Philippians 2-Colossians-I Thessalonians 2
It is probably one of my favorite verses ever since I read it from the pen of Soren Kierkegaard as a Junior at Wake Forest. "Work out your salvation with fear and trembling." (Even then I knew the line wasn't original with him!) So often we think of salvation as a gift, that we can just take for granted, without any worries or anxiety. Paul seems to be reminding us that it might not be that cut and dried. Salvation takes some work--on our part. It means choosing day after day after day whether or not we will continue to "follow my Christ who loves me so..." It also means realizing that maybe, just perhaps, I might not have it ALL right. There is a chance I might be wrong. It is that part that reminds me that ultimately it is about the grace of God. (At least I hope it is!)
But time and time again I wonder if Paul remembered that! Oh, I know he says that, but how many times in his letters does he say "imitate me." I know in my head that it is due to his love for his readers, his hope that they might experience the fullness of life that he has found in Christ---but still! My heart just wants to scream at times! I mean, how many times have we heard his credentials--almost like an author who has written the same book several times. Paul has this litany of his accomplishments that he shoots off numerous times--with a little variation so as to avoid copyright laws!
And then just as I am ready to quit--to throw it all away he comes back with lines that cut to the very heart of life today. He realizes that at the core of so much of our problems is pride. Not that we ever see that in our world--not in politicians who oppose legislation they once co-sponsored because the other party might get the credit; churches who seek to cut out and out-do others out of pride rather than any "worthy" reasons. And it infects us all! I don't want to give up my credentials, my diplomas, my standing. I have worked so hard to get it! To say that it is all rubbish? Rubbish!
See, it is pride.
And say what you will, Paul knows how to end a letter! If it isn't with a "holy kiss" (shouldn't we bring that back to church?) it is with a litany of hello's or verses that should be tattooed on our hearts: "Finally beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worth of praise, think about these things."
Again we get to hear an entire book--that of Colossians. Much of it seems to be Ephesians Vol II. We have these wonderful paragraphs about how we should treat each other and I find myself thinking, "Wow! You go Paul!" And then he goes and talks about wives and husbands and slaves. Again I hear the contortions, and the historical relevance--but it is hard after the way these verses have been used to keep people in bondage--both physical and otherwise! I know all this stuff, but you have to understand why someone who hasn't grown up surrounded with the wonderful nurture of Vacation Bible School is not willing to go back to 1st Century Relational Rules. Even if they were revolutionary for his time! Are we willing to be that revolutionary in ours?
So many questions have arisen from this experience. What happened to the letter to the Laodiceans? Why didn't it make the New Testament? Who was going around spreading stories about Paul? Seems like every letter has some section where he is having to defend his credentials? The more I listen, the more I am coming to believe that we have really neutered the Bible--and maybe with good reason!
Maybe all of this IS the ramblings of a crazy heretic. But it is my salvation that is being worked out with fear and trembling! Thanks Soren! Thanks Paul!
2 comments:
I've always loved the "fear and trembling" verse, too (though I had a hard time loving Kierkegaard's book quite as much as you did). It gives me chills whenever I hear it or read it. It has the ring of truth to it. In my experience and those of so many people I know, salvation is indeed a humbling, terrifying, difficult, awe-inspiring journey. When people would ask me when I was "saved," at one time I would have told them April 9, 1995, the day I walked the aisle to pray with the pastor of a tiny church in KY. But now, if someone asked me, I would want to say, "A long time ago, and every day since, and every day from now until the day I die." I don't think it ever ends, and I don't know that I ever want it to. Progress is rarely a straight line, but I think I have made some kind of strange, often imperceptible progress along the path toward a life more filled with Jesus. On the one hand, I've had to fight hard for whatever ground I've gained, but on the other, I was powerless to make anything happen. It makes me think of the parable of the farmer, the one you preached on recently. We're the farmer, working the soil, planting the seed, making sure it has enough sunlight and water. But then all we can do is go to sleep, because only God can make it grow. The relationship between grace and works often seems like a paradox to me, but I don't know why I should be surprised. Christianity is full of paradoxes.
Paul himself seems to be a paradox at times. Here he is again giving women stricter rules than men, ordering them to submit. But he also favorably mentions women who worked with him, alongside him, presumably doing the same kind of thing he was doing, seemingly as equals. I wish we knew more about Euodia and Syntyche and Nympha. Elsewhere, Paul gives names of other women who were important in his ministry. It doesn't sound like they were always sitting silenty.
Colossians is so quotable. I think I memorized the better part of those verses in various Bible study groups over the years. A lot of it we've heard before, but he puts it so well. I found myself, as I have on previous days, repeating certain verses along with the actors, although sometimes my words were a little different since I always read the NIV when I was younger. This listening discipline has shown me, or reminded me, of how important the Bible has been in my journey, even the parts that I have trouble making sense of or that rub me the wrong way. Those words are a part of me.
Amen, Stacy, so much here is familiar! And how deep the warmth reaches when these familiar passages are read. Even after struggling through the parts of Paul's letters where my blood pressure goes through the ceiling, I am immediately reassured by the beautiful phrases he uses in describing God's love for us, Christ's sacrifice and the loving way we should approach each other. Because his letters open and close with such warmth, I find myself liking Paul more than I hate him this time around! (I fully realize that isn't what this is about - but I'm sharing my experience for whatever it's worth.)
More than any other emotion, I feel gratitude - for the church's early leaders who recorded these events on which we can study and reflect; for my parents and other family members who gave me an early introduction to the power of holy scripture; to my current church family, among whom I experience God's love; but most of all, for God's grace and Christ's love for me. Me! Even flawed, imperfect, stubborn, and at times arrogant, me! Isn't that ultimately what Paul wanted to convey? Perhaps he wrote those letters to people thousands of years ago, but when I hear them, I can feel almost as if he were writing to me.
Praise God.
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