Over the last few weeks there has been one passage in the Bible which has been dominating my thoughts. I have been reading it frequently, and speaking about it in church several times too. I feel almost tracked down by it, as I grapple with it's meaning and wrestle with its implications.
The letter to the Philippians was written to an excellent church, marred (so it seems) by a tendency amongst a few members to squabble. The advice given to them is not merely to stop and grow up, neither is it to condemn them or induce guilt - but to given them an example to follow. The imitation of Christ is commended to them as the authentic Christian life.
Scholars of ancient Greek say the following scans as a hymn:
Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself and became obedient to death—
even death on a cross!
This then is not merely the way the Philippians were to sort out their disagreements, but also the way that I am to live within the community of faith today, and live in my home and wider community as well.
True joy comes to us like resurrection, not by accumulation, - authenticity by imitation.
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