The Church in the World - Pt. 2

"In the midst of a crooked and twisted generation...”

Immersion, experience.

We live in a day where you can learn just about any task on YouTube.

Ideas and concepts and lists of directions can be learned and memorized, but most things simply cannot be mastered by watching someone else do it.

This idea is present in this section of Philippians 2, because it has to do with living out our salvation in the world.

There is a juxtaposition in our minds, often, between belief and behavior. Of course, they are two different things, but they are intricately linked beyond separation.

What we believe about Christ and the Gospel we are saved by will affect us outwardly, as we saw last week - the idea of “working out” our salvation. Salvation is a gift, and it is all God’s work, but he is working in us to work it out - to produce visible fruits of the life He gives us.

And because of that, most of our Christian walk is experiential - that is, living it out.

We live it out each day in our relationships, close and distant, familial and social, in interactions and conversations and even before that, in our attitudes and considerations.

So it is one thing to know and believe that God is working in us a spirit of love and patience and rejoicing and tenderness and compassion, but just like watching a video on youtube on fixing your car, the rubber meets the road when life tests our strength.

This is our growth, so important - vital, yet filled with God’s grace.

We are children of God by faith in Christ, and we can glorify Him in this world by means of our attitude and testimony before others.

1. A Christ-Like Attitude - vs. 14

grumbling

gungismos

An utterance in a low tone of voice

murmering

see also, 1 Peter 4:9

1 Peter 4:9 ESV

Show hospitality to one another without grumbling.

disputing

dialogue, in this case argument

“this isn’t a discussion!”

see also, Luke 9:46

Luke 9:46 ESV

An argument arose among them as to which of them was the greatest.

Grumbling and Arguing

negative, demeaning, joyless.

What do grumbling/murmuring convey about our attitude?

superiority

Example, fitbit watch, false sense of achievement with steps

we are better than

we are more sure of

we are above, or don’t deserve

They reflect vs. 3

selfish ambition and conceit.

This is the church, in the context of living in this world

grumbling, disputing about?

each other

either behind backs or in front of one another

about minor disagreements and past grievances that are covered under the blood

the world

having a woe is me attitude about the world being the world, or having a high and mighty stance over our moral improvement, even though it was a work of God all along.

Complaining and arguing are sins that breed disunity and blur the affect of the Gospel where the church is.

We are not to be known as complainers those who turn our nose up.

the classic scene of whispers in the room when an “outsider” comes in.

the constant drone of negativity and “woe is me” mentality.

Practically, complaining and arguing...

Cause stress

Strain relationships

Reinforce negativity

Reduce problem-solving effort

Decrease productivity

Affect others’ perception

which leads to the next point and a major part of this teaching.

2. A Christ-Exalting Testimony

Grumbling and complaining are antithetical to the goal of exalting Christ in the world.

We shine as lights, what does our light proclaim?

This verse is teaching us about the importance of our testimony before the world, the unsaved world, the Christ-less world, the lost world.

What are we to be seen as?

Children of God?

Yes, but not only that.

Blameless and innocent

In practical terms. Not sinless, but not easily accused. Things don’t naturally “stick”

without blemish

synonymous with blameless, but with the idea of lack of a big glaring “stain” on our lives, that easily detracts from our claim of being God’s children.

This is not teaching us to be perfect in order to become God’s children, but it is teaching us that since God is working in us to will and to work for His good pleasure, at least part of His intention in working in us is our testimony in the world.

So grumbling and complaining are effectively “stains” and “blemishes” on our testimony.

We are meant to shine as lights in the world, and being reminded that this is a corporate thing, we are meant to collectively be lights in the world. This comes, of course, right from Jesus.

Matthew 5:14–16 ESV

“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

Yes, we can glorify God by means of our attitude and testimony before others.

As John 13:35 reminds us, all men will know we are Jesus’ disciples when they see our love for one another.

Going back to that list, then...

It seems a bit like a commercial for a medication, where the narrator says “do you suffer from…?”

Practically, complaining and arguing...

Cause stress

Strain relationships

Reinforce negativity

Reduce problem-solving effort

Decrease productivity

Affect others’ perception

And if you do, you might be wondering like in the commercial, what is the treatment?

3. A Christ-Ward Outlook

A Christ-ward outlook, and that is in this case specifically, Holding Fast to the Word of Life.

Logos of Life

Logos = Jesus

Life, who is our life? Jesus, the way, the truth, the life.

Specifically in Paul, the logos typically refers to the Gospel of Christ.

The Word can also be, and is, the scripture, but this quickly goes back to the Word, and the giver of the word, who is none other than Christ.

Holding fast

maintain a grasp

to be mindful or observant

to remain in a designated place

Our attitudes and testimonies are to be transformed by focusing and holding fast to Christ.

See vs. 17-18, that Paul expresses a personal goal of vindication here - vindication that his effort in bringing the Gospel and ministering it in Philippi would be worth it and be remaining fruit.

Fruit that remains, then, is the goal and the joyful aim in holding fast to Christ.

Individually

When we look at our propensity to complain or negativity, we cling to Christ, live in His Gospel, know that He is working in us to will and work for His good pleasure, and seek His mind in all things.

We seek Him to work in us the desire and ability to glorify God with fruitful lives and spiritual health.

Corporately

This aligns our focus to keep the main thing the main thing.

When the Gospel of Christ ceases to be the main thing for a church, we immediately go off the rails.

We soon forget that we are recipients and in need of the Gospel

We then lose track of the fact that this world is in fact a crooked and perverse generation, in need of this Gospel.

Usually churches go off the rails in two directions

Legalism, staking the world’s fate on changing outward behavior and establishing strict rules of living.

License, casting aside all calls to righteousness and neglecting the seriousness of sin and God’s law.

When we hold fast to Christ, to His Word, to the Gospel...

Rather than grumble and complain, we spread the Good News and work for God’s Glory

Rather than argue with one another, we work side-by-side because God is working in us to will and work for His good pleasure

Rather than spreading a sour testimony of either legalistic stodginess or of a licentious, powerless gospel, we shine as lights of God’s love and redemption in the midst of a dark world that needs the Gospel that we live in.