.png)
Today we are continuing our look at Paul’s letter to the Philippians and how we can find joy in the midst of adversity. If you were not with us last week, Paul wrote this letter while he was in prison. He was unsure of his future and even though he was locked up, he wrote about the joy he was experiencing. While happiness depends on what is happening around us, joy is a deeper feeling of well-being, gladness, and peace that we can experience no matter what. Paul was joyful because of the people in Philippi who loved him and cared enough to send one of the leaders, Epaphroditus, to be with him. Paul tells us that joy comes with relationships and that we need to build relationships with one another.
This past Monday, there was lots of relationship building as people gathered to witness and talk about the solar eclipse. While it wasn’t all that exciting around here, it gave us a shared experience. People talked about the amazing way our world was created, so that the moon is the exact distance from the earth and the sun is the exact size it is so that when the moon passes between the earth and the sun it completely blocks the light. That isn’t by chance - it is a sign of God’s perfection and power.
We shared stories of past eclipses, or disappointments in what we saw or didn’t see. We listened to people in the path of totality describe their experience. It was a common experience that enabled relationships which brought joy. I heard one commentator talk about how for at least one day, we weren’t all focused on the things that divide us but the thing that unites us - the wonder of creation.
This leads us to think about something else that brings joy and that is unity. Paul said he would experience joy, and that we would experience joy, if we were all of the same heart and mind.
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, 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 unity brings joy, then one of the things that robs us of joy is conflict. I have shared many times that in my 15 years here, we have not experienced great conflict. We don’t agree on everything. We have different views on many different things, but we have learned how to be of one heart and mind in Christ Jesus, which brings unity and joy. We have been able to do what the world around us has not been able to do.
We are a divided nation and experiencing great conflict. As we head into another general election, the divisions are going to become even stronger and the conflicts even greater. Some of the conflicts we see right now aren’t even between democrats and republicans, but between factions within each political party. Some see the republican party as too far right; others see it too middle of the road. Some are pushing the democratic party to embrace more left leaning issues and others think their party is moving too far left. We are divided and we see conflict.
One of the common themes we are hearing from both political parties right now is that the other side is going to destroy democracy. I heard the author and pastor Adam Hamilton say this, What will destroy democracy is not Trump or Biden but our inability to offer one another grace, understanding, and love. Without those things we will tear each other apart.
We can let our political ideologies tear us apart by demonizing the other side and working to destroy them, but we will destroy ourselves, or we can extend grace and understanding. Last week we learned that joy comes with relationships, but with relationships comes conflict. Put 2 people together and there will be conflict.
When there was just Adam and Eve, there was conflict. Adam blamed Eve for his sin which I’m sure didn’t sit well with Eve. When they had only 1 child, there was no conflict, but once Cain had a brother, Able, there was jealousy, division and conflict. While relationships bring joy, they also bring conflict, which means we need to learn how to live with conflict so we can experience joy.
Paul had to tell the church in Philippi to be of one mind because they weren’t of one mind. There was conflict. There was a theological conflict because some thought that Gentile Christians had to follow the 600+ Jewish laws like being circumcised, and only eating certain foods. Others thought that freedom in Christ meant you could do absolutely anything you wanted. These two sides battled each other, but there was also personal conflict.
I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. Yes, and I ask you, my true companion, help these women since they have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are in the book of life. Philippians 4:2-4
We don’t know what the conflict was between these two women. What we do know is that Paul saw each of them as a valued leader and he wanted them to come together despite their differences. I love that Paul didn’t side with one or the other. He didn’t tell one woman she was right and the other she was wrong. He didn’t demonize one woman and celebrate the other, he asked them to come together despite their differences. If we can learn how to do this - we will experience joy.
The answer to this kind of unity in relationships is found in what Paul said. 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, 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
What allows us to extend grace, understanding and peace to people when we disagree, even strongly disagree, is love. And love is possible because the kind of love we are talking about isn’t a warm feeling. It has nothing to do with affection. It is a rugged determination to stay together and united no matter what.
Paul is the one who tells us clearly what this kind of love is all about in his letter to the Corinthians. While we often hear this at weddings, think about what this kind of love means in our larger society. What does this kind of love mean for us in our conflicted and divided society?
Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable; it keeps no record of wrongs; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7
What does this kind of love look like in our political and social divide today? What does it look like to not insist on our own way and to keep no record of wrongs? How do we truly bear with one another and be patient with one another when we might strongly disagree with one another? Is it even possible?
It has to be possible, otherwise we would not have been told to love one another with so much clarity throughout the New Testament. A big part of the New Testament was written to encourage the church to love each other in the midst of adversity and conflict. The church was struggling to come to terms on what they believed about Jesus and how to follow Him faithfully. Many of the letters to the church that make up the New Testament talk about being united and extending grace, understanding and love to one another.
As God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Colossians 3:12-14
Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. 1 John 4:7-12
What the early Christian leaders wanted was to fulfill one of the final prayers of Jesus. In John’s gospel we have a record of some of Jesus' final prayers before He was crucified. One very specific prayer was that His followers, His church, would be one.
I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. John 17:20-21
Jesus wants the church to be one, and from our very beginning we have not been able to achieve that kind of unity. The history of the church has been one of division. We have divided over theological issues, social issues, justice issues, and economic issues. While many of these divisions might have been needed and important, our lack of ability to truly work together has hurt us. The world sees our inability to love one another so questions our ability to love at all.
Let me say one more time that the most joyful thing about Faith Church is that in so many ways we are one. We bear with one another. We extend grace to one another. We might disagree on things, but we have a way of loving each other that shows the world that Jesus is present here. As the world grows increasingly divided over so many things, our challenge as the people of God is to learn how to stay connected, united, and love one another.
One very specific part of love that Paul highlights as a way to keep unity and experience joy is to humble ourselves and live like Jesus.
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross! Philippians 2:3-8
This is what love looks like. It looks like always being willing to put the needs, wellbeing, and concern for others before our own. It’s how Jesus lived. Jesus placed the needs of others before His own and on the night before He was betrayed, He did this by washing the disciples feet, but then He said, a new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. John 13:34-35
Three times here Jesus says, love one another. He really means it! Let me share with you a few specific ways we can love one another, work for unity, and experience joy..
Remember our common identity in Jesus Christ. We are all sinners saved by grace. We are all broken and hurting and in need of forgiveness, healing and hope. The more we can see each other this way, the more grace and love we can extend to those around us.
Remember we need one another. We were created for community, and we are one body in Christ Jesus. As a body, we are all different and have something unique to add to the whole. Life, and the church, would be very dull if we were all the same, but we aren’t the same and our differences can challenge us but they can also make us stronger and more faithful.
Stay humble. As Paul said, always place others before yourself. Always look to the interest of others first. Always value others before yourself. Humility helps us love one another.
Believe the best in others. What often brings conflict and division is believing the worst in others. When we start to demonize people who think differently than we do, there can be no reconciliation or relationship. Love bears all things and believes all things. Love believes the best in other people.
Don’t give up on people. Love bears with one another so when conflict or division pops up, don’t dismiss people. Don’t walk away from others but endure with them. Engage with people and extend grace and forgiveness.
Don’t gossip. The New Testament talks about the evils of gossip a lot and it’s because gossip destroys community. It undermines relationships. Don’t gossip but instead speak positively of others and build one another up.
Check your own motives. Too often, when conflict comes we want to make sure our own voice is heard or that our side wins. Having strong and passionate opinions is fine, but if our motive is to win at all costs, that’s not good. We need to leave room for love.
Relationships bring joy, but they also bring conflict. If we can love our way through our differences, and if we can humble ourselves and have the mind of Christ, we will not only experience joy, but we will be offering a way of joy and salvation that our world desperately needs. Let’s show the world how to live like Jesus and love one another.
Next Steps
Joy in Conflict
What conflict do you see in our community, nation, world?
What conflict do you experience in your life and family?
Read Philippians 2. Paul found joy in the unity of his friends, the church, in Philippi.
One way to find unity (and joy) in conflict is to love.
Read Philippians 2:1-2, 1 Corinthians 13:4-7, Colossians 3:12-14 and 1 John 4:7-12.
What do we learn about love from these passages?
How can we express this kind of love even in the midst of conflict?
Why was unity so important to Jesus ? See John 17:20-21
Another way to find unity (and joy) in conflict is to be humble.
Read Philippians 2:3-8.
What do we learn about humility for the example of Jesus?
How does Jesus show us this humility and love before his death? See John 13:3-17, 34-35.
7 ways to help bring love and humility into conflict.
• Remember our common identity in Jesus Christ.
• Remember we need one another.
• Stay humble.
• Believe the best in others.
• Don’t give up on people.
• Don’t gossip.
• Check your own motives.
Which steps do you need to work on this week to relieve conflict at home or work?
Which steps might help our community and nation find more unity and joy?
