WORK IT OUT (A VISITATION) PHIL. 4:1-3

Posted on September 20, 2007 
Filed Under Pastor's Blog

Time, retention and preaching are always at odds. The outcome, I hope is questions. That is preaching of the Word of God should raise questions not only answer them. To encounter Christ is to explore the mystery of which we can never fully grasp.

Well, enough of that or I will never get around to what was bothering me. As I recall it was time, retention and preaching. In Philippians 4 Paul calls us to work out (resolve conflict) for the sake of the gospel. It reminds us that it is more about Christ than it is about ourselves. Or at least that is the way it is supposed to be. A simple examination of the world (and church for that matter) at large suggest otherwise. A common flow seen/experienced is disagreement, stubbornness, selfishness and bitterness (recycle). We considered our responsibility to break the cycle. With it comes a real sense of humility and vulnerability. The nagging question may be; What if it doesn’t work? “Pastor, I threw a bone but they didn’t throw one back. In fact my box of biscuits is just about empty.”

Tragically this may be the case. I am not sure the community of Christ is ready to accept the implications either. Remember the Church is in Christ. We work it out not simply for ourselves but for the sake of the gospel. Those who resist or refuse to reconcile (work it out) are not only rejecting you but at some level (some way) we are rejecting Christ. We are suddenly at odds with the Spirit of the gospel. To paraphrase the author of Hebrews; “it is a treacherous thing to mess with God.” In some way we bring judgment upon ourselves (no wonder so many live in a relational nightmare).

If your pursuit of reconciliation has been rebuffed you are not without recourse. The gospel is again (as always) the answer. Jesus really is the way, the truth and the life (both salvifically and ethically). In Christ’s passion he cried out, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.” We as well have to walk in forgiveness and always be ready to function as an ambassador of reconciliation. WHB

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