Life on the Pasture

Have you ever read a passage in the Scriptures that you know is true but you really don’t want to hear it because it convicts you? I was preparing for this week’s installment of our Bible study on Philippians and was confronted with Paul’s words in Philippians 2:5: “Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus.” (NIV 1984). As I become more and more impatient with the inability to gather together for worship, the reality of what was supposed to be my son’s first season in Legion ball cancelled, and questions as far as what will actually happen with my daughter’s wedding at the end of June, I fear that my attitude is not particularly Christlike when it comes to those controlling public policy. I want to be treated as an adult who can wade through all the information and make responsible decisions about the safest thing to do. I want people in my congregation to be able to come up with the best practices for gathering in a responsible way and have the freedom to choose whether or not to come. I want there to be absolutely no doubt as to the next school year beginning in a normal way. I want there to be equality for businesses being open. In short, I want everyone to see things as I do.

Jesus is the only one who lived upon this earth who had the right to insist that everyone see things as He did. Unfortunately, not everyone did. As we see with His rebuke of the teachers of the Law and the Pharisees as recorded in Matthew 23, Jesus clearly pointed out where their actions and attitudes contradicted the will of God. He even called them snakes and a brood of vipers.  Yet it is also true that when it came to His trial and crucifixion, Jesus did not engage in an angry debate with His enemies but remained silent. One cannot read the passion accounts without getting the distinct impression that our Lord was always in control. He continued to be Master. 

So how did He do that? What was it about His attitude that enabled Him to endure all He did? It comes back to love, not just for those who love you, but also for one’s enemies.

And so if my attitude is going to be the same as that of Christ Jesus, what I need is the Holy Spirit to continue to work that attitude of sacrificial love in me – a love that stops me from spouting off in anger and drives me to pray all the more fervently for those in authority that all decisions would be guided by our Lord and made for the common good. It also means praying that I see my shortcomings and am able to fairly consider other opinions.

That doesn’t mean that I suddenly become non-committal and have no strong opinions. What it does mean is that when those opinions are expressed, that is also done in love. David has an excellent prayer recorded in Psalm 141: “Take control of what I say, O Lord, and guard my lips. Don’t let me drift toward evil or take part in acts of wickedness. Don’t let me share in the delicacies of those who do wrong.” (Psalm 141:3–4, NLT)

– Pastor Schmidt