October Passage: Philippians 4:2-9
I entreat Euodia and I entreat Syntyche to agree in the Lord. Yes, I ask you also, true companion, help these women, who have labored side by side with me in the Gospel together with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the Book of Life.
Rejoice in the Lord Always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be know to everyone.
The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you. (ESV)
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Throughout each month, we will post short articles to give some depth of understanding regarding our text. Today we will discuss...
Life Together with Gospel Unity
In the last article, we read that, “There is hardly anything as easy, yet neglected in our lives to help keep us from falling than Life Together.”
It is vital that we find ways to stay close and involved with one another throughout the week — not, just on Sunday mornings.
But, just like our families at home, time together with broken people like us will sometimes lead to tension and conflict between one another. We are eventually going to be a perfected family, but right now we all still struggle with sin and sinfully respond to each other from time to time.
Paul is not unconcerned with this and he is not surprised. As with every other obstacle in this broken world, Paul gives a Gospel solution when he sees conflict between to members of the Church family. Let’s unpack verses two and three to see how the Gospel helps here.
“I entreat Euodia and I entreat Syntyche to agree in the Lord.”
First, Paul “entreats” the two women. That means he pleads or humbly begs them to end their disputing. Begging is not out of line here. To call people to a new way of life while still living in the old sinful ways breeds the hypocrisy badge that so many not-yet-believers put on Christians.
We cannot claim to be Christians, whom the Bible calls agents of reconciliation, while at the same time, arguing, holding grudges, gossiping and slandering one another, or refusing to break bread with one another.
And Paul doesn’t beg the two women to agree about the conflict. At least one of them may be wrong. Paul is saying don’t let a trivial, forgivable matter derail a fruitful and effective life on mission.
You may not agree with everyone in the church about politics, or worship music, or how to raise children, or what sports team to like or how to manage your money. But, please don’t defame the name of Christ with such little things. People are going to Hell and it is our life lived with love, grace and mercy to one another that broadcasts the message of Hope in Christ.
You may not agree on everything, but for the sake of your souls and the sake of the lost community around you, put your conflicts to the side and “agree in the Lord.”
“Yes, I ask you also, true companion, help these women…”
Reconciliation is not only up to the two Christians, or the two families or the two groups involved in the conflict. In the Church, reconciliation is all of our business. If we are part of a local church and we see conflict, we aren’t supposed to turn a blind eye to it. We are not supposed to hope it goes away or hope that someone else deals with it. And, we are not EVER supposed to join in the conflict.
If God allows you to see the conflict, God has positioned you to help resolve it. There’s too much at stake to let it continue to smolder or to burn out of control.
If you don’t feel equipped for the task, ask for help (without gossiping). Pray for wisdom and gentleness in the way you approach the situation. Work with both sides at the same time. And bathe the entire confrontation in Gospel truth.
“…these women…have labored side by side with me in the Gospel together with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the Book of Life.”
Finally, whether you are part of the dispute or if you are trying to help resolve it, remember who you were, what Christ has done and who you are now. At the beginning of the letter to the Philippians, Paul reminded us that we are NOW a “partnership in the Gospel.”
We used to live for ourselves. We used to live as enemies of Jesus and His Bride. We used to love hearing and spreading gossip. We used to love living an “Us verses Them” life.
But, God, in His rich mercy, rich grace and rich kindness, has taken us from all of that and made us into a distinct and beautiful family. We now have the same power that raised Jesus from the dead working in us. There is nothing that is impossible for us. We can forgive anyone of anything, because Jesus has forgiven us for so much more, so many times.
And now as sinners turned to saints, we are also now missionaries. We labor side by side, in the way of those who labored before us, working to reach others who do not yet know that their names are written in the Book of Life.
There is nothing more important than that, and those who are His know it.
I beg you, Christian brothers and sisters, no matter what the conflict is, agree together in the Lord. People are going to Hell today and there’s no time to lose with unnecessary conflict. And I beg you, true companions, help those brothers and sisters in Christ who are struggling.
