Brothers and sisters, join in imitating me, and observe those who live according to the example you have in us. For many live as enemies of the cross of Christ; I have often told you of them, and now I tell you even with tears. Their end is destruction; their god is the belly; and their glory is in their shame; their minds are set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven, and it is from there that we are expecting a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. He will transform the body of our humiliation that it may be conformed to the body of his glory, by the power that also enables him to make all things subject to himself. Therefore, my brothers and sisters, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, my beloved. Philippians 3:17-4:1
Philippians is a beautiful letter of Christian encouragement. Whenever I read the letter I’m reminded of the more modern concept of “flow.”
To be in the “flow” is like an 8 cylinder engine powering a well designed car through well paved mountain curves. It just purrs along, performing like it was intended to perform. The driver and the car are one machine.
To be in the “flow” in our lives is that sense of everything fitting together, everything working together, our gifts matching the opportunities of our lives. It is that deep sense that we are where we are supposed to be, that we have been created for this moment and this purpose.
We think of Paul as a Christian missionary, and he was, but he wasn’t necessarily a church planter. He seems to have been more of a church developer. In many places Paul is visiting Christian communities that had previously gathered. But the church in Philippi was the first community that Paul had established in that area. From the beginning there had been opposition from both Gentile and Jewish sources but Paul and the others who established the church were able to weather the storms. The Christian community in Philippi certainly held a special place in Paul’s heart.
It was, for Paul, a community as it ought to be. Together they were in the flow.
When Paul says to the Philippians that they ought to “imitate me” he isn’t elevating himself as someone special or particularly laudatory, he is distinguishing himself (and the gospel he proclaims) from those who continue to threaten the Philippian church. In previous verses, he warns the Philippians against the “evil workers…who mutilate the flesh (3:2).” These are the voices of those who want to add external rituals to the internal trust in Jesus that is the center of the Christian faith. Paul is reminding them that their Leader isn’t about earthly religious power plays or displays but about the transformation of hearts and lives.
Back now to the concept of “flow”…
My experience is that “flow” is a relational term. It isn’t something we sense in isolation from the world around us but a sense that comes in relationship with the world around us. It is a sense when inner resources and gifts align and all things work together. Like the air passing over and under the wing of an airplane, the flowing air provides both lift and resistance. The wing itself is fixed but working in conjunction with the thrust of the engine and the physical dynamics of the universe.
Paul’s encouragement here is for the Philippians to see that Jesus is the fixed wing of their faith, the One to which they cling, on whom they depend, and from whom they draw their purpose. As they live and work together, holding fast to that which doesn’t move, they are being carried to where God wants them to be.
Let us pray: Dear Jesus, the struggles of our faith today are far more subtle than the active opposition of your first followers. And yet the siren song of the gods of our bellies tempt us all the time. Thank you for the words of encouragement from Paul which remind us that you are carrying us to where we need to be, that all things work together for those who love you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Daily Devotions 
November 6, 2009 at 6:54 pm |
I’ve always been curious about how the muslims fit into the biblical texts. We hear the term “gentile” a lot, but my perception of that is “Roman” or infidel. We know the muslims follow the story of Abrahams child of the nursemaid banished because of Sarah’s son, but nary a word after that in the judo-christian texts. Where were the muslims during the time of Jesus? Were any of them touched by his word or did they scorn him more than the jews? Does the Koran make reference to the jews? Or do they also evade the whole question also?
November 6, 2009 at 7:47 pm |
If I’n not mistaken, Muslim faith was organized by Mohammad, who referred to Jesus (but not as the Son of God). So they weren’t actually around at the time of Paul…
CN