Christ-like Unity: A Sermon for Proper 23

Today marks the end of our four-week journey through Paul’s letter to the Philippians. And in many ways, it ends just like it started – words of encouragement and inspiration in the midst of everyday struggles and conflict. This letter has a lot to offer to us as individuals, and more importantly, to us a Christian community, particularly when it comes to addressing church conflict. And it is a much more practical and accessible letter than, say, Paul’s letter to the Romans. Part of that has to do with the fact that Paul had a personal relationship with the Christians in Philippi. He was writing to a church that he had planted and to a congregation of people whom he knew and loved deeply. Paul’s affection for the Christians in Philippi is clear and palpable, and that is why this letter has been so uplifting for us to read the past few weeks. And that is also why Paul is so concerned about the interpersonal conflict that has emerged in this congregation of people who he loves so much. 

The conflict within the Philippian community that was alluded to a couple of weeks ago is disclosed in more detail in our lesson today. Two parishioners - Euodia and Syntyche (sin-tih-chee)– have apparently had a conflict that has disrupted the church in Philippi. In both passages, Paul urges these women and the rest of the Christians in Philippi to put aside their differences and to “let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus” and to “be of the same mind of the Lord.” 

One of the classic questions that effective preachers are called to address is, “OK, but, what does that actually look like?” And Paul’s answer to that question when he first alluded to the conflict was, “Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others.” And to give an even more concrete example, Paul goes on to say, “Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, 

who, though he was in the form of God,
did not regard equality with God 
as something to be exploited,

but emptied himself,
taking the form of a slave, 
being born in human likeness.

And being found in human form,
he humbled himself 
and became obedient to the point of death-- 
even death on a cross.”

So, Paul’s approach to conflict management is, on the surface at least, anything but self-help. It is self-emptying. It is humble obedience – even to the point of, in Christ’s case, death on a cross. Remember, Christ didn’t die on the cross for his own sake. He did it for your sake, and for my sake – and for the sake of the whole world.

Speaking from his own personal experience, Paul asserts that the most faithful way to navigate conflict resolution within the Christian community is to “let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus.” Of course, that is much easier said than done. Particularly when the mind of Christ Jesus led him to the cross. 

I think one that possible nuance in Paul’s words is that by seeking to be of the same mind of Christ, those who find themselves to be in conflict with one another will ultimately be of the same mind as one another. That is because rather than trying to change someone else’s mind, they are seeking the will of Christ’s mind. In other words, we are to ground our unity in Christ’s will, not our own. If I am at odds with you – rather than trying to figure out which one of us is right – we are better served to both seek unity in the righteousness of Christ. What would Christ have us do? Most of the time, the answer that Christ will have for us – which we find in scripture and the tradition of the church – will show that neither of us were grounding our argument in the mind of Christ, but rather, our own.

What is clear from Paul’s letter to the Philippians is that he loves them deeply. And he loves and cares for the two women who are at odds with one another. But rather than trying to determine which one of them is correct, he simply pleads with the church in Philippi to “stand firm in the Lord, work out their salvation with fear and trembling, … and to help these women. For it is God who as at work in you.”

If there was ever a time for us to ponder these words from Paul in our hearts, it is now. Thankfully, our parish church isn’t mired in conflict these days. But our country feels like it is as divided now as it ever has been. With the 24-hour news cycle, talk radio, and social media, our political differences are more amplified than ever before. Yes, Paul’s letter was to a particular congregation in Philippi, not an entire nation. But I believe that the letter can be applied to our context today during this election cycle. The risk we run when the political climate gets hostile is that the hostility can find its way into our hearts, and into our families and into our churches. And that is when the most painful division can occur.

The Episcopal Church is a broad tent so to speak. We are what I call a “purple church” – we have our fair share of red and blue. And this diversity can be a blessing for ourselves and our communities if we allow it to be. But the only way that our political diversity will be a blessing is if, in the midst of our diversity, we, at the end of the day, seek the mind of Christ in all things. Our primary identity should always be our baptismal identity, even above our familial, national, political, and denominational identities. Our unity in Christ is where our salvation lies – for ourselves, our families, our parish churches, and our communities. 

And Paul reminds us that seeking the mind of Christ is to, above all else, look not to [our] own interests, but to the interests of others.” This may sound simple, but ever since the Fall in the Garden of Eden, it is the hardest thing for human beings to do. But when we put the righteousness of Christ above our own righteousness, and the interests of others ahead of our own, that is when the miracle of Christ’s mercy, justice, grace, and love are embodied. And that is when, to use Paul’s words, we can experience that “the Lord is near.” And that is when we will be able to, with joy in our hearts, “rejoice in the Lord always…[and] not worry about anything.” And that is when “the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard [our] hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” And finally, that is when “the God of peace will be with [us.]”