Philippians 2:1-13 is the lectionary text for September 17.
This is what the Gospel is all about. Paul here offered a theological treatise on Agape Love as taught, commanded and modeled by Jesus.
We are to be of the same mind and heart, unified in faith and Agape Love.
It is not about individuals being above or against one another, some over and above and some held down, back and out. It is about community coming together for the benefit of all, and not a few over the many. That is what distinguishes God's Kingdom values from empire values, against which the Gospels are an indictment and in spite of which the Gospels are a Way, God's Way in Jesus.
Agape Love is active commitment on behalf of the other, even stranger and enemy, and especially the most vulnerable (best described by the Jesus of Luke in 10:25-37).
If we would like to be in a alignment with God's Kingdom values, we must live what Jesus taught, commanded and modeled for the living of faith, as we have witness in the Gospels.
If we would like to be right with God, we must have the same mind in us that was in Christ Jesus as He gave it all away for the sake of humanity, rather than live in glory or seek more for Himself.
If we would like to walk with God, we must give up the hubris, arrogance and prideful ignorance that is living within empire - the greed, lust for power and desire for status that is life within empire - in order to humbly lift up one another AS OUR EXPRESSION OF LOVE FOR GOD.
If we would like to work out our own salvation, we must be receptive to the Holy Spirit of God working within us to bring us to follow Jesus - what Jesus taught, commanded and modeled as God's Way for us. It is about pleasing God by loving neighbor, and not pleasing self by loving self.
It is about giving of any abundance we have, submitting our power to God and sharing any power we have with one another for our mutual benefit and lifting each other up in mutual love with equal value.
Jesus taught and commanded it. The First Century believers lived it. Paul theologically developed it and clarified it. When, O when, will we live it? In the church? In the world? When?
Pastor Jamie
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