Philippians: A Call to Shine Brightly

 “Therefore, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed me, not only in my presence but much more now in my absence, work on your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who is at work in you, enabling you both to will and to work for his good pleasure. Do all things without murmuring and arguing, so that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, in which you shine like stars in the world, holding forth the word of life so that I can boast on the day of Christ that I did not run in vain or labor in vain.” (Philippians 2: 12-16).

 

The letter of the Philippians is one of the most beloved letters written by the Apostle Paul. It is known as the letter of rejoice, since Paul exhorts the church to do that emphatically in Philippians 4: 4. However, it is a letter that is written from the perspective of imprisonment (Phil 1:7), in a time of indetermined tribulations and struggles (Phil 4:14), and after one of Paul’s aides, Epaphroditus, overcame a bout of indetermined illness. It is not initially apparent, but this letter has been forged on the fires of despair and struggle, and yet, it instills in us a sense of hope and encouragement to move forward in faith.

One thing that is apparent from this letter is that contrary to other letters of Paul in which he is sternly reprimanding a church (1 and 2 Corinthians and Galatians), correcting theological misunderstandings (1 Thessalonians), or warning against false teachings (Colossians), this letter shows a loving, even sometimes tender side of the Apostle with the congregation of Philippi. Paul states that the congregation has tended for his care, even when he has been away from them (Phil 4: 10, 16). We can say, then, that the relationship between Paul and the Philippians is different than the other churches since there seems to be a closer sense of familiarity and solidarity with one another. A familiarity and solidarity that is built in the experience of love in the Spirit of God and the knowledge of Jesus. Even more, an expression of love that is given and shared amid very dark and desperate circumstances for Paul.  

This is the sense of the quoted text at the beginning of this writing. It is a call to shine bright as a resistance to the darkness that is trying to take over. What will bring that shine to fruition is love. The text that precedes the quoted text is by itself a quote of an ancient hymn that Paul writes on the letter, which describes the itinerary of Jesus, which is the steps that he took from being in the form of God, to becoming a human being, doing his ministry, suffering the cross, dying, and being exalted and reestablished after his death and resurrection to the condition of God (Phil 2: 5-11). Paul gives this quote as an example to follow. As a route that has already been established for us to simply follow.

This is what Paul refers as having “the same mind[...] that was in Christ Jesus” (Phil 2:5). The mind of Jesus described by Paul through this quote is a self-less mind, which is not considering his own benefit as the main category of life, instead is willing to “empty himself” for the purposes of God and for the salvation of all. In a word: love. The mind of Jesus is the action of love to heal and to save. It is from this understanding that Paul exhorts the Philippians to “Do nothing from selfish ambition or empty conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves.  Let each of you look not to your own interests but to the interests of others.” (Phil 2: 3-4). Having the mind of Jesus shall always lead us into considering the others. A Jesus who did not held on to the power of God for himself, but instead emptied himself considering our salvation and healing, is expecting us to consider our privileges or any power that me might have and put them to the side for the sake of others.

Read this quote closely: “Do all things without murmuring and arguing, so that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, in which you shine like stars in the world, holding forth the word of life…” (Phil 4: 14-16). The action of love shall be done without “murmuring and arguing”. That is because, as an action of love, it is something that comes out as natural and fluid. When we “murmur and argue” about something is highly likely because we are reluctant to do it. If we are not willing to love, then, it is not love. And if the things that we do or say are not driven by love, they do not come from “the mind of Jesus”, but instead from our own selfish ways. In the end, efforts that are not driven by pure, self-less love are not effective in changing any circumstances. Our loveless efforts are more shadows amid an approaching darkness. But if the “mind of Jesus” in us is moving us to share love with others, no matter their circumstances, we become powerful sources of light that keep away the darkness, powerful signs of hope that’ll bring those who are suffering relief and comfort in their adversities, powerful signs of love to the victims of a broken world. This is what Paul calls “holding forth the word of life”. Thus, having the mind of Jesus, and shining brightly with his love, is in the end a sign of life overcoming the signs of death that surrounds us and try to take over.

The rejoice in Paul, even in the extremely difficult circumstances that he was facing, is because his imprisonment has allowed him to see how bright the shine of the Philippians is and how their shine has broken through the shadows that were trying to swallow him and his ministry. This church has brought consolation, comfort, and hope in exceedingly difficult circumstances. Love can be medicine and a sign of hope for the broken-hearted.

Likewise, if “the mind of Jesus” is in us, we have a duty to shine brightly his love over this broken world. Doing so will bring the power of life to many who are succumbing to the dense shadows of this time. Let us shine brightly for a better world!