January 28
We Have Met the Enemy
Php 2:14 ¶ Do all things without murmurings and
disputings:
Yesterday we considered how circumstances only take your
happiness if you allow them to. Today we will consider chapter two of
Philippians where we learn that people cannot take your happiness unless you
give it to them.
There is no need to tell you the world is filled with
ungodly, immoral, bad people. But Paul
is not writing about them in Philippians chapter two. He is writing to born again
church members. There were factions in the church with different ideas.
Philippi was in Greece (Macedonia) and the Greek culture was one of superiority
and not subservience. Greeks saw themselves as far above other nations, and
even other city states in Greece. Their culture rewarded people who were
self-confident leaders and despised those who were submissive. Paul understood that and knew it was part of
their problem.
It is still part of the problem in churches today. You and I
both understand the problem is all those other people. Oh, you and I are
OK…..but there are times I wonder about you!
My favorite cartoon character is Pogo when he crawls out of the swamp
and announces “We have found the enemy and they are us!”
I have been in churches where the fellowship was sweet and
there was a sense of unity of purpose. People's individual “quirks” were
accepted and used to further the gospel.
People used their unique talents to assist one another and there was a
genuine spirit of mutual respect and fellowship.
I have also been in churches where that did not exist. They
used the right language, proclaimed they were a Bible believing church, but
were not united in purpose. The Matt 18 :15-17 says if you have a problem you go to the
person and discuss it. If they will not hear you then you take a couple
witnesses and if needed involve the whole church, which has the final
authority. But I have never seen a church use Matt 18 to resolve anything. Even when I have suggested a church follow
the Scriptures I have been rebuked by church leaders. “That only applies if
both parties are in the will of God.” Pride
gets in the way. No one is willing to be submissive and the church may
eventually split over some trivial issue. Such was the church at Philippi. Paul wrote to help them become united.
In Verse 1 Paul is telling them since in Christ we have
comfort of love, fellowship, and mercy then please make me happy and get along
with each other. He tells them how to do
that in the following verses. They should be like minded, having the same love,
being of one accord and of one mind.
When we read those concepts our immediate reaction is “I am not going to
give in to that man, or that woman!” You
don’t have to. Our competitive nature is such that we see one side winning and
the other side losing; black and white. win or lose.
What I often tell
people who are having difficulty with someone is that I have never seen a
situation where one side was 100% right and the other side was 100% wrong.
First determine what part of the problem is your fault. (Skip that step if you
never sin and are perfect) Now get to
work on resolving the part of the problem that is your fault. It is not so much who is more right or more wrong.
Both sides fall short and need to change their behavior. At issue is how each side meets the standard
of being Christ like and following Biblical principles. Paul explains what they
need to change
Verses 3-11 Paul is trying to combat the Greek superior
mentality and trying to get them to see that as Christ did not come to be
served but to serve they should follow His example.
Vrs 14 Stop murmuring.
My Webster says murmur is a half suppressed complaint. I like the
medical definition. An atypical sound of the heart indicating a functional or
structural abnormality. Yes, murmuring,
complaining Christians do have an abnormality of their heart. Paul also says
stop disputing. (Webster – to argue with irritating persistence. )
Murmuring and disputing are usually the visible signs of
deeper problems; such as bitterness or anger or rebellion against God. Nonetheless Paul asks the members of the
First Church of Eternal Harmony in Philipi to have the mind of Christ and
become servants to one another, stop murmuring and stop disputing. How will these things make you happy?
First if you have adopted the mind of Christ and become a
willing servant you will not seek the places of prominence and be upset when
someone with lesser talents gets that job. You will stop seeing others as
inferior to yourself as well. It isn’t
really as hard as it sounds. But I am
still working on it.
Secondly if you stop murmuring and refuse to listen to other
people who murmur your life will be a lot happier. The problem with listening
to a complainer is they will see you are receptive and start coming to you even
more. You will be seen as one of them, the complainers. How do you prevent a
murmur from pouring out there backbiting gripes? Give them that look that says you are not
interested.
Pr 25:23 ¶ The north wind driveth away rain: so doth an
angry countenance a backbiting tongue.
Once you stop being involved in murmuring you should not be
involved in disputing. If you cannot or
will not do these three things you may have a deeper problem…maybe an
abnormality of your heart!
On the other hand if you do stop and then realize that your
church has too many people who want to be superior to others, lots of murmuring
and continual disputes and the leadership (Pastor & elders) are not
correcting those who do such things then you need to ask God if you are in the
right place. One of the best ways to be happy is to take on the mind of Christ
and then surround yourself with like-minded people. A short poem says it well.
Oh won’t that be Glory.
To live below with Saints we know
Well, that’s a different story!
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