The Appeal For Unity Series

The Appeal for Unity

Philippians 4:1-3

Online Sermon: http://www.mckeesfamily.com/?page_id=3567

When you walk into the church and see the many faces of God’s children does your heart leap for joy? Can you see the diversity of so many distinctly gifted and profoundly unique individuals and celebrate how critical they truly are in making up the full body of Christ? While most Christians would shout “YES, AMEN” do we truly love and see our uniqueness in Christ as a blessing? Can we honestly say we put the interests of others above that of our own? We would love to say “blessed are we the peacemakers” but, it is not easy to love and be of the same mind with those who have so many varied views on the goals and functionality of the church! For many the church is a place for fellowship and worship, but it is not always seen as a place to build one another up in the faith, spur one another onto good deeds, and be one family whose bond of peace comes from everyone bowing their knees to a risen Lord! Often even church leaders tend to clamor for power instead of giving up “their apparent rights” to humbly be like Christ and be a servant of all! When Christians see the money they give, the service they do, and the influence they have as the right to sole headedly choose the direction of the church then conflict with others becomes inevitable. When Christians no longer celebrate the diversity of others then personality clashes rage and unity disappears! When this happens how should we the members of the church respond? On the one hand if we get involved in seeking peace, we could be accused of being busybodies but on the other hand if we stick our heads in the sand like an ostrich how does this honor Christ when we ignore the members of His body tearing church unity apart? Surely those are called to be Christ’s ambassadors and entrusted to make an appeal to the world to be reconciled unto God are also entrusted to seek peace within the confines of His body! Thankfully, in today’s passage, Philippians 4:1-3, Apostle Paul gives us God’s way to handle those who are creating disunity in the church. As you listen to his words ask yourself the following questions: am I more interested in getting my own way rather than seeking to serve others first and are their people in the church that are in conflict that I am overlooking God’s call to help them reconcile?

The Attitude of Unity

Writing from a prison in Rome facing possible execution, Paul put his own words into action by thinking not about his own well-being but that of the church! If the believers were to accomplish their God given goal of living a life worthy of the Gospel of Christ (1:27) and shine among their “warped and crooked generation” “like stars in the sky” (2:15) then church unity must be sought by “being likeminded, having the same love, being one in spirit and mind” (2:2). Before Paul explained this exhortation in more detail, he first used the most “affectionate and endearing language” possible to express his deep sense of gratitude and overwhelming joy with his fellow believers at Philippi. So deep was Paul’s longing to be with the church he reiterated what he said earlier in his letter, “God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ” (1:8). “Paul’s heart soared with joy every time he thought about them (1:3-4),” for like the Thessalonians the Philippians were in some sense his prize or crown (1 Thessalonians 2:19 and comment on 1 Cor 9:24–25). Paul who all throughout his letter had been “comparing the Christian life with the course of the Grecian athletes,” now in great pride and sense overwhelming joy boldly stated that their salvation and perseverance through intense persecution were proof that he himself had indeed not run in vain (2:16). In his desire to “shepherd the church’s heart” Paul masterfully outlined the essence of church unity, love for God and one another. Often believers are too quick to see specks in another’s eyes with a sense of criticality and raging “need for justice” when in fact what the other needs to be reconciled is to first hear the simple and yet profound words that despite their sins and conflict they are still loved, others are still proud of them, and the body just wants them to strive to know and live for Christ. Like Paul, one does not speak a single word of exhortation until first the brother and sister knows that the words about to be spoken are done so in love!

Reflection. Do you love your brother and sisters in the church in which God as sent you to be a member? When you describe to others what the people of the church you attend are like do you use some of the affectionate words of Apostle Paul? Can you put the interests of others above that of your own even if it means you might be wronged in the process? Have you ever given a harsh rebuke of another Christian, either in gossip or in person, that you later regretted?