Pastor's Corner: 'Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit'

We are finally in the nascent days of warmer weather here on the Hi-Line. There's still some snow on the ground, and, as of yesterday, we were still getting some flurries. But the forecasts, and the slightly-lighter jackets and layers we are sporting indicate that new patterns are on the horizon.

I, for one, welcome it with open arms and one eye on my summer shorts drawer in my dresser. Such change is welcome after a long winter. However, some change, especially after a long time, can be difficult, to say the least. Behavior patterns, traditions, expectations are set. In those circumstances change is not only difficult, but can be viewed as an enemy, no matter how much it is warranted.

Close to 2,000 years ago, such a change was taking place. Indeed, that change is still taking place. It was a change that was initiated by a man called Jesus of Nazareth, or, as his followers call him, Jesus Christ. Jesus' revolutionary way of life is highlighted in the Gospel accounts in the New Testament and commented on by other New Testament authors such as St. Paul in his several letters to churches and individuals in Rome and Asia Minor.

One such letter was the church to the Philippians and calls attention one of the approaches to life so contrasted with power and leadership as it was and is known in the first and twenty-first century. In chapter two of the Philippian letter, St. Paul quotes an early hymn of the church, celebrating and claiming Jesus Christ as Lord. To most ears today, even to those who would disagree, it is not such a strange thing to hear anyone say about someone who was not a Roman Caesar. In that time, it was common to hear people say that Caesar is Lord.

The most remarkable thing about these contrasting claims of Lordship (and divinity) is not simply that they are competing claims, but the manner in which the Caesar's attempted to stake that claim with the manner of Jesus'. The Caesar's claims were made from a position of political and military power, and frequently compelled by the might of that power. These emperors took advantage of their position and resources to exert their authority often with oppressive affect on the people and territories they had controlled.

But this Christ hymn found in Philippians 2:5-11 is quite different. It says that Jesus, even though his claim to being God was not merely a claim, he didn't consider it something to be used to his advantage. In fact, he hid himself from the world in which he lived for three decades prior to the start of his ministry. When he finally did, he revealed himself only to the least of society, calling those to be his followers who were the least qualified educationally. Calling together a group of people, many of whom would have considered themselves enemies with one another were it not for Jesus' calling and transforming them. The hymn says that Jesus made himself of no reputation.

The most successful candidates for political office, especially for president of the United States, enjoy widespread name recognition and a reputation based on their previous accomplishments and/or notorieties. Jesus didn't use his power for anything except to heal, forgive and feed. And, even then, Jesus repeatedly told those whom he'd healed not to tell anyone about it. More than that, he took the form of a servant and submitted himself to a humiliating and excruciating execution. He allowed himself to experience the oppression of the ones that had a competing claim on Lordship, and then revealed that their power was impotent to hold him in the grave when he was resurrected.

Jesus' actions, not to be outdone, are not merely the point of Paul's statement to the Philippians in the passage. At the beginning of which he says to his readers that they should have the same attitude that was in Christ Jesus. He said that they should "Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves. Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others" (Philippians 2:3-4).

You might see how difficult it is for people to change their thinking with regard to how they might make a difference in the world. Keep in mind that this is St. Paul's instruction for the church. The church is supposed to function differently from the rest of the world as Jesus did from the ways of the Caesars. One might say that Jesus was unsuccessful. It did, after all get him crucified. But I would counter that point with this. Even if you don't believe that Jesus was or is the Son of God. Even if you don't believe that he rose from the dead, think of this: Billions around the world still believe and celebrate it as fact nearly 2,000 years following. The church is still around, and although it has had its struggles, it continues to be a conduit for transformed lives and communities around the world.

Even if you don't consider yourself a Christian and even if you do, we might take another look at the way Jesus did things. Through humility and love, Jesus changed the world. If a church community can be called to do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, and for its individuals to not be concerned with their own needs but the needs of others, think of what a city or county in north-central Montana could do with the same humble approach.

As the weather changes and warms, my prayer for Havre and her surrounding communities is that the Spirit of Christ warms many hearts to humble and loving action as we celebrate the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ!

--

The Rev. Joshua D. Woods

Pastor, Havre Resurrection Church of the Nazarene