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Philippians 1:1ff
Last week the law making assemblies of the Republic of Germany and that of the United Kingdom
were locked in long and fierce debate. How should these nations respond to the threat of terror?
No sooner were these debates in the headlines when attention switched to the Western coast of
America, where a possible terrorist attack was taking place. Investigators have still to decide whether
the major cause of this tragedy was linked with Syad Farook’s workplace or definitely linked to
terrorism. It might be, because the strategy of ISIS is to call all faithful followers of Islam to rise up
and join them in their Jihad against the crusader powers. The targets are no longer decided by a
central leadership, but also at local level. This might bring some anxiety in your hearts, but Paul’s
letter to the Philippians, part of which we heard this morning, is a must read for us all.
It is a pertinent because Paul and his readers were also living under the shadow of evil. Paul was in
prison in Rome, facing very serious charges. His readers in Philippi were confronted with
persecution. One would expect a very sombre and heavy read, but Paul seems to have the ability to
surf the waves that swamp others. What was his secret?
You will recall that Paul was a highly trained Rabbi, who had been a follower of the eminent Rabbi
Gamaliel. His first reaction to Jesus and his disciples had been to seek to eradicate them. But then
on his way to destroy the church in Damascus, he met the risen Christ. From that moment on, the
life , death and resurrection of Jesus, were to determine every aspect of his life.-especially his
reaction to suffering. He learned that in whatever state he was in to be content. In Philippians 4 , he
says I know how to be abased and I know how to abound, in all and any circumstances I have learned
the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and want. I can do all things in him who
strengthens me.
Contentment is not the same as fatalism. Fatalism is to cave into the world as it is and to see our
surroundings as simply destructive and indestructible. Paul has no truck with such rubbish He sees
the harsh circumstances of his imprisonment as an opportunity for him to preach the Gospel in the
very heart of the Roman Empire and a sharing in the sufferings of Christ. So in his suffering, he is not
separated from the power and love of Christ, he is at one with the one who suffered pain and
crucifixion before his resurrection to power and glory.
But Paul’s life is not a matter of miserable gritting of his teeth. He knows he has been surrounded by
the love and prayers of his co workers , Timothy and Epaphroditus and of course the church in
Philippi. He finds great joy in the way in which they have shared in his work and their growth in
discipleship. This prompts him to pray for them and as they are some problems in the church, he
promises to send his experienced assistant Timothy to guide them.
So contentment and praying with joy are the first two hallmarks of Paul’s reaction to hardship.
But there is clearly a need for some reaction to the evil which confronts us. What do we do?
Here I find Paul’s advice to be excellent.
He prays that their love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, 10 so that
you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, 11 filled
with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.
The prayer is for a form of love that is not stupid, but marked by knowledge and depth of insight.
Later in Chapter 4 Paul adds, Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your
gentleness be evident to all.
So our response is to be marked by gentleness. Now this is a word with a rather limited use these
days. What did it mean 2,000 years ago? So I looked up the word in the Dictionary of New
Testament theology and read the following. “Gentleness is a mark of the way Christ rules the world.
His activity on earth is that of a King who brings salvation without using force or war.
The word now expresses an attitude demanded of the Christian. It shows how Christians should live
with each other, non-Christians , Christians who have committed sins and should be shown in the
midst of hatred and persecution.
Well, that would appear to take us down the road of non-violence. Perhaps, but it certainly does not
mean that we do nothing. It is above all else a call to take risky and costly action.
The form in which we should respond to the terrorist threat will depend on who we are and where
we are. This is where we need to have a love marked by knowledge and insight.
If we are in the military, then we will have already thought through the circumstances in which we
are prepared to take up arms to destroy an enemy. ( As I did.) ISIS is clearly intent on extending its
territory and influence. However, there is clearly a need to work much harder on the diplomatic and
military means of at first containing and then ending the military capabilities of ISIS. Yet ISIS is far
more than a territorial group. Military action of any sort cannot eradicate it. It is an ideology that is
not limited to the Middle East. It has its adherents in San Bernadino and in Europe.
This is where the Christian church should come in. This does not mean everyone here this morning,
but all of us who have contact with Muslims.
When we meet Muslims we should show respect. Our aim should not be to win debating points or to
pressure them into our beliefs. It is to approach them as we approach every other human being. We
should be interested in them as people, to find out about their families, why they are in Germany
and so on. Being alongside them will give us the opportunity to find out about their faith. But we
cannot win anyone for Christ, if we attack their understanding of the prophet Mohammed, the role
of women or the relevance of the Sharia law. We have all been at the receiving end of such talks
with Jehovah’s witnesses or Mormons, to know it doesn’t work. -That it will only close doors and
reinforce their view of us as Crusaders. I don’t know how the new migrants will react to us. I have
worked with Turkish and Afghani teenagers and their parents for some 15 years now. It is as you
would expect- very mixed. You do get hostility and misunderstanding, aggression and provocation ;
such as bibles being ripped up under your nose. But you do have the chance to help people in need,
people who are delighted to see you and those who return your respect and friendship. In that way
we starve ISIS of its future terrorists and maybe win some people for Christ,, but there will always be
those who turn away and follow the path to destruction.
Finally in a world where terrorism is present. Paul says, Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a
manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in
my absence, I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit,[e] striving together as one for the faith
of the gospel 28 without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you.