* * * * *
How does a church live and thrive in a place where the culture is in such a stark contrast from the Gospel message and the call of God? What the Apostle Paul shares with the Philippians Church is much like what we face today. That's not just my assessment. I have spoken to many of you about this very issue. There is a cultural revolution happening here in America where our language, history, and values are changing, and these changes are pushing the norms of our society and culture father and father away from a life worthy of the Gospel.
The primary foundation of “Canoeing the Mountains” by Tod Bolsinger is
"The world in front of you is nothing like the world behind you."
The analysis is:
". . . that pastors are in uncharted terrain, trying to lead dying churches into a post-Christian culture that now considers the church an optional, out of touch and irrelevant relic of the past.”
Our culture is changing at warp speed. Because our language, history, and values have changed, so has morality. Culture and society must have a moral code or standard to live by. That provides healthy boundaries because we are in relationships with each other and a relationship with God.
When values and morality change, it impacts everyone because we are in a relationship with others. We see the tension of this when generations gather together. The strain of this cultural revolution is multiple generations come together in homes and churches.
The world is doing all it can to indoctrinate the younger generations into conforming to values in conflict with Biblical truth. In our world, race is such a divisive issue. But with Colossians 3:11 in our Christian life, we have much in common with others. Regardless of skin color, we all share the same biology. Two eyes, ears, arms, and legs are examples. We also share the same emotions and spirituality because we are all created in the image of God.
It is no wonder that Colossians 3:11 reads:
"There is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all and is in all."
In the Church, we believe that all people matter to God and all people are saved the same way, by faith in Jesus through the gospel message.
Another cultural revolution is the confusion the world is trying to teach that gender is fluid. Individuals can choose their gender identity instead of accepting the biological fact that people are born male and female. God's plan for humanity in marriage, sex, and gender is clearly presented in Genesis 2:21-24:
"So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man's ribs and then closed up the place with flesh. Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man. The man said, "This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called 'woman,' for she was taken out of man." That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh."
We find God's plan in v.24.
Before Adam and Eve became parents,
Before there ever was a father or mother,
Before Adam and Eve had their first child,
God gave the plan for men and women to be married and Fathers and Mothers to raise their children and carry on this divine plan.
However, although our culture changes, God's message remains the same.
The gap between what is accepted by culture and what is biblical grows wider.
The tension of that gap increases.
This culture war seeped into the church, and we are seeing separation and tension grow between parents and their children.
Take a short and sweet moment to remind yourself of Paul's prayer for the Philippian Church (and our churches today) in 1:9-10.
"And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ."
* * * * *
Paul's prayer was for the Church's love of the Gospel to abound and grow more and more by holding true to the saving and transforming message of Jesus Christ. That is our only way forward.
If we do not love the Gospel and tether ourselves to it, it will be impossible to live our lives worthy of the Gospel. There are warnings in the Bible not to add or subtract anything from what the Bible says.
"Now, Israel, hear the decrees and laws I am about to teach you. Follow them so that you may live and may go in and take possession of the land the LORD, the God of your ancestors, is giving you. Do not add to what I command you and do not subtract from it, but keep the commands of the LORD your God that I give you."
Deuteronomy 4:1-2
and
"I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to that person the plagues described in this scroll. And if anyone takes words away from this scroll of prophecy, God will take away from that person any share in the tree of life and in the Holy City, which are described in this scroll."
Revelation 22:18-19.
When we move the goalpost, it causes confusion and frustration. The church must hold true to the entire Gospel.
"I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together as one for the faith of the gospel without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you."
Philippians 1:27-28
Paul calls the Church in Philippi to stand firm in the Gospel and not allow the prevailing Roman culture to influence them, to shape them, or even to scare them to conform. Paul calls the Church to find unity around the Gospel, even if persecuted for it.
Remember that the Apostle Paul is in prison for preaching the Gospel. So He is not calling the Church to do something He was not willing to do.
He closes Chapter 1 by encouraging the church:
"This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved—and that by God. For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him, since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have."
Paul circles back to v. 21,
"For to me, to live is Christ. and to die is gain."
Jesus is the reward. That is why, more than anything else in this world, we must lift Christ in our lives, seek Christ, and love Christ above all things. If you don't love Christ, you won't be willing to experience the joy of suffering for Christ. Paul is in prison, and he invites the Church to follow his example because you only suffer for what you love.
* * * * *
I close with the words of Jesus.
"Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
"Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.
"Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you."
Matthew 5:10-12
