THE POINT: DISUNITY WILL ALWAYS DISRUPT THE MISSION OF THE CHURCH.
ME:
Welcome. We're starting a brand-new teaching series today.
Series Intro:
America is a divided nation.
Red vs. Blue
Black vs. White
Democrat vs. Republican
Masker vs. Anti-Maskers
Vaxers vs. Anti-Vaxers
Traditional Marriage vs. Gay Marriage
Traditional/Historical Sexual Roles and ID vs. Gender Fluid
It seems like everywhere you look there is another reason to be divided and there are more and more people willing to divide us.
And why? Are all of these differences brand new? Is it that we've never had a reason to be divided before now? No. There have always been reasons to be divided. So why does it seem like we are so much more divided now than we were even just 20-30 years ago?
I think it's that we have moved into an era where certain people/groups have learned to capitalize and profit from what divides us. (and even this isn't new, it's just cycling through again) And what is it that really divides us? FEAR. We are divided by fear and that isn't going to stop because Nothing SELLS LIKE FEAR.t
We just came out of the mid-term primaries and are heading towards the mid-term general election and every single one of us can give examples of how fear has been used to galvanize us, mobilize us and divide us.
• IF YOU DON'T VOTE FOR ____________ THEN THE DEMOCRATS WILL TAKE AWAY YOUR GUNS.
• IF YOU DON’T VOTE FOR ____________ THEN THE REPUBLICANS WILL TAKE AWAY YOUR RIGHT TO VOTE.
• IF YOU DON'T GIVE MONEY TO OUR CANDIDATE YOU ARE GOING TO LOSE YOUR RIGHT TO -- Marry who you want, own what you want, be free to walk down the street, etc.
Fear is used galvanize, mobilize and divide us…. And all so we'll give MONEY and POWER to those who have told us to be afraid.
This shouldn't surprise any of us. It's not a new tactic. It's the way of the world.
Here's the real problem. The Church has entered the fray. Motivated by FEAR of LOSS, we have stepped into the fight and begun to use the same tactics as the world around us.
We have decided to take sides. And I realize there are those who will disagree with me on this, but I believe that by taking sides, we have found ourselves on the sidelines.
Most American Christians in most American churches have taken sides and begun to operate with an US vs. THEM mentality
• On our best days we have a CHURCH vs. THE WORLD mindset.
• On our worst days we have a CHURCH vs. CHURCH mindset.
Are you a RED CHRISTIAN or a BLUE CHRISTIAN?
And I already know what some of you are thinking. You're thinking there's no such thing as a RED CHRISTIAN or a BLUE CHRISTIAN.
• "You can't be a Christian if you are a Democrat."
• "You can't be a Christian if you are a Republican."
• "You can't be a Christian if you vote for…"
• "You're not a real Christian if you don't vote for…"
Just like the world that uses FEAR and DIVISION to get the money and power it wants… we in the church have done the same thing. I'm afraid that WE HAVE DIVIDED THE BODY OF CHRIST FOR THE SAKE OF OUR POLITICAL VIEWS.
Let me say that again because it's something we need to think about.
WE HAVE DIVIDED THE BODY OF CHRIST FOR THE SAKE OF OUR POLITICAL VIEWS.
This divided mindset and this divided way of living has made the church ineffective and it has undermined the mission of Jesus in the world.
And THAT is what this series is all about. Today - and for the next 4 Sunday's we are going to look at what the church - in the middle of a divided, angry, culture war society - is supposed to look like!
We're looking at this because, honestly, most of us are getting it wrong.
Are you ready to jump in and do this?
We're going start right here in the middle of THIS conversation by looking at the GREAT DIVIDE!
Grab your bibles and open them up to Philippians 2:1. Pg. 802.
WE:
Let me ask you a question. Have you ever gone to an event where you didn't know very many people? Maybe it was a party or a wedding reception or work event, but you got there and discovered that you didn't really know anyone. It's a lonely feeling. And then you see that one guy/gal you kind of know. They work on the same floor as you and you've briefly spoken in the break room… or they live on your street and you've said 'hello' a few times… or maybe you went to the same high school/college and haven't seen each other in years.
But you get there and you see someone that you have even the most tentative connection with… What do you do? You gravitate towards that person. And if BOTH of you don't know anyone else there - suddenly, for the next 2 hours, you're best friends.
WHY DO WE DO THAT? We do that because we hate to be alone. We do that because we are wired to be connected. And even if they're a DEM/REP or a LIB/CON or even a Cubs fan… we put all of that aside for the 2 hours we're together because we're made for community.
Right?
But then we come to church and we find out that the person/people we worship with week after week voted for the "wrong" candidate… "wrong" party…, whatever and suddenly - it's US vs. THEM.
WE LONG FOR UNITY BUT WE TEND TO DRIFT TOWARDS DISUNITY.
Let me say that again because it's something we need to spend some time thinking over. WE LONG FOR UNITY BUT WE TEND TO DRIFT TOWARDS DISUNITY.
And that's a problem. That is especially a problem for those of us who are followers of Jesus because
DISUNITY WILL ALWAYS DISRUPT THE MISSION OF THE CHURCH.
Let me say THAT again. DISUNITY WILL ALWAYS DISRUPT THE MISSION OF THE CHURCH.
And that's the point. DISUNITY WILL ALWAYS DISRUPT THE MISSION OF THE CHURCH.
That's what I want us all to walk away from this place thinking about and working against. DISUNITY WILL ALWAYS DISRUPT THE MISSION OF THE CHURCH.
Church…
• Our mission is to advance the Kingdom of Jesus
• Our mission is to be a part of bringing transformation
• Our mission is to represent Jesus in our world so that he can bring healing and hope and restoration and unity.
And our DISUNITY disrupts that mission.
THAT IS THE GREAT DIVIDE… We divide ourselves from each other over politics, race, preferences, a desire to win… whatever and we divide the church from the mission of Jesus in our world. DISUNITY WILL ALWAYS DISRUPT THE MISSION OF THE CHURCH.
So… how do we guard against disunity? How do overcome our natural tendency to use FEAR and DIVISION to get what we want? How do we put aside our division, political and otherwise so that we can be UNIFIED and move the kingdom of Jesus forward?
Glad you asked.
GOD:
The Apostle Paul gives us the answer in a letter he wrote to a community of Jesus followers in the city of Philippi.
Let me see if I can set the scene for you.
[SET CONTEXT FOR PHILIPPIANS]
• PAUL TRAVELED TO THE CITY OF PHILIPPI ON HIS 2nd MISSIONARY JOURNEY
• WHEN HE GETS TO PHILIPPI HE MEETS LYDIA
o LYDIA IS A WEALTHY MERCHANT
o SHE MAKES/SELLS PURPLE CLOTH (PURPLE WAS A ROYAL COLOR, SOLD TO THE WEALTHY)
o SHE BECOMES A FOLLOWER OF JESUS
o PAUL AND HIS TEAM STAY AT HER HOUSE WHILE THEY MINISTER IN THE AREA
• ONE DAY - ON THE WAY TO PRAYER - THEY ARE CONFRONTED BY YOUNG SLAVE GIRL WHO IS POSSESS/OPRESSED BY A DEMON THAT ALLOWS HER TO TELL THE FUTURE
• HER OWNERS MAKE A GREAT DEAL OF MONEY FROM HER
• SHE KEEPS YELLING "These men are servants of the Most High God, who are telling you the way to be saved" AND DISRUPTING PAUL'S WORK.
• SO PAUL CASTS THE DEMON OUT OF HER
• HER OWNERS ARE ANGRY BECAUSE THEY JUST LOST THEIR SOURCE OF INCOME
• THEY HAVE PAUL AND SILAS ARRESTED
• WHILE IN JAIL, PAUL AND SILAS SING AND WORSHIP GOD
• THERE'S AN EARTHQUAKE AND ALL THE CELL DOORS COME OPEN
• THE JAILER RUSHES IN AND SEES THE OPEN CELL DOORS SO HE DEDCIDES TO KILL HIMSELF… IF THE PRISONERS ESCAPE, ROME WILL HAVE HIM EXECUTED ANYWAY
• PAUL TELLS HIM TO STOP, NO ONE HAS ESPCAPE
• PAUL AND SILAS TELL HIM ABOUT JESUS AND HE BECOMES A FOLLOWER
• TAKES THEM TO HIS HOUSE AND HIS WHOLE FAMILY BECOMES FOLLOWERS AND GET'S BAPTIZED
This group of people is the core team for Paul's new church plant.
• A wealthy merchant who is a woman
• A slave girl who has been set free from an evil spirit
• A jailer who worked for Rome and was probably a former Roman officer
This is a rough bunch to start a church with. This is a bunch who would have had little or nothing in common. They were all pagans… one was wealthy, but a woman… one was a rough old solider turned jailer and his family… and one was a slave girl…
Not much to work with and very little in common. But that's the start of the church in Philippi
Now… several years later, Paul is writing them a letter. This is a good church. They're getting good things done. Lives are being changed. Paul writes them from prison to encourage them… and look at what he tells them.
Therefore (Remember, if there's a 'therefore', you need to stop and ask, 'what is the therefore there for?')
So what is Paul therefore-ing? He is telling them that he's in prison and that he might not get out. He thinks he will, but it's not a sure thing. He's in prison for preaching the gospel. He's in prison and facing a possible death sentence and he wants them to continue to live lives "WORTHY OF THE GOSPEL" regardless of what happens to him.
He says, just as Jesus suffered, he's been called to suffer and, in reality, all of us are called to suffer as Jesus did. Thus - with his possible death looming… with the potential for suffering on the horizon for all of them… live a life WORTHY OF THE GOSPEL…
He says, you are going to face DIFFICULTY and STRUGGLES… THEREFORE…
Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in 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 of one mind.
Philippians 2:1-2
If/Then statements are important. And this is a big one…
IF YOU HAVE…
• Encouragement from being united with Christ
• Comfort from His love
• Common sharing of the Spirit
• Tenderness and Compassion
THEN…
• Be LIKE MINDED
• Having SAME LOVE
• ONE in SPIRIT
• ONE MIND
Paul is writing to this church that was planted with an incredibly diverse core team. It was planted by a group that would naturally be DIVIDED and DIVISIVE.
• A slave girl would have no use for the empire, especially a former soldier turned prison warden
• A wealthy merchant would have had not use for a poor slave and a working class, rough around the edges prison warden
• A former soldier and prison warden would have had little use for women… especially one who was nothing more than a slave.
And yet Paul says to all of them - and to everyone else who would have become a part of this church by now - that if you are going to live a life WORTH OF THE GOSPEL, then you must work to be UNITED
A LIFE WORTHY OF THE GOSPEL IS A LIFE MARKED BY UNITY.
Paul is calling them (and us) to live lives WORTHY OF THE GOSPEL…. TO WORK TOWARDS UNITY.
You don't live a life worthy of the Gospel when you say…
• "You can't be a Christian if you are a Democrat."
• "You can't be a Christian if you are a Republican."
• "You can't be a Christian if you vote/voted for…"
• "You're not a real Christian if you don'/didn't vote for…"
Live a life WORTHY OF THE GOSPEL… Work to build unity… and then Paul gives some very specific action steps we can/must take to move away from DIS-UNITY and towards UNITY
3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
Philippians 2:3-4
SELFISH AMBITION
To be of one mind believers must stop setting their minds on their own ambitions and their own glory. As long as Christians have the attitude that what matters most is self-fulfillment and self-advancement, they will never experience the unity of one mind
• When you are worried about what you will LOSE…. You are operating from SELFISH AMBITION
VAIN CONCEIT
The Greek word translated vain conceit combines two words: “empty glory.” This word exposes those who polish their façade but are devoid of the inner reality of spiritual vitality to match their “exaggerated self-evaluation.” Their glory is only a false illusion. Paul challenges his friends to do nothing to obtain empty glory—the glory of position, prestige, power, and possessions
• When you are focused on how to WIN (and THAT you win)… You are operating from VAIN CONCEIT
Paul says - if we're followers of Jesus… If we're the church… then we have to put aside our fear of what we'll lose and our focus on winning and instead…
in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others
In humility we are to put aside our NEED TO WIN and our FEAR OF LOSING and we are to VALUE OTHERS ABOVE YOURSELF…
You aren't valuing others above yourself when you say…
• "You can't be a Christian if you are a Democrat."
• "You can't be a Christian if you are a Republican."
• "You can't be a Christian if you vote/voted for…"
• "You're not a real Christian if you don'/didn't vote for…"
When you let your political views turn your neighbors and your family and your friends and fellow brothers and sisters in Christ into opponents to be defeated and enemies to be vanquished you are not VALUING OTHERS ABOVE YOURSELF.
When you are more concerned with saving America than you are with saving Americans…. You are not VALUING OTHERS ABOVE YOURSELF.
Church… we must stop looking to our own interests and start looking to the interests of OTHERS.
DISUNITY WILL ALWAYS DISRUPT THE MISSION OF THE CHURCH.
The way we guard against DISUNITY is to follow instructions given to us by Paul who was writing to a church that had every reason to not be UNIFIED…
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
When we focus on OTHERS before we focus on US… we move towards the unity Jesus prayed for.
SO WHAT?
So, what's the takeaway? What do we do with this Pastor Steve?
[HAVE THE BAND TAKE THE STAGE]
YOU:
DISUNITY WILL ALWAYS DISRUPT THE MISSION OF THE CHURCH.
And I think most of us have grown far too comfortable with the idea that "that's just the way it is." We've grown comfortable with the GREAT DIVIDE.
So here is my challenge to you…
• Will you pray that God will disturb your peace over the divide that exists in our churches? Will you pray that God will disturb your peace over the divide that exists between you and your family, neighbors, co-workers and brothers and sisters in Christ?
I know that's a scary prayer, asking God to disturb you. But I firmly believe that until we are willing to let God disturb us over the things that disturb Him, we will never take action.
Here's a second challenge to you…
• Will you begin to look for opportunities to move towards unity? Will you look for ways to build bridges with those who don't vote like you and don't look like you and don't agree with you?
And if you're wondering HOW? How do you build those bridges and move towards unity? If you're looking for some specifics on how to value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others…
Then I want to invite you to come back next week. Because we're going to talk about it.
WE:
Close with communion and prayer
