In the midst of divisions tearing through the Church, what can we learn about unity through Jesus’ humiliating death on a cross?
The most divisive year ever?
I haven’t posted in nearly a year, and what a year it has been.
Not only did we have to contend with this novel coronavirus, which no one knew much about a year ago, causing a great deal of uncertainty, anxiety, and fear, we also had to battle an overwhelming sense of divisiveness over everything—COVID guidelines, social justice, politics—even within the church.
Fingers were pointed and wagged in every direction, with Christians questioning one another’s salvation. “If you were a true follower of Jesus, you would wear a mask/not wear a mask.”
“You would gather in person/not gather in person.”
What about this one? “If you really believed in God, you would vote for this candidate/would not vote for that candidate.”
And while we in the church fight amongst ourselves, what might those outside the church be thinking? Why would they ever consider being part of it? Our witness in the world has arguably been weakened, and our future as one body is arguably in question.
A kingdom divided cannot stand.
How will we move forward as God’s people? How can we, as the Church, find unity in the midst of opposing forces seeking to tear us apart?
Let’s turn to the first-century church of Philippi to see how the apostle Paul challenged them toward unity.
Philippians 2:1–11 (ESV)
Christ’s Example of Humility
So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.
5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,
6 who, though he was in the form of God,
did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,
7 but emptied himself,
by taking the form of a servant,
being born in the likeness of men.
8 And being found in human form,
he humbled himself
by becoming obedient to the point of death,
—even death on a cross.
9 Therefore God has highly exalted him
and bestowed on him the name that is above every name,
10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
Who Were the Philippians?
Paul wrote this letter to the church in Philippi, the “the leading city” of Macedonia (Acts 16:12). It wasn’t the capital city, but it was an important one. Philippi was a Roman colony and military outpost in what is now Greece.
The first Roman colonists were veterans, soldiers who had been conscripted from throughout the empire. Philippi was also home to a Jewish community that settled there before Christian missionaries ever arrived in town. So, you have the native Macedonian Greeks, Roman soldiers from all over the Mediterranean, and Jews in Philippi.
This diverse population was united, proud to be Roman. The city was given special status and favor by Rome. Its people held Roman citizenship and culture in high regard. There was a strong sense of patriotism in Philippi.
Philippi was the first city Paul arrived in after he had a dream to go to Macedonia (Acts 16). This is where Paul and Silas were beaten and arrested for casting a spirit out of a fortune-teller (Acts 16:16–24). Later, when the local magistrates learned that they were Roman citizens, the magistrates were horrified that Paul and Silas had been flogged and beaten (Acts 16:38).
This is how much being Roman meant in those days.
How will we move forward as God’s people? How can we, as the Church, find unity in the midst of opposing forces seeking to tear us apart?
Challenges Facing the Church
Selfishness
Paul started the church at Philippi and had great affection for this congregation. Unlike the Corinthians, they weren’t divided over matters of spiritual gifts and taking pride in their own gifts. Rather, the Philippians were divided because they were mostly concerned with themselves individually.
Some were selfish and conceited. There was murmuring and grumbling in the church (2:14). Some members didn’t get along with one another (4:2).
Some things haven’t changed after 2,000 years.
On top of that, the Philippians faced other problems that challenged their faith. Their beloved leader, Paul, was in prison, and no one knew if he would be released or executed.
This turn of events fueled the opponents of Paul and the Philippians.
Opposition
Some of these opponents were Judaizers, or Christian converts who held that it was still necessary for Christians to observe Jewish law and be circumcised, in addition to placing faith in Christ.
And some of the opponents were fellow Christians who proclaimed “Christ out of selfish ambition” (1:17). These might have been Christians who subscribed to a belief that the suffering and humiliation of Paul was evidence that he was not a true “divine man.” A truly divine man, they would argue, would know “the triumphant power” of Jesus.
Today, we see a similar mindset in televangelists who promise health, wealth, and prosperity to those who follow Jesus. And if you don’t have these things in your life, you must not be faithful, they would argue.
We know this isn’t true.
We know that sometimes, those who are faithful suffer.
And sometimes, faithful Christians like Paul are thrown in prison and destined for death row.
These opponents were antagonizing the church in Philippi, threatening their blossoming but still fragile faith. Paul wanted to console them with this letter, knowing that he might never have a chance to visit them in person again. He wanted to prepare them to work out their salvation without him.
Paul’s Encouragements
The Apostle Paul begins the letter with warm greetings, then tries to encourage the church in light of the circumstances they were facing. He wrote that his imprisonment served a purpose, to “advance the gospel” (1:12-13). Even in prison, Paul was sharing his faith with the imperial guard (1:13). His imprisonment also led other followers of Jesus to be more confident in God and preach more boldly, without fear (1:14).
Paul asked the Philippians to pray for his release, but he remained sober to the possibility that he might be killed. Yet, even if he were to die, he wrote, Christ would be honored (1:19–21). Paul said that it would be better for him to die and be with Christ, but it was “necessary on your account” for him to remain alive (1:23–24).
He wanted the Philippians to grow and stand firm in their faith, to live in a manner “worthy of the gospel of Christ… with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel” (1:27), unafraid of the opposition they were facing (1:28).
When we have a disagreement with another Christian, we need to remember that the same Holy Spirit is in both of us.
Then, Paul tells the Philippians, “for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake, engaged in the same conflict that you saw I had and now hear that I still have.”
Paul reminds the church that suffering is part of our journey as followers of Jesus. And with that, he begins Chapter 2, verse 1 with “So.” Some translations say “Therefore.”
In other words, Paul is saying, “Because of what I’ve just said to you about suffering and living faithful lives in the midst of opposition, I am about to ask you to do this.”
“So, if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy” (2:1). Paul begins with Christ. Christ is the center of Paul’s theology, and more specifically, Christ crucified, as we will see.
Fellowship in the Spirit
Paul continues with “participation in the Spirit.” The original word translated as participation can also mean fellowship, association, communion, or close relationship.
All of these translations help us grasp what Paul is saying. “If we actively participate in fellowship in the Spirit…”
We don’t just have fellowship with the Holy Spirit, nor do we just have fellowship with one another because of the Holy Spirit.
We have fellowship with God and one another because we share the same Holy Spirit—the same Spirit of God lives in all of us who know Jesus, whether we like them or not!
The way we view God affects the way we live, not just in our personal devotions, but in the way we interact with others socially and politically.
When we have a disagreement with another Christian, we need to remember that the same Holy Spirit is in both of us.
The same Jesus who died for you died for that person, too.
And that person is no more of a sinner than you and I are.
When we focus only on our individual relationship with God and not on our relationships with others, we fail to fully participate in the fellowship of the Holy Spirit.
Compassionate Hearts
The verse continues with “any affection and sympathy.” In the original text, this translates more literally to “bowels of mercies.” It conveys a sense of warmth and affection from deep within. This phrase is translated elsewhere as “compassionate hearts.” It all relates to showing concern over the misfortune of others. Some might call it “pity” or “mercy.”
“If there is any affection and sympathy…” Any compassion, any mercy for others deep inside you, then “complete my joy.” Paul is making a personal appeal to the Philippians to be “of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.”
Here, “mind” doesn’t just refer to thinking with the intellect. “Mind” involves your emotions, your attitudes, and your will. And here, “mind” in mentioned twice: “being of the same mind…in full accord and of one mind.”
Paul is appealing for unity. But what is the “one mind” he’s asking the Philippians to share? Paul is building up to that.
Ambition and Conceit
“Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit.” These were the same attitudes displayed by Paul’s opponents in 1:17. These were likely other Christian missionaries who were trying to gain favor and build their ministries by self-seeking means. This selfish ambition and conceit leads to rivalry and factions.
Do we still see this today? Any Christians jockeying for power and prestige? Any rivalries between different ministries? Any factions in the church?
Unity demands that we lay our ambitions and conceits down, and instead, “in humility count others more significant than yourselves.”
Our witness to the world matters, and our witness is weakened when we fight amongst ourselves.
A kingdom divided cannot stand.
The church stands stronger when in unity.
But how can we as the church find unity in the midst of these divisive times?
Not by pressuring others to conform to our expectations, but by each of us counting others more significant than ourselves.
By humbling ourselves, turning away from our own interests and paying careful attention to the interests of others.
More importantly, by remembering that we are united in the Holy Spirit—the very Spirit of God who dwells within us, the body of Christ, because of what Jesus has done.
Turning to Jesus
With verse 5, we come to the core of this passage: “Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus.” Paul transitions from his exhortation to a hymn that reveals the character of Jesus Christ, “who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped” (2:6).
The word translated as “grasped” rarely appears in Greek literature, and when it does, it means “robbery.” Therefore, think of grasping as “snatching violently.” Jesus didn’t forcefully seize his divine status or use it to his advantage. Rather, he “emptied himself by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men” (2:7).
Just because we have power or status does not mean we need to flex them.
Jesus didn’t.
Theology of the Cross
Jesus, who was in the form of God, emptied himself by taking the form of a human servant. And not only that, “he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross” (2:8).
Even death on a cross.
This was a scandalous and shameful way to die. The cross was not the symbol of faith that it is now. In the first-century Roman Empire, the cross was a horrendous death penalty for the likes of slaves, robbers, assassins, and rebels.
The worst of the worst.
The cross was so abhorrent that the Roman statesman, Cicero, once wrote, “Far be the very name of a cross, not only from the body, but even from the thought, the eyes, the ears of Roman citizens.”
“Cross” was a dirty word in Roman society. And to the Jews, it was a curse from God to be hanged on a tree (Deut 21:22-23).
Yet, Jesus, who was in the very form of God, did not seize or make use of his equality with God, but humbled himself to death.
On a cross. In the Roman Empire. As a Jewish man.
He did this out of obedience so that we could be reconciled to God, and he did this in the most humiliating way.
Why did Paul place this hymn in this part of his letter to the Philippians?
Glory versus the Cross
Paul’s opponents, who were trying to sway the Philippians, subscribed to a theology of glory that celebrates triumph and victory, might and power. A theology of glory associates the gospel with that which the world considers good, successful, and powerful–things that the world finds glorious.
In contrast is Paul’s theology of the cross, in which God’s presence is hidden in weakness and death. On the cross, God chooses to identify with human suffering.
The way we view God affects the way we live, not just in our personal devotions, but in the way we interact with others socially and politically.
How might a theology of glory affect your relationship with others in the world?
If you associate God with power and success, then those who are weak and marginalized must not be godly.
The poor. The outcasts. If they knew God, they wouldn’t be that way, a theology of glory might interpret.
Now, what if you were to view those who struggle, those who are weak, in light of the cross where God was present in suffering, shame, and defeat? What if you view your own struggles in light of the cross?
Paul brings the cross to the forefront in his appeal to the Philippians. It is only in light of Christ crucified that their lives, situations, and challenges are properly viewed.
On the cross, Jesus was a servant in obedience to God as well as a servant in service to humankind.
The Name Above All Names
“Therefore, God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name” (2:9). This is an important allusion to the Old Testament.
Isaiah 52:13 speaks of a servant who “shall be high and lifted up, and shall be exalted.” Jesus is this servant, whom God gave “the name that is above every name.” And in the Old Testament, YHWH is the name above every name.
So what is Paul saying about Jesus here?
In another allusion to Isaiah, the verse says that God exalted him “so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (2:10).
All of creation—past, present, and future, leading up to the Last Day—will bow and acknowledge that Jesus is the LORD.
Why Unity Matters Missionally
The text doesn’t suggest that those who bow are all saved from sin, but suggests that all will bow to the sovereignty of Jesus Christ at the end of time, whether they submit to his rule or not, because no one can deny that Jesus is the LORD.
However, the hope is always that every person created in the image of God would choose to follow Christ and be reconciled to God.
There are still billions in the world who don’t yet know Jesus. And many eyes are on us, the church, to see how we react to the chaos in the world today.
Our witness to the world matters, and our witness is weakened when we fight amongst ourselves.
By our love for one another will the world know that we are disciples of Jesus, who was in the form of God but chose to take the humble form of a human servant and die a shameful, horrific death on a cross in service to humankind.
Jesus, who is high and lifted up, exalted, the name above all names whom every being ever created shall bow to.
This is the character of God, whom we worship.
We find unity by looking to the cross.
Which Lord Will You Serve?
Throughout this hymn, the language that had been attributed to YHWH in the Old Testament is now used for Jesus. And in the Greek New Testament, YHWH is rendered as “LORD.”
The people of Philippi would have followed many “lords,” such as “lord Caesar.” Different lords compete for our loyalty, but there is only one LORD.
Which of the lords in our lives do we submit to and allow to rule over us?
The lords of self-preservation? Self image? Ambition driven by fear? The lords of pleasure and gratification?
And which lords in our lives hinder us from unity?
Is it pride, which leads us to grasp whatever power and status we think we have, often at the expense of others?
Maybe it’s a misplaced sense of identity. Do we find our identities not in Christ, but in our work? Our abilities? Our strength?
What about our ethnicity or nationality? Do we find our identity in these? Now, there is nothing wrong with loving our country or our culture. We should, but they cannot be the ultimate objects of our devotion and loyalty.
Our ultimate devotion must be to The Name Above All Names.
Conclusion
Paul knew that the Philippians loved Rome and were proud of being good Roman citizens, so he reminded them that “our citizenship is in heaven” (3:20).
If the Philippians could find unity as citizens of the Roman Empire, under lord Caesar, how much more should they be united as citizens of the Kingdom of God, under The Lord, Jesus Christ?
And how can we find unity today, at a time when divisions run deep among us, both as a country and as the Church?
Unity begins with the cross.
Our selfish ambitions and conceits burn away in light of Christ crucified. At least, they should.
At the foot of the cross, we are humbled.
We begin to lay down our own interests and consider the interests of others.
How can you and I start moving towards unity today?
