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When Christians Disagree
Philippians 4:2-3 is an unusual text that we need to slow down and look into.
2 I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to agree with each other in the Lord. 3 Yes, and I ask you, loyal yokefellow, help these women who have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.
Euodia and Syntyche... These women had a problem, didn't they?
Paul has just written about how the church there needed to join together and imitate his life. Then he presents a problem. Here's a couple of women in the church who need to join together and work out some differences. They have a relationship problem that has reached the ears and heart of Paul so that he names them publicly in the letter to this church. (By the way, this letter would be publicly read to this church in the hearing of all). He pleads with them to get it together and agree with each other in the Lord. Not only does Paul plead with them, he solicits help from a "loyal yokefellow" to get involved and bring these two Christian sisters into the harmony of Christ. The word "help" in verse 3 is from a Greek verb "sulambano" which means to take hold of together. It can even mean seize them. The word Paul uses for the man he asks to help them is loyal or true yokefellow. This very name "yokefellow" or the Greek "Sudzugei" is a term of companionship, a coming together into partnership.
Euodia and Syntyche... Guess what? Their names mean to "do well" and to "come together." It appears that contrary to their names, they are not doing well and coming together. But this whole section is loaded with joining together language. Let me list it in order as you look at these two verses with me:
1. The names Euodia and Syntyche - do well and come together
2. The plea of Paul - agree with each other in the Lord
3. The nickname of the person Paul asks to help - yokefellow (someone sharing a yoke together).
4. The word help - "sulambano" - means take hold of together.
5. The history of these women - They have contended together with me for the cause of the gospel.
6. Clement and the rest of my fellow workers - others who are still joined together as workers.
7. Names in the book of life - sharing together a common salvation hope in Christ.
It is interesting to me to note how so much of the very language Paul uses here has the thought of joining together couched within it. This theme of joining together God's way in the Old Testament and in Christ in the New Testament is of major importance throughout the scripture.
From the beginning of creation God designed us for community and togetherness, first with Him and also with one another. God Himself is revealed to us as a unity: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. God communicates with Himself as He designs humanity in His own image and likeness. Genesis 1: 26 Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” 27 So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.
We were designed for communication, community and communion. This is God's nature and He has given it to us. As we share this divine nature and join together according to God's word and will we demonstrate God's image and shine with God's light in the world.
Jesus prayed in John 17: 10 And all Mine are Yours, and Yours are Mine, and I am glorified in them. 11 Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We are.
20 “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; 21 that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. 22 And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: 23 I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.
If you read John 17 carefully you will see that the entire prayer is about the unity of God himself for all of God's people with God and with one another. Our love and unity demonstrate more than any other aspect of our faith that we belong to God and God is in us, working through us.
Look at this theme of unity in Philippians:
1: 3 I thank my God every time I remember you. 4 In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5 because of your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now, 6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. 7 It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart; for whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me. 8 God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus. 9 And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight,
27 Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel
2: 1 If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. 4 Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.
5 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
3:13b This one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
15 All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. 16 Only let us live up to what we have already attained.
17 Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you.
4:1-3 Our text today.
So...
What's in this for us? What do we need to learn from this to apply to ourselves?
1. Christians sometimes don't get along. Disunity is destructive and can distracts us from our faith. God designed us for unity, community, communication and cooperation. The church is described in scripture as a body, a kingdom, a building, an army, a holy people who belong to God, a family. These images all share the idea of unity and community.
The tools of unity are all available through the gifts of God in Christ Jesus. When there is disunity and disharmony among fellow Christians it is not because God wants it that way or has not provided the power and tools to build unity.
Philippians has shown us that God works in us and we must work out our part. It also has shown us that God has given us the encouragement, comfort, love, fellowship, tenderness and compassion we need for unity in Christ. There are not good excuses for disunity in the body of Christ.
God's very character and glory are seen in our unity. We must not take this lightly. Jesus said, "If you are bringing your gift to the alter and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your give there at the alter and first go and be reconciled to your brother. Then come and offer your gift." Your worship won't work if you are at odds with your fellow Christian brother or sister and are not obedient in working for unity there.
2. God supplies help from others to work out their differences. It is our responsibility to get involved with one another here. Paul pleads with these Christian sisters to agree in the Lord. He employs the help of others to bring them together and work it out.
Jesus said, "Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called children of God." Jesus knows that we need peacemakers who can help us work through differences sometimes. It is part of the way the church works out our salvation. Husbands and wives, brothers and sisters, fellow Christians, we all have a responsibility to work hard at this.
We will always need peacemakers among us.
Ephesians 4: 1 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope when you were called— 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
The Oneness of Christ is glorious and worth every effort on our part.
3. Your names are in the Book of life. Not everyone enjoys this amazing benefit and blessing! If your name is in God's Book of life, you have a great gift and a great responsibility.
People fight over the most insignificant things! What Paul is doing here is pointing out the most important matter so that the smaller matters will be put in perspective. What would you throw away your eternal life for? Is a battle with a brother worth dishonoring Jesus Christ for? When you know the price God paid to make peace with you and put your name in His Book of life, does that not motivate you to make peace with your fellow Christian?
Do you have a problem with someone that needs to be worked out?
Take a card from the pew and put on it the date and time you will take steps to make peace and begin reconciliation.
Don't make God wait any longer. Get help if you need someone to work with you to bring you together in Christ. This could be the most important thing you do to bring God the glory He deserves from you.
Peace with God is for those who also seek peace with their fellowman.
