|
DATE |
CHURCH |
SUBJECT |
PREACHER |
BIBLE
REF. |
|
11.10.08 |
All Saints Church |
Following Christ |
Tony Higton |
Philippians 4:1-9 |
|
Friedrich Nietzsche, the German philosopher,
was the son of a Lutheran Pastor. He gave up studying theology
because he lost his faith and became very anti-Christian. He is
famous for the statement: “God is dead.” He wrote book Thus
Spoke Zarathustra which Richard Strauss set to music. It was
used as the theme for Stanley Kubrick’s film
2001, A Space Odyssey.
In Thus Spoke Zarathustra, II. 4: The
Priests, Nietzsche wrote: “And one day Zarathustra made a
sign to his disciples and spoke these words to them: ‘Better
songs would they have to sing, for me to believe in their
Saviour: more like saved ones would his disciples have to appear
to me!’”
How do we appear more like saved ones? This
is a serious challenge. Paul gives part of the answer in this
passage. Firstly he says:
Be joyful
Paul writes: “Rejoice in the Lord always. I
will say it again: Rejoice! (verse 4). This seems a ludicrous
statement. How can anyone rejoice always? What about all the
circumstances in life where it would be impossible or even
inappropriate to rejoice. We can’t drift through life with a
happy grin on our faces!
Yet to rejoice always is an apostolic command.
What did Paul mean?
He actually meant that we can rejoice in the
Lord’s presence at all times and in all circumstances. This may
be overt rejoicing and cheerfulness. It may be quiet inner joy.
Everyone can rejoice when things are going well, when prayers
are answered, when life is interesting, when prospects are
exciting.
But what about when life collapses round our
ears? What happens when it couldn’t get any worse but it does?
What about disappointment, rejection, desertion, injustice,
bereavement? We can’t grin through those experiences.
However we can have that quiet inner awareness
of the constant presence of the eternal, all-loving Jesus,
strengthening, comforting, directing us. And we can quietly
rejoice in that.
Secondly, Paul says:
Be gentle
He actually writes: “Let your gentleness be
evident to all. The Lord is near” (verse 5).
Gentleness is not weakness, it is controlled
strength. That strength could be used for aggression or
violence, but it is controlled in love and becomes gentleness.
We are to show such gentleness obviously – for all to see. The
Christian life is not the pursuit of power. Politicians seek
power as do the military. Ambitious people seek power in
management. Business people seek the power that money brings.
Sadly, people seek power in the church too. But that is not the
way of Christ. The way of Christ is the way of gentleness.
It is a quality to be meted out to all in the
light of the constant presence of Christ. The Lord is near. He
is the unseen listener to every conversation, the unseen witness
of every action. The follower of Christ shows the gentleness of
Christ.
Thirdly Paul says:
Be calm
His actual words are: “Do not be anxious about
anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with
thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of
God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts
and your minds in Christ Jesus” (verses 6-7).
But isn’t this another unrealistic command?
How on earth can Paul expect people to sail through life with
not a care or anxiety? Yet he gives a command: “Do not be
anxious.”
We need to realise that anxiety is a
temptation – to despair, doom and gloom. We shall not be free of
the feelings – as a temptation. But Paul says there is a way of
not falling to the temptation and wallowing in or being
dominated by anxiety as many people are.
The secret is to thank and pray to God in
every situation. Immediately this recalls the conscious presence
of the Almighty - the Creator of this vast universe, the
Redeemer who gave his all for love of us on the cross. If a
burden shared is a burden halved, a burden shared with such a
God is vastly reduced to manageable proportions.
In fact, it makes it possible to experience a
peace in Jesus that is not dependent on the circumstances but
contradictory to them. It guards our hearts (feelings) and
minds (thoughts) and prevents domination by anxiety.
Fourthly, Paul exhorts us to:
Be highminded
He writes: “Finally, brothers and sisters,
whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever
is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything
is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things” (verse 8).
We should not dwell on evil, fear, violence,
lust, degradation etc. Rather we should dwell on God’s word and
sincerity (whatever is true), on what is uplifting, moral,
unsullied and beautiful, on what is inspiring, outstanding and
exemplary.
Dwelling on the positives will lift our sights
above the mundane and sordid. It will help raise us up to the
heavenly places in Christ Jesus, where we see everything from
his vantage point.
Finally, Paul writes:
Be consistent
“Whatever you have learned or received or
heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God
of peace will be with you” (verse 9).
Paul lived a consistent life. He not only
spoke the truth (“Whatever you have learned or received or heard
from me”) but he lived the truth. He could refer to what they
had seen in him. So Paul challenges them to practice apostolic
teaching, to live biblically.
How are you doing?
Someone once wrote a notice:
“God is dead” signed Nietzsche
“Nietzsche is dead” signed God
Nietzsche went mad before he died, but God is
very much alive and well. But, as someone said: “The only Gospel
some people read is your life and mine.” Nietzsche is dead but
do we appear more like saved ones? |
