Not Something to Grasp (Philippians 2:1-13)

“It seems to be a fact that you have to suffer as much from the Church as for it but if you believe in the divinity of Christ, you have to cherish the world at the same time that you struggle to endure it.” — Flannery O’Connor

Paul knows how difficult Christian community can be. Our tendency to reach for our own benefit constantly poisons the possibility of true friendship and love. But Paul offers another way.

Paul offered the Philippians the example of Christ, who didn’t count his Godhood something to take advantage of but humbled himself to take on the most humbling of human experiences. This is what Paul calls the Philippians to work out, their salvation offered through Christ’s self-emptying.