Philippians 4:1 – Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved.
Did you notice the first word of Paul’s sentence? Therefore. Then skip over the following rapturous expressions and go straight to…Stand firm thus in the Lord.
Therefore… stand firm thus in the Lord.
Therefore is a word that looks back: blah, blah, blah…THEREFORE.
So let’s look back: (3:7-17) Because God is making things right through the faithfulness of Christ in dying on the cross and rising from the dead,
…and we ourselves become part of that renewal through our faith in Christ,
…then we-in-Christ become instruments of that renewal as we suffer in faith and our sufferings become part of Christ’s productive sufferings …
(3:18,19) Because the enemies of Christ’s crucifixion are heading toward a tragic conclusion …
(3:20,21) Because we in Christ hold a heavenly citizenship so that we are waiting for our Savior from heaven to appear again and renew our bodies then the earth
Because all these things centered on Jesus Christ are true…Stand firm in the Lord.
Stand firm – Keep looking through the obvious, immediate things and focus on things invisible yet true.
Stand firm. The current is against us. The torrent of:
- escapism entertainment that promotes spiritual sluggishness, that conditions you to the idea that life without reference to God is possible.
- worldly passions that condition you to live by instinct and feelings and appetites instead of commandments and truth
- a vibe of this-moment-ness that pressures you to shrug your shoulders at the age to come and live for news and position and experience and acquisition and accomplishment NOW
- triggers of anxiety and fearfulness that keep you in your head and focused on yourself
Stand firm Church. Stand firm THEREFORE – by recalling what is true.
Parents, in bringing up children in the instruction of the Lord, rear children who are prepared to stand firm. Encourage a large contrarian streak. Don’t raise “yes men.” Get on them for being people pleasers.
But – speaking of contrarianism – here’s where things get complicated. Let me explain by an example. I’m grateful for the growing realization that the so-called “mainstream” or “legacy” media shouldn’t automatically be trusted as truth-bearers. To say the least. (If you want to say the most, look at the back of Mike Prouty’s truck!) It’s a good thing to carry a healthy skepticism for what the majority says is so. You don’t discover truth by counting how many people believe in something.
But here’s the tricky part: In rejecting opinions that’ve been carved out by the majority, we could be moved toward an opposing stance…but then we too have been duped because this opposing stance is just another position that’s been carved out by another segment of the world.
You could think you’re not being squeezed into the world’s mold because you’ve avoided one type of manipulation, but you haven’t noticed that you’ve been suckered into a different mold. In both of these superficially opposite molds what holds sway is anger, scorn of the other, this-worldliness, unbelief (even if it’s a “Christian” type of unbelief).
You could be holding a position against the majority that’s technically correct, but then you’re holding it in rage and scorn; or even more subtly, you’ve been tricked into treating something as high importance that Christ simply doesn’t care about. You’re standing firm… but not in the Lord.
Stand firm thus, in the Lord… In the Lord. Our north star is not what the legacy media is saying. But neither is it the opposite of what the legacy media is saying. What we are preoccupied with, setting our direction by, being formed by…are the concerns and commandments of the Lord. To every generation: Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly.
Some people say I’m done with CNN; it’s FOX News for me. Then a little cleverer person says – No, not FOX news, but Megyn Kelly or Ben Shapiro. But all three “institutions” are more than capable of drowning out the voice of the Lord if we’re not vigilant.
In encouraging moderation with all three categories of media – 1) liberal mainstream, 2) conservative mainstream, 3) obscure conservatism – I’m not claiming that all three of these are the same, that some mediations of reality aren’t more harmful to society than the other. But – here helped by an essay of C.S. Lewis – does CNN help you view this world/age as merely the foyer for eternity? Does FOX news desire its audience to be poor in spirit? Does the Daily Wire move you toward hoping for a supernatural salvation? Do any of these institutions move you to identify yourself as a contributing member of Christ’s body?
But you say – that’s not their job. They’re just media. And yes, all they’re doing is mediating reality to us (!) They’re relaying what is true (or at least supposed to be). But just here where we need to be cautious, to stand firm: we’ll need to constantly bear in mind they’re explaining reality without reference to God, or at least reference to the God of Jesus Christ who was crucified, risen again, and is now gathering a people into a holy community. But that GOSPEL is the all-important reality running beneath the focus of news media, and no one’s discussing it. If you like, call it a conspiracy!
Do you understand? Stand firm in the Lord. We’re talking a true contrarianism.
As another example, masculinity has been under attack in the broader culture. In reaction, now there’s another, significant part of the culture pushing back against this emasculation, telling men to do hard things, be tough. But a Christian – though sympathetic to this pushback – can’t settle comfortably into either of these two camps. Because neither one of these versions of masculinity – the feminized version or the Goggins/ eat meat/ gym bro version – reminds you that you died with Christ and encourages you to wait for the coming of Jesus Christ.
Stand firm against being enamored of progressivism. Or classic liberalism. Or conservatism. Anything that’s Christless or Christ-lite!
Stand firm against conflating genuine Christ-centered Christianity with the generic, disenchanted Christianity of – for instance – Charles Dickens and Walter Scott and Anthony Trollope and Kamala Harris and Donald Trump. You can value and even highly value some of those people (as I do), while perceiving that their “Christianity” is fatally vague. Not grounded in Jesus Christ as the Spirit presents him! Admire what you can, but don’t call their stuff Christian – stand firm.
I’ve given a couple of negative examples of what it’s not to stand firm in the Lord. How about a positive example? Let’s stay away from controversy and just talk about Christianity and politics. Turn to 1 Timothy 2.
2 First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, 2 for kings and all who are in high positions The Spirit instructs us to pray for political leaders as a matter of high importance – first of all. When He tells us to pray, He’s not implying that prayer is to take the place of our own political activity…just as when we pray for daily bread that doesn’t imply we’re not also supposed to labor to obtain it!
So, pray and work toward a certain political situation, but why? That we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. We pray and work toward political order and peace that supports and encourages a life lived in reference to God, a life befitting the dignity of image bearers.
And we pray and work toward a stable, righteous polity that is most favorable environment for gospel proclamation, for announcing the “one mediator” to those image-bearers who are currently God’s enemies. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior,4 who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.
Mainly, our political designs are driven by the gospel of the Man, Christ Jesus. For example, announcing the gospel requires communication, and so we pray for and labor toward a political situation allowing “freedom of speech.”
Another example: for someone to affirm the gospel requires that he comes to realize that he’s a sinner. Therefore, we pray and labor toward laws and statutes that allow people to come to that realization easily, that don’t confuse right and wrong: that don’t call good, evil and evil, good.
We could keep going. But here’s the point: as those standing firm in the Lord, we pray for and labor toward a certain political system for a specific reason: not because we’re trying to preserve our rights, full stop. Not because the Founders set things up this way, full stop. What is primarily driving our political ambition is the proclamation and reception of the gospel of the one Mediator between God and men – the God who desires all men to be saved. In this particular political ambition there might be significant overlap with those who are aiming at other political goals, but to stand firm in the Lord means that his gospel is our north star.
1 Corinthians 7:29b-31 – From now on, let those who have wives lives as though they had none, and those who mourn as though they were not mourning, and those who rejoice as though they were not rejoicing, and those who buy as though they had no goods, and those who deal with the world as though they had no dealings with it. For the present form of this world is passing away. Paul’s point here: Christians are not invested in things for the same reasons and to the same degree that the world is! We’re not abjectly loyal to a certain party or candidate, but for a time at least will cooperate with those who – whether they realize it or not – are creating an environment good for the gospel of Jesus Christ. We’ll join in…and take leave of… causes and movements and parties and candidates according to how they serve our cause – the cause of the Lord Jesus. Ultimately, we’re not trying to please anyone else…we’re standing firm in the Lord.
Switching gears: one way you can tell if you’re a true contrarian, that you’re standing firm in the Lord. Do you love…deeply love your brothers and sisters in Christ?
Hear how Paul layers one term of endearment on top of the next. My brother (sisters are captured in this Greek word… “my sibling”). We’re family.
Whom I love – I’m committed to you.
And long for – within my breast blaze strong feelings for you.
My joy – but hold on, Paul: isn’t it true if we rejoice in people, they’ll end up disappointing us? But Paul says about these Philippian Christians, my joy. I rejoice in them because the Lord delights in them.
My crown – I’ve invested myself into you, and if I have anything to show for myself, it’s you. You’re my legacy. You’re what I’m leaving behind and what I hope will be attributed to me at judgment day.
And then one final my beloved.
These are extravagant, lavish forms of address. Paul the disciple-maker isn’t only an information dispenser or even an affectionate coach. He’s a devoted sibling, emotionally invested… vulnerable.
Oh, brothers and sisters, when you love like Paul does, you’re exposing yourself to pain!
I’ll change a couple of words from this CS Lewis excerpt: “To [partner in the gospel] at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything, [especially the Church,] and your heart will be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping [your heart] intact you must give it to no one, not even an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements. Lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket, safe, dark, motionless, airless, it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable. To love is to be vulnerable…”
Brothers and sisters, do those whom you are guiding and pointing and prodding to Christ sense that you love them? That you’re committed to them? That you are laboring to connect with them…that you like them? That you are proud of them and looking for more ways to be proud of them?
Paul’s overflowing affection came from exposure to Jesus Christ. In our Lord is not an ounce of indifference, coldness. In Hebrews 2 Jesus calls out to the Heavenly Father: Here am I AND the children whom you’ve given to me. He relishes this thought: these are my brothers. He strains – not to underscore how different he is from his brothers – but to show what they have in common: [Just like you need to], I will put my trust in God.
A good deal of the majestic strength of the Lord is His conquest of death in its presentations of apathy and selfishness. In his victory over these presentations of death he’s gathering together a beloved community. By his strong Spirit he’s forming us into a people who are invested in each other…not simply privately, but who are not ashamed to proclaim “these are my brothers.” He’s a reconciler. Turning the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers. Warmth. Tenderness. Openness. Enjoyment.
When I was a highschooler I was a punk, getting in trouble, giving my parents a lot of reasons to be annoyed. Also, quite a stutterer, and this cloud of awkwardness followed me around. In contrast to that problematic kid called “Colin” was my dad, who was polished, had life under control, was admirable and admired. How did he deal publicly with his kid whom I sure in some ways embarrassed him? Well, like this at my football game, wearing my jersey and making a fool of himself cheering for me.
That’s the love of Christ in action! You like people, even the awkward and unlikable!
Now, a couple of qualifications to insert here. Christians can get caught up in the rhetoric of love and togetherness and can start scheduling one get-together after the next. Let’s eat another meal together! And at these get-togethers we’re all supposed to have fun and have an easy laugh and the conversations flow on their own.
But hold on: our Lord makes us a partner in the work. “Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me.”
Listen to how Paul begins his letter to Philemon: Paul, a prisoner for Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, to Philemon our beloved fellow worker and Apphia our sister and Archippus our fellow soldier…”. A sibling label surrounded by worker and soldier.
The Spirit of our Lord Jesus brings us together in the work. A fellowship that centers on the gospel and that involves suffering. Christians have the type of closeness that is less like those who go on vacation together and more like brothers-in-arms who have come to know one another in the furnace of shared hardship.
Is God pushing you deeper into Christian relationships? Probably. Respond to his promptings by going deeper into the work of gospel partnership. Start praying systematically at home for your brothers and sisters. Gather with the church to pray. Work hard at learning and retaining doctrine. Give money sacrificially. Join in suffering!
Second qualifier to the theme of heartily and unembarrassedly loving our brothers and sisters in Christ: there are personalities – formed by nature and by nurture – that are prone to be drained by interaction with people. I am such. These days I think we’re calling them “introverts,” though we need to be careful of extra-biblical concepts and language.
Anyway, yes get re-charged in solitude. Let it be real solitude, and not the ambiguous solitude of screentime. And let your solitude include time with the Lord – reading His Word, pouring out your heart to him. And here’s what you’ll discover: when it comes to relating in love to the beloved community, even [the strongest among us] shall faint and be weary/ and [the most loving] shall fall exhausted. But they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength/ they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.
When you meet the Lord in solitude, He then gives you the strength to return to – engage – truly invest yourself into – others. The most energetic of us need this renewal of strength constantly. Sometimes you’ll need extra doses.
If you’re passing through a time of annoyance and stress in rearing your children, you’ll be tempted to back off and phone it in – throw an I-pad at them… or if they’re older – leave them alone and eye each other across the ring from different corners. NO! If you’re up to your eyeballs with frustration with your kids, it’s the time to pare down your life to two things: 1) waiting on God and getting renewed in His presence and then 2) engaging.
Lead and minister and parent out of love!
But let’s not miss the main point that lies behind Paul’s extravagant expressions in v. 1: those who stand firm in the Lord aren’t marked by our belligerence, our “keep those blankety blank kids off our lawn” attitude, by our tough-guy personas, by our scorn of worldlings of differering political persuasions. What is – or should be- striking about us is the contrarianism that we’ve lived so closely with the Lord that we’ve become a community of love that goes deeper with each other through side-by-side laboring in his gospel.
AMEN
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