Dr. Ron Sumners
May 30, 2010
Several years ago, there was a hit movie “City Slickers.” It introduced us to three aging friends, struggling through their mid-life crises. Each year they would embark on an adventure trying to recapture their youth. In the movie they decided to become cowpokes and drive a herd of cattle to market.
On the drive, they met a grizzled old hand named Curly. He exemplified the rugged, western cowboy. Billy Crystal’s character wanted to know what made Curly tick; what made him the unique, tough, assured character he was? Curly held up his index finger and said, “One thing.” That was it, the extent of his advice. He died before he could explain what the “one thing” was. So, through the movie, Crystal tried to discover that “one thing” for his own life.
Being single-focused is great; but the trouble is: “What is that one thing?” In our society that “one thing” exists as a multiplicity of things that speak of a single life goal. The one house, one car, one job, one larger bank account, all speak to a “one thing” of material acquisitions. Is that the “one thing” in your life? Your one thing may be prestige, the applause of others, power or any one of many other “one things.”
In Philippians 1:27-30, Paul instructs his readers about what the “one thing” is for the Christian. Rather than a vague command to just do “something” in life, his charge is very specific. This verse begins with the word “only;” it stands for one essential thing. This is the bottom line for Paul. The NIV translates this as “whatever happens.” Trying to focus that no matter what happened, if Paul lives or dies, this is how they must live. What is this “one thing” for the believer?
Paul says, “Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the Gospel of Christ.” The bottom line in the Christian life is conduct which reflects the Gospel. In describing this conduct, Paul uses a term that the Philippians well understood. “Conduct” is much too mild an interpretation. The root of the word used refers to polis, the city! Paul calls the Philippians to live as good citizens.
The polis was not just a place to live. It was a partnership in which all worked together to achieve the best for everyone. The people did not work in isolation; they cooperated. The individual citizen developed his talents, abilities and skills, not for just his own sake, but for the benefit of the community.
What is more, the city of Philippi was not just an ordinary city. It was granted special status by Caesar after the defeat of Anthony during the civil war. After the battle of Actium, which squelched the rebellion, a large number of soldiers retired there and it was declared a Roman colony. It was Rome away from Rome. This pride is seen in Acts 16:20-21. Paul and Silas were thrown in jail for violating their Roman laws!
They saw themselves as Roman. They spoke Latin, wore Roman dress, and called the magistrates by their Latin titles. They were deeply into Roman citizenship and all it meant.
Paul is reminding these believers that their lifestyle must reflect their faith. They are colonist also, not of Rome, but of another city and another country. They are citizens of Heaven! So are we! He reminded them that they had a dual citizenship. Allegiance to Philippi, surely, but first; allegiance to the Kingdom of God! That is also true of us today. We are proud citizens of the United States of America, but first we are citizens of Heaven!
What does that mean for you and me? How will this affect the way we live? Our citizenship must reflect where our hearts lie. As those chosen by the Father, purchased by the Son and sealed by the Spirit, we must not forget that our citizenship must reflect what God has done for us! If the fabric of our society and our governmental structures go against the proclaimed truth of God, we have a decision to make. We have no other decision than to choose God’s eternal Kingdom!
Our citizenship must reflect the work of the Son.
When we. Like Paul, come to the position in our lives that the bottom line is not our comfort, not our pleasure, not even our reputation or family, but when we can truly say with Paul, “For me to live is Christ and to die is gain,” when it is He who defines our lives, then we also understand that our lives must demonstrate the work that Christ has done for us.
The words we profess to be true, the doctrine we believe to be correct must be evidenced by our lives! Paul reminds his readers, which includes us, that their lifestyle shows their citizenship. Christians are to be “worthy of the Gospel of Christ.” Our profession of faith has an ethical content.
The word translated “worthy” originally meant to “even the beam” as it came from commerce. When you went to the market to buy grain; the grain was put on one side of the scales until it equaled the weight on the other side of the scale. The cost was determined when the scale was balanced.
God comes to us and fills us with infinite love, acceptance, mercy and forgiveness; gifts to empower us. How are we supposed to respond? Our lifelong task is to live a life worthy of the Gospel. Only then is the scale balanced. We seek to “even the beam” by living out the love, acceptance, mercy and forgiveness that Christ has shown us. We can never respond fully enough to completely balance the scales, we could never completely repay God; but what we lack, God will supply!
We reflect the Gospel at all times despite who is present. Proper conduct should not depend on who is watching, but on your understanding of God’s grace. I am convinced that I am a magician. I have probably caused gallons and gallons of beer to disappear out of grocery shopping carts when members saw me at the grocery store. Paul says, “If I am here or gone your conduct is to reflect Jesus Christ!”
Back in the 1800’s a slave trader was looking over a group of slaves that he was considering buying. He walked up to one slave and said, “Would you be honest if I bought you?” The man replied, “I’ll be honest whether you buy me or not.” Integrity is what we are when no one is watching. Our single-minded devotion to God is not as performance; it is not so that others will pat us on the back. That “one thing” in our lives flows from who we are at the core.
How are you doing living as a citizen? Does your behavior vary according to who’s around? Do you watch your language when I am around, forgetting that the one whose approval you need hears every word?
Our citizenship must reflect the unity of the Spirit.
The basis of our unity is the Holy Spirit. Paul knows that if the Gospel, the faith that Christ’s death is sufficient for our sins and we’ve been credited Christ’s righteousness that worthy life will be seen as we reflect the unity that comes from the Holy Spirit.
“Standing in one spirit” means that we stand firm by means of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Our unity has the work of God as its foundation, not our personal choice to work together.
“Standing firm,” was a military term used at the point of conflict. When the battle rages the soldier was to hold that piece of earth with his life. He could not budge. The Christian has to likewise hold his post; no compromise in doctrine or conduct. Often, we succumb to the attack and retreat, or surrender!
Paul uses another term, “contending together,” which uses the image of a gladiator. From the word, sunathleo, we get our word “athletic.” It was used of gladiators who engaged in competition. They were in a life-and-death struggle. The necessity to fight side by side instead of fighting each other was critical.
Peter was a Marine who played the trumpet in the Marine Corps Band. He and his fellow band members were subjected to ridicule combat soldiers. Their primary focus was practice to be the best band they could be. Like all Marines, they had to participate in field training. How would a bunch of musicians compare to those focused on combat? The Marines rarely lost in the team competitions. They had to work together every day to perfect their music. You can’t have disunity in a band.
The problem in the church today is not so much that we don’t get along. We simply insulate our lives for the pain and burden of contending together.
We must stand and hold our ground as individuals and as a church. There may be many issues dealing with morality and justice for which we must speak out, but our focus must be the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Our unity is seen when we endure together. The attacks are changing from subtle to overt! We and our doctrine of the exclusivity of Jesus Christ for salvation are being attacked and ridiculed on every side. We must hold our ground!
What happens when the truth of God’s law conflicts with your job? How do you handle a boss, or teacher or professor who ridicules you for your faith? What’s the response to the subtle persecution, the ostracizing, the looks and glances?
When we have our citizenship figured out and a future orientation to our lives, when we understand that our home is elsewhere, that our unity created by the Holy Spirit far exceeds what the world would offer, then we can stand firm. We stand firm. We stand with each other. We refused to be frightened or intimidated by the world. Our citizenship and place are secured in a kingdom far better than this one.
What makes popcorn pop? Other corn heated to 400F will parch and ultimately burn. Popcorn has moisture inside the kernel. It expands with the heat and explodes the pulp into an edible treat. Other corn becomes brittle and useless. When trials come, the difference is the Holy Spirit who dwells within us.
In the 4th Century a Christian was being interrogated by the Emperor Julian, nicknamed the “Apostate” for his rejection of Christianity. As the believer faced death for his faith, Julian asked, “What is your Carpenter doing now?” The answer was, “Making a coffin for you, Emperor.”
Our citizenship must reflect the gift of the Father.
We reflect the Father’s gift of faith. Our faith is a gift from God. It is not belief that you muster up within yourself!
In verse 29, Paul tells us that, on our own, we do not have the capacity to believe. The grace of God gives us the gift of Faith that allows belief. Gifts aren’t owed; they are given, not earned.
I did not choose to be born in America. I was born into citizenship. When I was born from above it was not my doing but rather the free gift of God. I was born into what God had provided for me. He chose to allow me to be His child.
Standing firm and holding our ground may produce suffering. Don’t be surprised by it. Suffering is the friction which polishes us. Without this friction, this polishing, we would be poor reflectors of the Image of the Son.
Dietrich Bonheoffer, the German pastor who refused to be frightened by Hitler, stood firm for the faith. He understood what that “one thing” was. He wrote a letter to his sister Sabine: “It is good to learn early enough that suffering and God are not a contradiction but rather a unity. For the idea that God suffered Himself is one of the most convincing of Christianity. I think God is nearer to suffering than happiness, and to find God in the way gives peace and rest and a strong courageous heart.”
Let’s face it, no one wants to struggle and suffer. None of us welcomes it with, “Oh boy, this is great! Now I get to grow as a Christian. I can’t wait!” But this is when the Christian faith is most real. As we find that “one thing,” and stand firm and hold our ground together with other Christians we are becoming like Jesus!
One thing! Just one thing! God has made you a citizen of heaven by the suffering of His Son. Despite our sinfulness, our rebellion and refusal to submit to His will, we can celebrate with the prophet Zephaniah:
Sing, O Daughter of Zion; shout aloud, O Israel! Be glad with all your heart, O Daughter of Jerusalem! The Lord has taken away your punishment; He has turned back your enemy. The Lord, the King of Israel, is with you; never again will you fear any harm. On that day they will say to Jerusalem, “Do not fear, O Zion; do not let your hands hang limp. The Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you. He will quiet you with His love. He will rejoice over you with singing.” (Zephaniah 3:14-17)
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