God’s call, the call of Christ on each of our lives is a like a fire that cannot be extinguished. Resisting God’s call only brings profound dissatisfaction with life itself. God’s call may lead us to unexpected places, even life-threatening paths, but it is truly only the real way forward. And even if it seems reckless at times, in the end answering God’s call brings God’s peace, a serenity which the apostle Paul describes as that which surpasses all understanding.
This is a men’s breakfast – and thus I ask you the question: what gifts and abilities has God given you, a man, in order to empower you, a man, to discern Christ’s call on your life and to follow that call – as only a man could?
At the risk of coming across as hopelessly sexist in this age of gender ambiguity, let me turn to the wisdom of the Apostle Paul in a very brief extract from his letter to the Philippians. This will not be an answer to the question I asked you – that is between you and God; rather, this is Paul’s wisdom in living out God’s call on your life, whatever that may be.
Why do I think his letter is particularly relevant to a man?
First, a disclaimer: At the end of his letter, Paul directly addresses two women, Euodia, and Syntheche, whom he names his co-labourers. Chapter 4. Thus, this letter is not exclusively male-oriented. And yet, this letter is full of allusions to the Roman military, to gladiators, to warfare, and athletics, that if anything, the men in those days would have resonated with Paul’s text more than the women might have.
This letter is, I would say, overwhelmingly masculine.
- Philippi had a significant Roman military presence.
- Rome settled its war veterans in the city. 42BC (Octavian/Mark Antony vs
- Brutus/Cassius. 31BC (Octavian vs Mark Antony)
- A major strategic military artery from Rome to the east, the Via Egnatia, passed through the heart of Philippi
Citizens of Philippi were also citizens of Rome – a much coveted status with special privileges. The rest of the residents, non-citizens, were second-class.
Paul had established a house church in Philippi during his 2nd missionary journey, around AD50. The apostle wrote the letter in AD60 from prison, either in Rome or in Ephesus. The reference to Caesar’s household and the Praetorian guard gives the nod to Rome. Paul’s text is full of terms of endearment – it was a thank-you letter, with words of advice injected here and there.
“Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, and not frightened in anything by your opponents.”
(Philippians 1:27-28a)
Right here in this short passage are masculine allusions to the way of the Roman citizen, the way of the Roman military, the way of the athlete or the gladiator. Men, we ought to pay close attention.
In the first phrase is a verb that is extremely difficult to translate: It is literally “citizen yourself worthily of the gospel of Christ.” In those days, the Roman citizen is socially a cut above everyone else. He is governed by strict rules of social behaviour, foremost of which is loyalty to Rome. He has privileges – like freedom from taxes. Everyone including the Philippian church desired to be Roman citizens. With this as backdrop, Paul points the church to an infinitely greater citizenship than anything imaginable: citizenship in heaven. And as citizens of heaven, Paul commanded them to “citizen themselves” in analogy to how a Roman citizen would treasure and respect his Roman privileged status.
”Standing firm in one spirit” is an allusion to the critical military concept of “unit cohesion.” “Unit cohesion” is essential for effective soldiering, a principle extensively adopted by the Roman military tactician and general Gaius Marius as far back as 160 BC. The US army defines unit cohesion as “the bonding together of members of a unit in such a way as to sustain their will and commitment to each other, their unit, and the mission.” Gaius Marius the Roman general described it this way: “they, the army, were a symphony, not a cacophony, of professionally equipped men… coalesced one behind another, or side by side, and so fought as a single mass…”
Paul knew this principle of unit cohesion, and wrote to the Philippian Christians to do the same as soldiers of Christ.
”Striving side by side…” is from a compound word that has allusions to athletic contests, gladiatorial contests, or battles. The root word is ἀθλέω (athleo) that reminds us of “athletics” but in those days refers to contests, competitions and fighting in battle. In Paul’s text, this word is combined with the prefix “syn” that means “together.” This phrase situated in a cluster of military images dictates that its meaning should be understood as fighting together side by side as soldiers in unit cohesion.
Fighting side by side for what? For ”the faith of the gospel” which by itself is difficult to understand so let’s interpret it as fighting for the faith that is spoken of in the gospel.
“Frightened” is not a good translation. This word is situated in a group of military images, and thus we must understand this phrase from the point of view of soldiers. “Fright” or “fear” is not unknown among soldiers engaged in warfare. Instead, Paul appeals to the courage of soldiers even in fearsome circumstances. Soldiers may indeed be beset with fear, but to win the battle, they must not let fear give way to intimidation. They must call on their inner strength together with like-minded and equally courageous comrades in order to overcome fear with courage and win the battle. Paul appealed to this, literally calling on the Philippian Christians not to be intimidated by those who oppose Christ.
Let’s read this again from the perspective of a Roman war veteran, or a young man in Philippi brought up in the traditions of the Roman military:
“Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, and not frightened in anything by your opponents.”
How does this passage challenge you this morning?
What questions are provoked in your man’s mind, your masculine soul, by Paul’s wisdom displayed in this very short extract from his letter to the Philippians?
- I trust that whatever God’s call on you,
- that you will ”citizen yourself” as valued member of God’s household, not Caesar’s;
- that you will stand together shoulder to shoulder in unit cohesion so as to be as effective as you collectively are made to be under Christ’s banner;
- that you will fight side by side against the forces of evil, looking after each other, covering each other’s back
- that you will recognize and consider in wise and studious fear what battles face you but in no way be intimidated into submission to the forces of evil that try to engulf as at every turn.
On the eve of the battle of Jericho, Joshua aligned himself with the Commander of the army of the LORD. As Joshua did, so we must align ourselves with the movement of the Holy Spirit among us, arm in arm, shoulder to shoulder, one in Christ, always ready to spring into action into spiritual battle against the forces of evil – not flesh and blood, but the demonic forces whom Christ has already defeated on the cross.
Ask yourselves this question again:
What gifts and abilities has God given you, a man, in order to empower you, a man, to discern Christ’s call on your life and to follow that call – as only a man could?
Every God’s blessings on each one of you here this morning.
Amen.