Yesterday I received a hand-written letter from a friend in New Zealand.  In this e-world, it is a rarity that I treasure.  We had worked together in Kent in the early 90’s and I was thrilled to hear from her because apart from our usual exchange of Christmas cards I had not heard from her properly for a long time. 

Her letter conveyed a mixture of good and bad news.  Amongst other things it spoke of her continuing recovery from surgery for breast cancer.  It is a letter of tears and joy, which ends with the telling statement: “I have since made a lot of life changes and feel my forward outlook is very strong and positive”. 

The card that accompanied her letter depicts a “King Fern Koru”.  “The Koru [she points out] symbolises new life”.  Throughout our friendship to date, I don’t recall ever having talked about God or life and death issues, but I think this was her way of saying she has discovered she is not on her own. 

I love the section of Paul’s letter to the Philippians, which we heard this morning, because essentially it’s a hymn of praise.  We’re not told explicitly what the problems in the church in Philippi were, but his prescription makes it clear they were experiencing division and disunity.  One possible issue was the differing reactions to the position of Paul himself now that he was in prison (probably in Rome).  Prison is hardly a good role model for this Christian who founded their church, so Paul had probably gone down in their ratings.  It also seems there were members of this young Christian community who were selfish, conceited and out for their own ends, while others complained and were argumentative – not like us of course?! 

So writing from prison, Paul implores his readers to be united in heart, mind and purpose for the sake of the gospel.  Interestingly, he doesn’t say be united with Christ first – he says be in full accord and of one mind with each other, be united with each other first, and then let the same mind be in you that was in Christ. 

The first half of this hymn (vs 6-8) sings of Christ’s earthly life as a series of actions in which he gave up everything in humble obedience to God, and the second half (vs 9-11) shows God’s response of raising him to the point of highest honour: that the whole universe can acknowledge Jesus as Lord. 

However, Paul’s portrayal of Jesus’ ultimate sacrifice and call to his readers to “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling” does raise one or two questions.  Is Paul really suggesting that Christians who obey as Jesus did will be exalted as Jesus has been?  And does Paul mean that only Christians who die as Christ did can be regarded as obedient?  The answer surely is no, for while Paul recognises – and we know from our own experience – that believers are not exempt from suffering, he doesn’t see suffering itself as inherently good. 

In seeking to understand scripture in our own context we always have to be wary.  If our NRSV translates correctly, Paul seems to be emphasising the “mind” or mind-set of Christ.  That is, Christians aren’t expected to copy all the actions of Christ, much less to anticipate being “rewarded” as Christ was, but they can be shaped by the same way of thinking and the same attitudes.  So as Jesus’ way of thinking led to the obedience that was appropriate for him, if we seek to share in his way of thinking, we will determine the actions that are right for us. 

The beginning and end verses of today’s reading [1-4 & 12-13] help to make those attitudes clearer.  Where Paul refers to “encouragement in Christ”, and “any consolation from love”, “any sharing in the Spirit” etc.,  Paul knows the Philippians have experienced some or all of these gifts, which allows him to appeal to them as the basis for their Christian action.  The love, the compassion, the encouragement that they received need also to be displayed in their conduct with one another.

As is usually the case in Paul’s letters, he is seeking general attitudes rather than specific behaviours.  Here he is concerned with the unity of the community, particularly its unity of thought:  “be of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.”  The repetitious nature of his appeal underscores the importance he attaches to unity within the community.  That unity cannot be achieved or maintained if individuals think only of their own interests or care only for their own pride.  Unity requires that all share a concern for the common good.

Even when at the end of this passage, he moves onto the subject of salvation, he’s not talking about the salvation of an individual believer – the “you” [in verses 12 & 13] is plural.  Christians, as those who belong to one another in Jesus Christ, together “work out” their salvation.  Here we need to be cautious:  Paul doesn’t, of course, mean that Christians - we - bring about our own salvation or that we have the responsibility to earn some part of it. 

Verse 13: “for it is God who is at work in you, enabling you both to will and to work for his good pleasure” quickly corrects any such misunderstandings, because it is God who is at work in us.  To “work out” salvation is for us to take responsibility for understanding what that salvation means in our daily lives.  Perhaps, in view of the possibility that Paul would not be able to return to Philippi, this is why he urges believers there to determine their behaviour from a Christian mindset. 

Working out our salvation “with fear and trembling” means acknowledging that we stand accountable before God for our actions.  At the same time, we know that God “is at work” within our lives.  We are called to trust in God, who has already acted on our behalf and continues to do so.  He will sustain us.  When we seek to follow Christ he will help us to make decisions that are acceptable and good.  All Christians can act with confidence, because we have been changed by the gospel and because we know that God continues to be at work in our lives.

Paul’s letter is one of praise and encouragement.  I viewed the letter I received from my friend ultimately, as one of praise.  Because despite the obvious suffering she had endured, she spoke of hope.  Of new life following despair and darkness.  This is what she discovered – perhaps for the first time.  Our whole lives are filled with death and resurrection moments – some more momentous than others.  In very dark times we can’t always see it but God is with us every step of the way, whether we recognise Him or not.  The days when my friend and I worked together are long gone but she knows what I do now and I have resolved to write her a letter of encouragement.

Perhaps, like me, you have some correspondence to catch up on:  maybe in the coming week we can all write a letter of encouragement to someone.  As Paul says, when God is at work in us, he enables us to will and to work for his good pleasure.  God’s gracious invitation to believe in Jesus Christ as Lord is open to us all.  He loves nothing better than to see us united in mind and purpose for the sake of the community – not looking to our own interests, but first and foremost, to the interest of others.   Jesus shows us how in serving one another we also serve God.  All Jesus’ actions point to God, to his praise and glory. 

Let us be encouraged today by Paul’s letter.  Imagine it is “Paul’s letter to the churches in Epping District Team …

… if then there is any encouragement in Christ, any consolation from love, any sharing in the Spirit, any compassion and sympathy, make my joy complete: be of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.  Do nothing from selfish ambition or 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.  Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus …..”

Amen.