Philippians 1:27-28a
Only, live your life in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that, whether I come and see you or am absent and hear about you, I will know that you are standing firm in one spirit, striving side by side with one mind for the faith of the gospel, and are in no way intimidated by your opponents. For them this is evidence of their destruction, but of your salvation.
They say the mark of a good parenting is when you work yourself out of a job so that your children can take wing without you. That, in essence, is what Paul hopes for the Philippians. He wants them to live worthy, meaningful lives, not simply from a desire to please or impress Paul but because they have lived into their own identity as disciples.
We may wonder why he emphasizes this, but it seems from this passage and some that will come later that the Philippians’ journey to faith has not been easy. They, along with Paul, have faced hardship, persecution, or ridicule. Philippi prided itself in being a “little Rome,” highly valuing being in allegiance with the Roman Emperor and in alignment with Roman gods. Therefore, to set oneself apart by joining what was likely considered no more than a Jewish sect – in a territory that may have been hostile to Judaism (see Acts 16:20-21) – was probably occasion at least for shunning and ridicule and perhaps for more.
And yet Paul invites them, not just to “live a life” (as we translate it), but to “exercise your life as citizens” in a manner worthy of Christ. They are not, that is, to hide out, or lick their wounds, or fly under the radar. No, they are to partake of the rights and responsibilities of citizens yet in a manner that witnesses to and honors Christ. Just as Paul’s fidelity was a witness to the whole detachment of soldiers stationed at his prison, so should all the Philippians witness to their faith by an open and worthy exercise of their public lives.
This, Paul says, will serve as an omen to their opponents that they have chosen the right path. An omen to their opponents, notice, not to them. Paul is not, that is, urging them to judge their opponents self-righteously but rather to allow their behavior to serve as its own testimony that may yet prove beneficial even to those who oppose them.
That’s no easy task – bearing up under pressure or ridicule, openly taking a stance that is unpopular, refusing to condemn others but to live your life in a way that may yet persuade your opponents. A tall order indeed. Would that we could do the same.
Prayer: Dear God, encourage and equip us to exercise our rights as citizens in a manner that brings glory to you and provides a witness to those who may oppose us. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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