The Generosity of God

October 9, 2011 ; Philippians 4:1-9

The Rev. Shelby Ochs Owen, Trinity Church, Staunton

“Be of the same mind in the Lord.”

In today’s reading from Philippians, Paul urges Euodia and Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord.  Apparently there has been some dissension between these two faithful women who have worked side by side with Paul when he had been with them.  Even though they labor for the sake of the Lord, rivalry and tension are evident between these two women.  Avoiding the choosing of sides and avoiding a harsh reprimand, Paul addresses the issue with encouragement and simply reminds them to be of the same mind in the Lord.  So often folks say we need to go back to the ways of the early church forgetting that all was not perfect within the church even then.  I want to share a more current church story.

Three Huts

One balmy day in the South Pacific, a navy ship noticed smoke coming from one of three huts on an uncharted island. Upon arriving at the shore they were met by a shipwreck survivor. He said, “I’m so glad you’re here! I’ve been alone on this island for more than five years!”

The captain replied, “If you’re all alone on the island why do I see THREE huts.”

The survivor said, “Oh. Well, I live in one, and go to church in another.”

“What about the THIRD hut?” asked the captain.

“That’s where I USED to go to church.”

No, all is not perfect within the church even when only one person is the member!  Not all was perfect within the Philippian church, and yet, even in the midst of Paul’s acknowledgement that there is conflict in the church there is a noticeable thread of joy that permeates his letter.  This joy that we see throughout the letter as well as in this passage for today is not about a transient, fleeting joy that comes when everything seems to be working well but a deep, lasting joy that comes from what Christ has done for them and what God continues to do through them. This joy “in the Lord” comes from a deepening relationship with Christ.

When Paul urges Euodia and Syntyche to be of one mind in the Lord, he is in essence reminding them that Christ emptied himself, humbled himself and was obedient to the point of death, a reiteration of Paul’s claim he makes earlier in the second chapter of this letter.  God’s generosity was revealed through Christ.  Christ gave all for the good of all. 

God calls us to unity through Christ.  What does it mean for us as a community to have the mind of Christ, to be of the same mind in the Lord?  How do we get there?  Paul says, “Let your gentleness be known to everyone.  The original Greek (epieikes) that here has been translated “gentleness” has a more positive tone denoting generosity toward others.  The New English Bible translation uses “magnanimity” which may be the more helpful and accurate translation here.  When we find ourselves in a place of disagreement, a place of tension, while working alongside our fellow Christians, can we be gentle, better yet can we be generous in our assumptions of others, can we magnanimous in our response to our neighbor?

This is the time of year when we think more deeply about stewardship, begin to think more deeply about what this church is to which we may or may not give our time, our money, or talents. Sometimes it is tempting to think that we as individuals are self-sufficient, that we can or should do all things on our own; so many voices in our culture point to this idol of self-sufficiency.  But Paul turns this idea of self-sufficiency on its head as he urges the church to be of one mind in the Lord.  Paul is NOT encouraging folks to be a bunch of single member churches like the poor fellow on the South Pacific island!  Paul encourages church members to lean on each other, to stay together, to be of the same mind as Christ.   He goes on to state how we do this, “whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”  The beauty in Paul’s words speaks to a depth of love for the community born out of the love of God.  He says, “Keep on doing these things that you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you.”  Paul embodies the gospel message and calls the Philippians to nothing less.

We are not a perfect bunch.  There will be times when we disagree; maybe it will be about whether the children’s moment should take place in the presence of the congregation or elsewhere; maybe it will be about how much money we spend on outreach or youth or salaries; maybe it will be about whether or not we read aloud the names of the folks on our prayer list.  Whenever you get two people in a room there are bound to be disagreements, and if you believe the South Pacific story, all it takes is one person to have a disagreement.  When conflict happens can we look at whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is pleasing, whatever is worthy of praise and think about these things?  Can we be open to the possibility that we may need the other person’s opinion to come to the fuller place of truth?  Can we keep on doing these things that we have learned from one another, things we have learned from the apostle Paul, things we have learned from Christ, that to humble oneself and empty oneself is to give generously the way Christ gave himself for us that we might have life in the fullest and that the God of peace would be with us?

No, we are not a perfect bunch. Sometimes we will want to be a church of only one member. Sometimes like Euodia and Syntyche we will have conflict. Sometimes we will do and say things that are hurtful and sometimes miss the mark even while doing the work of the gospel.  But with God’s help we can become our better selves through the faith community. We are a bunch committed to doing the work of God which means remembering that our unity in Christ is what matters.  Every time we come to the communion rail we profess this truth, that in Christ we are one.  As we offer our gifts of time, talent and treasure, may we offer them freely and generously with the joy that comes through our relationship with Christ and one another.  There is no doubt in my mind- we need God and we need one another.

Amen.