Lewis in his beautiful essay, "The Weight of Glory": We in Christ have the capacity to love across our differences. Say to one another, "God knew you before you were formed in your mother's womb." Bless one another and do not curse. Tell one another you were made in the image of God. Euodia means "beautiful words," and Syntyche means "coming together." I wonder if Paul was saying: Sisters, come together and speak beautiful words to one another. But we have a clue in the names of the women. We don't know for sure what the problem was between Euodia and Syntyche, and we don't know for sure how Paul envisioned them coming back together. In Jesus Christ, you can love across your differences. And if one had a complaint against another, they could forgive each other as Christ had forgiven them. He believed they could forbear one another. He believed they could do as Jesus taught: Pray for those who persecute you and love your enemies. Maybe it was some small word spoken between them they never could quite unpack, and it built larger and larger walls until finally they couldn't speak and everybody in Philippi was scandalized by the differences between these two dear sisters and it was an embarrassment to the gospel.īut Paul believed they could love across their differences. And I want you, their brothers and sisters, to help these dear women, because they've struggled with me in the gospel." We're not told what it is Euodia and Syntyche had against each other. "I entreat Euodia and I entreat Syntyche to get along in the Lord. It's going to happen that differences will rise among us. It is possible that somebody who gets off on the Indigo Girls will have to room with someone who loves U2. It is possible that a democrat might be rooming with a republican this year. Through Christ we can love across our differences What is it the apostle Paul thinks you can do through Christ who strengthens you? Here are four modest proposals. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
#All things done through christ how to#
In any and all circumstances I know how to be well fed and how to be hungry, how to have much and how to have nothing. I know what it is to have little, and I know what it is to have plenty. And it's not as though I am complaining of want, for I have learned the secret of contentment.
You were concerned for me, but you had no opportunity to show it. I rejoice greatly that at long last you have revived your concern for me. And whatever you have seen and heard and learned from me, do. And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will keep your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.įinally, my beloved brothers and sisters, if there is anything true, if there is anything honorable, if there is anything just, if there is anything pure or pleasing or commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Have no anxiety about anything, but in everything, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. Again, I say rejoice! Let everyone know your forbearance. And I urge you, their brothers and sisters, to help these women, for they have struggled with me in the gospel along with Clement and the others who have their names written in the Book of Life. I entreat Euodia and I entreat Syntyche to get along in the Lord. Listen to another piece of that letter and see if you can pick up the things he thinks you can do through Christ who strengthens you: This little verse is a piece of a larger section of verses in a letter Paul wrote to a gathering of Christians for whom he was particularly fond. I want to share with you some of the staggering things I feel quite sure the apostle Paul imagines we can do through Christ who strengthens us. But they ought to be better than other people are." Why? Because we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. Chesterton once said this: "Christians ought not to be better than other people ought to be. But the apostle Paul is clearly thinking of some serious things we can do in Christ, who strengthens us, that pass by every person who is outside of Christ. I'm thinking the apostle Paul is not imagining we're going to defy the gene pool, thinking lumpy, pasty, men are going to pole vault 20 feet through Christ, or thinking a student in college is going to get an A in quantum physics without ever cracking a book. "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."
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