking the form of a slave and by becoming like a human being. He humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Because of this, God highly honored him and gave him a name above all names and that every tongue might confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
What Paul is stressing is spiritual unity. To be of one spirit and purpose. To be like Christ, we must have a servant’s attitude where we serve out of love for God and for others, not out of guilt or fear. Paul encourages us to guard against any selfishness, prejudice, or jealously that might lead to dissension or divisiveness. He wants us to have a Christ-like mind that does not remain individually focused but is other-centered, striving for unity. We can get so knotted up over some issue-of-the-day to the point where we become polarized and blinded by our rage and indignation and forget what is truly important. John Wesley is credited with the phrase “agree to disagree” as he was the first to put it in print but it actually comes from his friend and colleague Reverend George Whitefield. The men were contemporaries and had their doctrinal differences to say the least. Wesley attributed the phrase to Whitefield in a letter to his brother Charles with whom he also had differences. Whitefield had previously written, “After all, those who will live in peace must agree to disagree in many things with their fellow labourers, and not let little things part or disunite them.”
Our rigid mind-sets need the softness of Christ’s mind. Our confident minds need Christ’s humility to leave behind what is unnecessary so that we will serve others. When we work together, caring for the problems of others as if they were our problems, we demonstrate Christ’s example of putting others first, and we experience unity. Being humble involves having a true perspective about ourselves. It does not mean that we should put ourselves down. Before God, we are sinners, saved only by God’s grace, but we are saved and therefore have great worth in God’s kingdom. We know and acknowledge that we are sinners and are imperfect, but we’re sinners and we feel good about ourselves because of God’s grace and want the same for others. When we are of such a mindset, we are able to lay aside our selfishness and treat others with respect and common courtesy. Considering the interests of others as more important than our own links us with Christ. It takes an attitude adjustment. You can choose your attitude. You can approach life expecting to be served, or you can look for opportunities to serve others.
It’s just that simple. Or is it? If we say we follow Christ, we must also say we want to live as he lived. We should develop his attitude of humility as we serve, even when we are not likely to get recognition for our efforts. I’ll be the first to admit that living like Christ is not easy. I’ve tried many times and have failed many times but I know I must keep trying. John Wesley, when asked if he had achieved Christian perfection, admitted he wasn’t sure but he would continue to strive for it until the day he died. He knew the secret to a changed life is to submit to God’s control and let him work.
In a few minutes you will be uniting as one body to take holy communion. To unite in communion in remembrance of Christ Jesus. To unite as brothers and sisters with Jesus Christ in the family of God Almighty.
So, remember this, if we fly united there is no telling how high or where we will go in the service of God, but this I know, we will get to our final destination together.
Please pray with me.
Most gracious and loving God, humble us so that we don’t think so highly of ourselves. Humble us so that we put the needs and problems of others before our interests. Move us to take on the problems of others as if they were our own. We know that there will be issues in life in which we cannot agree with others. Remind us not to get so involved in the disagreement that we lose focus of what is important to you. Lord, we pray that we, your people, be of the same mind, having the same love, and being in full accord and of one mind in your loving son, Jesus Christ. Adjust our attitudes and give us a servant’s heart so that we may strive to serve with all our hearts and minds those who need to know you and experience your saving grace. In the name of all that is good and kind, we pray, amen.