Salve et Vale (October 6, 2024) Philippians 4.4-9

There is a story that makes the rounds occasionally that is humorous but is also a teaching moment. It goes, as Bob Newhart used to say, something like this: One of the toughest tasks a church can face is choosing a good minister. A member of a Pastor Nominating Committee, seeing this painful process, finally lost patience. He had watched the PNC reject applicant after applicant for some fault, alleged or otherwise. It was time for a bit of soul-searching on the part of the committee. So he stood up and read a letter claiming to be from another applicant.

Dear PNC: Understanding your pulpit is vacant, I should like to apply for the position. I have many qualifications. I have been a preacher with much success and also have had some success as a writer. Some say I am a good organizer. I’ve been a leader most places I`ve been. I am over 50 years of age. I have never preached in one place for more than three years. In some places, I have left town after my work caused riots and disturbances. I must admit I have been in jail three or four times, but not because of any real wrongdoing. My health is not too good, though I still get a great deal done. I have not gotten along well with religious leaders in towns where I have preached. I am not too good at keeping records. I have been known to forget whom I baptized. However, if you can use me, I shall do my best for you.

The committee member looked at the committee and asked, “Well, what do you think? Should we call him?”

The good church folks were aghast. Call an unhealthy, trouble-making, absentminded ex-jailbird? Was the committee member crazy? Who signed the application? Who has such colossal nerve?

The committee member eyed them all keenly before he answered, “It’s signed, The Apostle Paul.

We may laugh at this story and that is the reaction that is intended, but there is some truth to it. How many of us would like a troublemaker, even if it is good trouble, in the pulpit? It would be unthinkable. And yet, that is exactly who and what Paul was. Wherever he went, there was sure to be some kind of conflict as evidenced in many of his letters and in the Acts of the Apostles.

But there is a letter where Paul speaks only briefly of conflict and it is among the members of the church and not with himself. That letter is to the church at Philippi (I went to college in a town by the same name but was pronounced Philippee. I apologize in advance if I slip and use both pronunciations). It is a letter that is filled with joy and thankfulness to those in the church. And today we look at Paul’s conclusion to the letter.

This letter is written by Paul while he is, again, in prison. This time it is on the charge of stirring up the people against the Empire, a capital offense. Paul used his citizenship card to appeal directly to the emperor and now he is on his way to Rome.

Prisons in those days were not like prisons today. Then, they were dark, dank and musty. It was not for rehabilitation but for holding the prisoner until trial and carrying out of judgement if there was any. There was no food given to the prisoners, nor blankets, nor water. Those came from people who would support the prisoner. For many that would be family and close friends who were nearby. But Paul was not near friends or family. He was far from them. But the church at Philippi heard that he was in prison and knew he was in need. So, they raised money, bought supplies and sent a man with those supplies to Paul.

Paul is, of course, overwhelmed that these good people have given what they have when many of them are poor and possibly just scraping by themselves. And for this he is joyful. The letter that he writes to them (brought back to the church by the one who took the supplies) expresses this joy. As I said before, there was some dissension in the church and Paul writes to put an end to that.

Then we come to the text for today. Paul tells the church to “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice.”[1]This not a feeling of happiness that we think of when we think of joy. Daniel Migliore says that “This is not an appeal for Christians to be happy-go-lucky, always smiling, slapping one another on the back, and finding everything to be just fine. Superficial optimism has nothing to do with what Paul calls joy. “Joy in Philippians,” Barth observes, “is a defiant Nevertheless.””[2]Paul is calling on them to remember that they are to have joy in the Lord, the one who gives that joy. And that joy comes from knowing that the Lord called them and made them a part of the family of God. No longer are they strangers and aliens, but a part of something bigger that only God can create.

Paul tells those listening to let their gentleness be known. Now this term is translated several ways. It can be translated in these terms: “…“gentleness” suggests relating to others without harshness or coercion; “forbearance” implies accepting others in all their differences and shortcomings and being prepared to forgive them; “kindness” connotes a show of concern and mercy toward others; “patience” describes a self-control that gives others time and refuses to force matters to a rapid and often premature resolution.”[3]Whatever the word, the church is to show those outside the walls of the church that they will treat outsiders the exact same way that they treat one another. And if they do not show these traits to those in the church, then they need to be reconciled to one another and then show those traits.

“Anxious about anything.” We are an anxious society. We are anxious over the culture wars, immigration, how much money we have, what our favorite team is going to do this week. We have anxiety and we sometimes do not even realize it as it has become a part of our lives. But Paul says to not be anxious, but to take everything to God in prayer. Now you may be saying, “I pray. But how should I pray?” Sometimes when we pray, we have a shopping list of things that we want God to accomplish in our lives and in the lives of those whom we love. And there is nothing wrong with praying for yourself and others. It is when we treat God as a concierge in the sky that we find ourselves in trouble. But we are wanted and expected to bring all our concerns, our hopes, our cares and thanksgivings to God in prayer. Because when we bring our requests to God, then we will find peace. A peace that surpasses all of our understanding of peace. A peace that Paul says will guard our hearts and minds. When Paul is speaking of guarding, he is speaking of being guarded like the garrison in Philippi that guarded the city to maintain the peace that only the Empire could bring. Christ brings that kind of peace that gives what we call peace of mind and it is greater than anything the Empire could offer. In fact, it is what brings the joy that the Philippians are to experience in Jesus.

The final words of Paul in the text for today are ones that many a Greek moralist would have spoken: “…whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”[4] While these things are what many in the outside world would say makes a good and noble life, it is Paul’s use of those words to those in the church, saying “This is what I want you to do.” The world can give good things. Paul is not one who claims that only the spiritual is good and the physical world is bad. He is not an idealist who says that the world is all rainbows and unicorns, but he is also not one who says to stay away from the things outside the church. We would be wise to listen to those words.

Paul then tells them that what they have learned from him, go and do likewise. Paul taught “…the gospel of the crucified and exalted Lord proclaimed and exhibited. By his words and actions, Paul witnesses to Jesus Christ, who is the source and standard of all that is excellent and praiseworthy.”[5]

This is a farewell message from Paul. He knows that he is likely to never see the church in Philippi again and so he exhorts them to do what is good and right and noble. This a farewell message for me as well. I deliberately chose a Latin title for today’s message as it was the title of the valedictorian speech at my high school graduation. Salve means hello and vale means farewell.

I said hello to this church on Pentecost Sunday in 2017. I did not know then that this would be formative time for me. I learned and grew, and I hope I was able to teach and be a pastor for you. We went through many good times: potlucks, homecomings, Christmas celebrations, the construction, dedication and use of a new fellowship hall and many others. We went through some tough times as well: Funerals of beloved members, COVID, dwindling numbers in service. But through it all there was, and is, faithfulness and joy. Paul’s letter to the Philippians could very well have been written to this church here in Pilot Mountain. And so, I thank you and I hope that I have lived what I preached, and like Paul, I exhort you to do what I have taught: be faithful to the Gospel, love one another, love those who are different from you, and love and serve God with all you heart, soul, mind and strength. With that, I say vale et Amen.

[1] The Holy Bible: New Revised Standard Version. Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1989. Print. [2] Migliore, Daniel L. Philippians and Philemon. Ed. Amy Plantinga Pauw and William C. Placher. First edition. Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 2014. Print. Belief: A Theological Commentary on the Bible. [3] Migliore, Daniel L. Philippians and Philemon. Ed. Amy Plantinga Pauw and William C. Placher. First edition. Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 2014. Print. Belief: A Theological Commentary on the Bible. [4] The Holy Bible: New Revised Standard Version. Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1989. Print. [5] Migliore, Daniel L. Philippians and Philemon. Ed. Amy Plantinga Pauw and William C. Placher. First edition. Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 2014. Print. Belief: A Theological Commentary on the Bible.