CITIZENS OF HEAVENWhen Paul wrote to the church in Philippi they had been living under Roman rule for a couple of generations. They had a proud cultural and philosophical heritage and a fierce sense of citizenship going back to the first Greek culture in Athens five centuries before which was the first ever democracy, and all the citizens of Athens had the opportunity to vote. They had a proud cultural and philosophical heritage that aspired for excellence in diverse areas of life. The two...
CITIZENS OF HEAVEN
When Paul wrote to the church in Philippi they had been living under Roman rule for a couple of generations. They had a proud cultural and philosophical heritage and a fierce sense of citizenship going back to the first Greek culture in Athens five centuries before which was the first ever democracy, and all the citizens of Athens had the opportunity to vote. They had a proud cultural and philosophical heritage that aspired for excellence in diverse areas of life. The two prominent ideological philosophies were the Stoics and the Epicureans. The Stoics cared about virtuous behaviour and living according to principles of discipline, while Epicureans were connoisseurs of good food and good wine and cared about avoiding pain and seeking comfort and pleasure.
Philippi was the most significant Roman colony in Europe, the gateway city that joined Europe to the Middle East, and it was the first European city where Paul preached the gospel and established a church. It was also the place where in March 44bc the senators of Rome under Brutus and Cassius assassinated Julius Caesar to try and preserve the Roman Republic. They killed Caesar but the new idea of a republic also died and went nowhere. It has been called ‘The suicide of a Republic’. Paul was a Greek scholar and understood their philosophy and culture and their politics and he was mindful of the importance of the privileges and responsibilities of citizenship, being himself a Roman citizen.
He had heard that dissension had come amongst the church at Philippi and he writes to them to appeal to their better selves to live at one with each other. So when he writes to them he focusses on the whole citizenship issue and powerfully points them to their ultimate Citizenship, their newly won Citizenship of Heaven.
Philippians 3:20 But our citizenship is in heaven, Our way of life reflects the atmosphere of heaven, where we live in constant hope and expectation of the supernatural redeeming work of Jesus, 21. Who will finally take our weak mortality and change it to be like his mighty immortality, using the power that only he has, to subdue all things to himself. Philippians 4: 8. Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy — meditate on these things
‘These things’ that we are asked to meditate upon are down to earth qualities of intentional behavioural and attitudinal conduct, within the capacity of every human being made in God’s image. Paul knew that the Philippians esteemed these qualities as a mark of being an exemplary Greek Citizen also, so he was urging them to acknowledge and appreciate the potential of these qualities in one another, and be inspired to want to live them for themselves, not just as part of their Greek heritage but as spiritually transformed Citizens of Heaven.
In his letter to them Paul encourages the Philippians to consider one another in this way. He urges two of them who were his helpers in his ministry when he was there to patch up their differences and start to agree with each other. In another place he says; if being in a community of the Spirit means anything to you, if you have a heart, if you care— then do me a favor: Agree with each other, love each other, be deep-spirited friends. Don't push your way to the front; don't sweet-talk your way to the top. Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. Don't be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand.
Think of yourselves the way Christ Jesus thought of himself. He had equal status with God but didn't think so much of himself that he had to cling to the advantages of that status no matter what. (Philippians 2:2)
Meditate – logizomai – focus the mind – allow the meaning of each one of these words means not just a definition of the word but the personal meaning us, to be imprinted on our soul.
True/truth – alethes - The basic reality that defines you. Certain limiting life conditions may be true circumstantially but they are not the real truth of the inward person of the heart (Joni Erikson free and not trapped). There can also be distorted negative personal thoughts about ourselves and our circumstances through things that other people have emotionally put upon us in our vulnerability, that are not the truth of who we are, and these can create in our soul a painful and severely limited sense of who we really are. But the truth of who we are in Christ is there in our spiritual DNA – we just have to allow the Holy Spirit to reveal the reality of that true self that abides in the Father’s unconditional love.
Noble - semnos – character. Noble – That is our character, he highest values that characterize us and what we aspire to – yes that’s me, that is what I set for myself. Meditate on these things, what do we give ourselves to. And that will draw us into being the best we hope to be. Nobility is true stature, inward stature.
The virtue of this kind of nobility is that in itself it is a far more effective influence of what you would like people to hear and understand and perhaps agree with you on. It’s better than just pushing strong opinions in an argument till you win an argument. People in politics who want more power and influence often scrap and fight and disparage one another, but nobility outclasses this kind of one-upmanship and ranks number one as the most persuasive and convincing influence of all.
Just - dikaios – Balanced like the scales of justice – justice and mercy. It results in what is upright and fair. Those who practice this are counted as being trustworthy to judge fairly, not putting a spin on things for one’s own advantage because of some kind of prejudice, and not fearing injustice, but knowing that it is God who finally justifies. Jesus knew where true justice was, in the hands of his Father
1 Peter 2.23 He did not retaliate when he was insulted, nor threaten revenge when he suffered. He left his case in the hands of a just God.
Pure - hagnos- innocent motivation. What awakens a child like wonder and even awe of good things the beauty of the creation around us. The Bible says ‘blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God…’ This awakens an innocence and purity in us that cleanses our souls. It brings a childlike acceptance of life that doesn’t mind not knowing everything, or not being in control of everything. It is not naiveite but a simplicity that is not dominated by other peoples’ opinions as strong as they might be.
PSALM 131 God, I'm not trying to rule the roost, I don't want to be king of the mountain.
I haven't meddled where I have no business or fantasized grandiose plans.
I've kept my feet on the ground, I've cultivated a quiet heart. Like a baby content in its mother's arms. Wait Israel, for God.
We can live like that as a way of being, expecting God’s goodness to bless an innocent motivation from a pure heart.
Lovely (prosphiles)– To move towards and friendship. What creates a friendly atmosphere. What brings about a warm attachment, a sense of an attractive atmosphere that draws someone closer rather than make them feel unwelcome. It could be the kind of words that uo say or the tone of voice or a kindly look upon the face. What draws someone into the circle of your life in an appropriate and fitting way.
Good report – euphemos (eu=good, phemos=shines forth) - What is positive and worth sharing – the good report. The can-do attitude.
A good report and a bad report can have the same facts but a different can-do attitude. The facts of the matter concerning Israel’s decision to not enter the promised land at Kadesh Barnea when they were a few weeks into their exodus from Egypt, and God told them to enter in resulted in a bad report and a good report, a can’t do and a can do attitude. Moses sent twelve spies in to give the people a report of the land they all agreed that it was a delightful and magnificent looking countryside, there was an abundant produce of grapes and fruit that they all carried back and showed the others, and that the land flowed with milk and honey and one more thing, there were giants in the land. Ten of the spies emphasized the giants in the land and said “We are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we.” And they gave the children of Israel a bad report of the land. But Joshua and Caleb said “Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are well able to overcome it.”
Think of how you come across and meditate upon this. Take up the challenge of what God would have you do that is facing you. Through him you can do all those things. It is then really God that does the work, and that is a work of faith.
Virtue – aretes. The good decisions that create good character - Good values create good decisions and these make good habits and these create good character. We can have good intentions but to have virtue we have to follow through and make good decisions. Find the wisdom, have the intention, find the motivation then follow through with decisive action – that is virtue and that too is a work of faith.
Praiseworthy – epainos - Anything worthy of God’s commendation, not just impressive in the eyes of man. We are doing these good things for God – It is through and for him and of him.
It is God that then says well done good and faithful servant!
These are what you meditate upon. That is what heals the emotional pain that the soul suffers, especially when the moral and ethical climate of attitudes and behavior in society degenerates into people disparaging and belittling each other and putting one another down and fomenting resentment and revenge in hurtful angry speech. This seems to be the age in which we are live right now. Have these virtues disappeared in our society? No they are there, sown into our hearts and minds by the Holy Spirit, even breathed into humanity from the beginning, but it just means that they have to be sought for from within ourselves
Change does not come quickly – There must be patient steady effort. This transformation means sitting with the pain of life in God’s presence and allowing him to subdue the negative self consciousness and hopelessness, and awaken our positive God consciousness and be made whole. That becomes our reality.
Meditation on these things allows a transformation into our truer self as God pouring himself into our spiritual povertywith his richness of being. ‘Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven’.
We can learn to make our own hearts a place of peace and integrity. We can let our own pain and suffering be healed and become part of his healing wherever we are. The Bible shows us how to do this. It is nothing new, but it cannot be neglected.
What we can do is give up all hope of a better past, that’s gone, and take hold of a new hope that opens up a better future.
