Be gracious . . . now. Philippians 4.4-5
12/12/2011 1:16:20 AM
Dec 11, 2011~ Philippians #34 in series


 

Be gracious…now.  Philippians 4.4-5

One of the most responded-to briefings I have written was on a subject that I bet never comes up in your daily conversations.  I heard from folks near and far, moved by the need to embody the heart of the message.  It took me a little while to find it since I sustained a hard-drive crash since writing it several years ago, but I located it on the Pastorwoman website, archived in the first book of the Bible I taught—James.  [www.pastorwoman.com - loaded with free downloadable studies and podcasts to inform and encourage.]

Zoom out with me a moment, remembering where we are, and listen as Paul dictates from prison to a scribe, ‘Rejoice in the Lord at all times.  I will say it again – rejoice!  Let your gracious gentleness be known to all men.  The Lord is near.’  (Philippians 4.4-5)  The Greek word, epieikeia, is translated here as ‘gracious gentleness’, and is very difficult to translate into English.  In other texts, we see ‘graciousness, forbearance, softness, patience, gentleness . . . a different response than straight-line justice though justice is warranted.’  I have been studying verse five all week, considering why Paul pairs these two great qualities of the Christian life together—he says ‘rejoice’ and in essence, ‘be merciful to others’—‘the Lord is coming back.’  Simply--what is the significance of rejoicing and graciousness, and the Lord’s return to us?

So that was your hint about the very popular briefing—did you catch it?  Mercy.  ‘Entitled “Mercy Me—not just a band, but a great way to live,” I wrote it back in the summer of 2008, though it seems to me that the world needs mercy now more than it needed it then!  Why, the world around us is crying out for mercy . . . don’t you sense it?

The common dictionary definition of mercy is 'compassion or forgiveness shown toward someone whom it is within one's power to punish or harm.' More often than not, the term mercy is used interchangeably with compassion, but alas it is more than that; when it would seem like one might expect judgment, the judge decides to pardon him, give him mercy. "Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy." Matthew 5.7 (part of the Beatitudes that Jesus gave us from the Sermon on the Mount, found in Matthew and Luke) I want to be shown mercy... do you?

In order to give mercy, I believe one has to experience mercy.  Paul had experienced God’s mercy, so he could teach about it, and the need for it—calling it epieikeia, gracious gentleness.  God wasn’t initially so gentle with Paul, having to knock him to the ground on the road to Damascus in order to get his attention, close his mouth, and open his mind to the truth of Jesus Christ; but it was all to extend to him the tender mercy of eternal salvation.  The same salvation message Paul took on the road and across the waters, establishing churches as he went, posing a threat to Rome, and landing himself in the prison from which he now wrote—and here he writes, ‘Rejoice in the Lord, again I say, rejoice.  Let your gracious gentleness be known to all men.  The Lord is near.’ 

What is on Paul’s mind?  In the preceding couple verses, he told two women to work out their differences, as unity was imperative, disunity harmful to the church.  He is well aware that he is probably going to be put to death for his supposed threat to Rome . . . STILL, in spite of any circumstances, the understanding of the believer must always be one of joy, evidenced in rejoicing. 

And to joy, he adds, Christ-followers are to be gracious and gentle.  They get along inside the church (a la the two women mentioned in verses two and three), and they love those outside the church.  It is not a footnote or a subscript that Paul adds—‘the Lord is near’; rather it is an admonition.  ‘Hey Christian, wake up—don’t let your pettiness be the reason someone else wants nothing to do with Christianity; don’t let your hate-speak drive people from the church.  I am coming back . . . soon!’

Here is a timely example to illustrate my point:  this fall, I have been active at San Clemente High School, establishing Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and another weekly worship experience, Sunday Night Live.  There is a thirst for God, and it is so exciting.  However, early on, a young Christian student from a church youth group that meets on campus, posted an anti-homosexual video on Facebook, filled with judgment, and little mercy; it was anything but helpful to the cause of Christ.  Did the video message portray God’s view of homosexuality accurately?  Yes, but not his heart, nor his compassion, nor his way of building relationship to minister to those who are struggling.  To use Paul’s words—there was no gracious gentleness to be found. 

The Lord is coming soon, friends—I believe that.  We are to be light in the world.  Light draws and attracts, it does not repel.  Be joyful, Christian – let your joy be seen.  Do not be the excuse someone needs to stay away from Jesus, rather be gracious, be merciful, Christian!  Look for ways to embrace, to extend compassion, to include, to give away joy, joy, joy . . . . . . .

Christine