Lesson 8

QUALITIES OF A CHURCH

Rev. Stanley L. Derickson Ph.D.

COPYRIGHT 2004

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ENLIGHTENING
(Phil. 2:12-18)

12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
14 Do all things without murmurings and disputings:
15 That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;
16 Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither labored in vain.
17 Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all.
18 For the same cause also do ye joy, and rejoice with me.

12. Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

What a passage - you obeyed when I was with you which would be expected - when someone was watching - and more so when Paul was away from them - not necessarily to be expected.

Paul praises them for obedience when they probably didn't have anyone watching - how well do we do with that one - how obedient are we when we know no one is watching?

Work out your salvation - we know that we don't work for our salvation so we know this passage is speaking of something else.

What is Paul speaking about is the question. Some translations use the term cultivate rather than work which may relate to our question.

The term translated “own” can relate to plural and in the context here plural would fit well - he is telling the church to cultivate their salvation. Isn't that what we do when we come to church - when we come to Bible study - some of us cultivate more than others, but we all work at our believership if you will.

The word “work” is normally translated work, but has a little more to it than just working a job. It relates to an effort that fulfills or accomplishes something. Now "work" today relates to the same thing but most would relate it simply to the job and work, rather than to the accomplishment of that work. Indeed, many today would wonder if they are accomplishing anything in their jobs.

As a church body we are to labor toward accomplishing things in our corporate body. This might relate to the edification that Paul speaks of in Eph. 4 when he speaks of the leadership training the people to go out and do the work of the Lord.

If we aren't accomplishing something in our church why do we bother? Going to church week in and week out and never seeing anything change. Preaching and teaching that just reiterates all we've been hearing for years - what is accomplished from such work? Little I fear.

"Fear and trembling" is translated "awe and reverence" in the Net Bible. Their foot note states that Paul is drawing their attention to their attitude before God - they are to deal with their salvation as though they know that they are dealing with God and that they need to have a proper attitude about it.

13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of [his] good pleasure.

(Now that is a good Calvinist verse - something to beat the Armenian over the head with - something to prove their system correct.)

We are to cultivate with fear because it is God that works within us. He works in us to will and to do - according to His good pleasure.

Again, what does that mean?

"Worketh" is a word that is akin to our word energize - to work through - to show forth through. God energizes us to show Himself through us.

"To will" has the thought of to love - to desire to - purpose - to take delight in - seems to relate to God desiring to do the work that is mentioned.

"To do" relates to showing activity. God seems to work in us - to energize us - to show Himself forth through us.

This is why we should cultivate in fear - if we don't cultivate properly we hinder His working in and through us to show Himself to others through us.

Example: A believer that is not cultivating is not allowing God to work in and through them and is in effect hindering the work that God wants to do. Now, I would fear that situation - not that I would fear hell, but I would fear facing Him and finding He is displeased with me.

One that believes yet does not attend the services of the church, does not partake in the activities of the church, and does not participate in fellowship with the church or their Savior is one that is not cultivating and in effect is hindering God's purpose and will.

Now back to the Calvinist - not sure this is the passage for them - anyone twisting this to say that God is soveriegn and doing whatever He wants in a person seems to be misunderstanding the passage. It seems to be a mutual working, He is doing the leading, empowering, and equiping, while we do the rest. If we are doing it His way then we worketh out our salvation properly or cultivate it correctly.

14. Do all things without murmurings and disputings:

Oh come on, doing things without disputing is bad enough but to ask us to do it without murmurings - that is too much to ask. Murmuring can be translated secret debate or secret displeasure. Hummm, seems to me that murmuring brings pleasure to the one doing it so this must mean that it is displeasure of the way others are doing things.

We had the privilege of going to orientation with a mission. Part of the orientation was labor - we were placed in physical cleaning, fixing and general displeasureable work to see how we worked with others.

We had a single man that was a total goof off - he would sit and talk while the rest of us were working hard. He would go from one group to another wasting time.

The group was becoming more and more frustrated with the kid but few were verbalizing their disgust. Most were trying to show their patience with him by not saying anything.

The amount of "murmuring" to themselves became quite evident one afternoon - someone started to tell him what they thought of his lazy attitude and before it was over almost everyone had chimed in with a few choice comments.

I often wondered if he wasn't a plant from the mission to see how we would handle the bum. He had been through orientation once before and had been asked back for a second time - this could have been a plant or it may have been they were working on his lazy streak.

Disputing also relates to that which goes on internally. It is talking to one's self as in a dispute.

Most people that know me know that I am a computer nut. When something new comes out you have my total interest. The fact that I am typing this on a portable folding keyboard with my pocket computer attached should confirm what I say.

When a new product comes on the market, one of the first things I do is dialog with myself. Do I need that new toy? Can I really use that toy? Can we afford to buy that toy? After I get that toy will I really use it? What will I do with that other toy that will be displaced by this new toy? Can I justify having two toys that serve the same general purpose? I carry on quite an internal dialog with myself. When frustrated with others, we often carry on this sort of dialog with ourselves, probably trying to justify our incorrect feelings toward the other party.

Paul tells us to do all things with out internal griping and moaning, and without internal arguments about the doing.

15 That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;

We need to break this verse down into smaller bites. Paul did not operate in our modern day situation where we use sound bites - he used sound orations.

"That ye may be blameless" Blameless relates to without fault or deserving no censure. Not only are we to be without fault but we are to be without reason to censure - that last item may indicate that we should not even have a situation where someone might suggest we have a problem.

"And harmless" This word relates to purity as in wine or metal - something that has nothing mixed in - in this context you might say no mixture of evil.

Now, that is of note to the Christian of today. No mixture of evil - that eliminates the Sunday Christian that turns into a worldly Christian Monday morning. It eliminates the "occasional" lie; it eliminates the "occasional" whatever you might insert into the discussion.

"The sons of God" This normally would relate to a believer - one that is saved by the blood and indeed this is true, but the word relates to a relationship between the two - a personal relationship. One that is cultivated and meaningful to both parties.

Again this leaves out the Sunday Christian - one that attempts to be a son or daughter on Sundays but ignores the relationship other days of the week.

The word is used of the disciple’s relationship to the teacher - a very close relationship that is nurtured. Does that sound like your relationship with God?

"Without rebuke" This would be one that cannot be censured - blameless. No one can point the finger of accusation at you might be the thought of the word.

In our day that is a ruff qualification. Almost anyone can point an accusing finger at anyone they want and the accusation normally sticks.

I wonder how this might relate to first impressions when we meet other people. Don't we often draw conclusions and stick with those conclusions until they are proven incorrect, rather than accept someone for who they are and see how time adds information to our perception?

When I returned to my home town after being away to the service for a few years I took a job with a department store in the service department. The town’s folks had no idea what had transpired in my life in that five years - they just assumed I was the same as before - a hood - someone that no one wanted to be around.

Many people called my employer and told him not to send me to their homes and that they would not allow me to enter if I were to be sent.

Two points - they assumed I was not responsible and secondly I could be rebuked - they had basis (from the past) to censure me.

I must admit I did not get too concerned with these people because I understood why they didn't want me around, though a second chance would have been nice.

"In the midst of a crooked and perverse nation" This is the Greek word "skolios" which I believe is the basis of the malady called scoliosis or curvature of the spine. This is the thought of the word - froward, crooked or curved.

“Perverse” is to be against the plans of God. These types of people are really going away from God and working against what He wants to do.

The tense is of interest - not only are they crooked and perverse but that is their ongoing character and it will not change - this is a perfect tense. It is something that is true now and will be into the future to a final end.

We don't need to worry about who our enemy is - the world is against all that God wants to do in and through you - now you know why you have a hard time being a witness in the work place, however the next phrase is the key - like it or not we are effective if we walk with Him.

"Among whom ye shine as lights in the world;" What a promise - be pure of spirit and you will be a light IN the world.

We are lights shining - why? We are to be a guide to those that seek safety - one that can guide others to the Savior. We are to be luminaries to draw attention, not to ourselves, but to the Lord our Savior.

16 Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.

They hold forth the word of life to the lost around them, to those that are away from God, to those that are against God.

Paul desires this of them so that he can know when he stands before the Lord that he has done a good job of discipling these people - that he has trained them to do the work of the Lord in a proper manner.

My, how this truth should resonate with pastors, teachers and missionaries. If they are not to feel their work and effort was not vain, they need to train their people to be lights in the world, not just like the world.

Personal opinion, many pastors are not accomplishing this in their churches. I have seen so many Christians that are not lights, but rather enablers of the lost to continue in their erroneous ways.

I have seen believers encouraging lost people in their sins, encouraging them to continue with things that they like to do no matter the rightness or wrongness. Woe unto these believers and woe to the pastors and teachers that have failed them.

The "word of life" is literally logos, the term used of Christ and "zoe" which is a general word for life itself. "Zoe" is life and when linked with "eternal" relates to eternal life. I suspect Paul was speaking in generalities, of life in general, though eternal life is most likely a portion of his thought. Not only are we to be sharing eternal life, but sharing the word that can change life in general. Have you seen many Christians that have not changed their entire physical lives when they become children of the King.

Christ and the Spirit change our entire beings, or ought to. The pastors and teachers should be attempting to share the Word in such a way that the believer can continue to mold and change their lives into what the Lord wants for them in this life. The Spirit can use the teaching of those in the church to minister to those that have need of change.

If a congregation is not getting fed from the pulpit and lectern, then there is little use in taking up the space and time. Either feed the flock or get out of the way and let someone else do your job.

17 Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all.

"I be offered" is the word "spendo" where we get our word spend. It has the idea of one being poured out for God's purpose - one that is sacrificed.

Service is a term that is used of one taking office to serve the public at one's own expense. It is also used of the relationship between husband and wife - one of self sacrificing service.

“Rejoice” is the joy one takes at seeing the other person’s joy; that of giving to someone and seeing their joy over your gift.

It seems that Paul is very pleased with his service to the believers - he has offered himself to the Lord for His service and that service is bringing him to the end of having joy in seeing the believer’s joy in the Lord over their salvation.

One must wonder how many in the congregation have ever considered this thought of self sacrificing for God; that giving of themselves to the rest of the people as a service to God. How many real servants do we have in our churches? How many are giving of themselves to further the lives of others?

In our self centered world there is little self sacrificing going on. There are usually a few in every church that see the need and do their best to fill it, but find themselves totally exhausted in the attempt over time.

Many pastors on internet boards would say that they are self sacrificing. They are working their fingers to the bones for the church. Yet, when viewing their congregation they discount greatly those that work full time jobs, have families and all those related responsibilities and still find time to give of themselves to people and the church. Pastors often forget that they are paid to do the work that they are privileged to do, while those of his church do all they do on their own nickel.

I think many pastors fail to see the sacrifice that many of their people give for their Lord in light of why don't they do more? Yes, some pastors give of themselves as well, but many there are that stop at forty hours and do no more. In fact whether the forty was spent wisely in ministry could probably be questioned.

The larger point of course is that WE ALL SHOULD BE SELF SACRIFICING not just the pastor and not just a few of the people - ALL!

18 For the same cause also do ye joy, and rejoice with me.

This verse finishes his thought of joy in service. Not only does he have joy over their joy but they also have joy over his joy - one big happy family might be the thought.

Oh, the pastor leaving his church should have such joy and his people should have such joy. It is sad to see men leaving a group after pouring long hours and months into a group and having to leave in less than joyous circumstances.

I once spoke to a pastor that had just resigned and I asked him of his leaving. His feeling was that there would be no sorrow over it on the part of the church. His impression was that he was a total failure in his efforts with the people. He had assisted in building the church up numbers wise and seemed the type that would have done a good job of teaching the folks into maturity, yet he felt failure because the people had become unresponsive to his leading. His leaders would not follow, and indeed some were quite offensive to him.

This is not the situation that church people and pastors should allow to develop. Joy should be the hallmark of the church, not unhappiness. Not always the real situations in a local church this joy.

The specific context is the possible passing of the apostle from this life to the next. He calls upon them to "joy, and rejoice with me." He was going to be happy so they also should be happy. This is the Christian's view of death. It is a joy to go home to be with the Lord. It should be something of happiness to know a loved one is home with His Lord.

Recently a mountain climber was found dead in a snow cave after a week of people searching for him. His pastor was quite delicate as he related his thoughts, but quite definite in the proper attitude. He related that the man had gone to sleep on a mountain that God made, a mountain that the man loved to climb, and that he was now at home with the maker of the mountains. His thought was that how much better does it get for a believer to go to sleep doing what he loved to do where he loved to do it and waking up in the presence of the Lord and King he loved.

APPLICATION:

1. Ray Stedman relates that obey does not have the connotation of obeying laws, it relates rather to the idea of knowing the laws and staying within them. He relates it to the laws of electricity. We are to enjoy the electricity, but we do have a few rules of engagement. If we stay within these rules we enjoy the product.

Now maybe I am just dense but if I don't obey those rules of engagement with electricity I will look to be disengaged from this life. I don't know how you want to spin the idea of obey, but obey in this case means obey or else. He goes to great length to say that it does not mean as in obey or else, but even his illustrations suggest he is incorrect in his struggle to make obedience something better and more easy to accept than it is.

His efforts are to dispel the idea that Christianity is a series of laws to be obeyed. Well it is in one respect, but if we have the Spirit within we know the rules and seriously want to live within those rules. In the end this is what Stedman was trying to say, but I think his spin was lacking at best.

He wants to make Christianity look great to the lost by proving that it isn't a lot of does and don'ts, when in fact that is exactly what it is. The point is that if we are believers we know the limits and we live within them because we desire to please God, not that we are obeying a list of does and don'ts.

I am not sure why preachers want to evade what Christianity truly is by saying it isn't such. Any intelligent being reading the Word of God knows it is a long listing of things we are to do and a series of things that we are not to do. This seems to be a list of does and don'ts to me, but then what do I know. If they want to put a spin on that to make it more pleasing for the lost then that is up to them, but it seems to be dishonest to me. Either it is or it isn't a life of does and don'ts.

The problem isn't with the reality of Christianity it is the point of view. If you are lost, you will view it as does and don'ts and if you are a believer you will view it as the Christian life. Illustrations can make it look like something it is not but again, I would suggest that doing that is dishonest.

His next sentence is "First of all he [Paul] points out the necessity for intelligent obedience." Humm, if it is about "intelligent obedience" is it not about does and don'ts? He goes into a long illustration of teaching his daughter to drive. How he must tell her what to push, what to pull, what to do at every point. She is relying on him for direction about how to drive. He uses this to illustrate the next verse and how the folks at the church at Philippi needed to live on their own one day and not rely on his direction. Again, is that not an illustration just ripe with does and don'ts?

To sum up all he wanted to say, he said this. "I remember hearing Dr. Norman Grubb say that in the Christian life everything is right unless I know it is wrong. The legalist says everything' is wrong unless I know it's right. But the Christian says everything's right unless the voice of the Spirit within, coupled with the Word without says it is wrong. So go ahead and live, knowing that Christ lives in us."

I think we agree, but instead of making the Word into something to kind of float through without seeing any does and don'ts I would choose to see the Word as it is, a guide to life. A guide that tells me not to do things, and a guide that tells me to do other things. This is reality and the lost can view it as they like. Their view is not through clear eyes.

I would also add quite quickly that everything is right IF THE BELIEVER is walking with God and the Spirit within is a positive voice. A believer that is not walking with God is one that has quieted the voice of the Spirit and probably is not seeking the Word's direction in life, thus not all is "RIGHT."

2. The phrase "work out your own salvation with fear and trembling." seems to be a problem to many scholars as they rush to present their own theological views position on the text. Gill uses a lot of verbiage to declare that salvation is all of God and that it is none of man before he really gets to the point of the verse. His line of thought is that since his position is true, then this verse cannot mean something else.

He relates the entire thought to how we live our entire Christian life in relation to the command to witness and disciple.

I tend to agree with his position, but I trust I don't arrive at that position the way he did. He arrived at the ending point by declaring what the text isn't saying, and then concluding what it must be saying. This is not the best way to interpret Scripture to say the least.

Work, according to the lexicon, has the connotation of preparing to be adequate. This would indicate that this relates to the process of our deliverance, rather than the act that makes us delivered. We are saved by the work of Christ on the cross, while our preparedness for that salvation is something that we can have a part in.

This is the crux of the Christian life. We are to carefully put one foot in front of the other throughout our Christian life in assuring our proper preparation for the end result. Didn't Paul speak of running the race properly, didn't he labor his entire life to please God? This ought to be the goal of all believers, to work toward a proper and respectable end to our journey toward our ultimate goal - salvation complete with Him in eternity.

This requires some things on our part.

a. That we are maintaining a proper relation with Him so that we are aimed the right direction.
b. That we are maintaining a proper attitude toward other believers so that we are assisted in our travel.
c. That we are maintaining a proper desire toward Him so that we are always focused properly.
d. That we are maintaining all aspects of our lives so that we are always positioned for that ultimate exit from this life so that we arrive in His presence in a properly packaged manner.

This seems to relate directly with verse fifteen's idea of being blameless.

3. How do we relate to our own generation? Are we light in darkness, or are we just part of the darkness? We are to be blameless - that will mark us in this life as light. It will cause our light to shine forth before our fellow man. We will not have a choice in the manner; we will stand out from the entire world. This isn't a bad thing folks. I get the feeling that to be a standout is a bad thing in our society.

We cannot oppose anything lest we stand in opposition to anything. We should not stand against abortion, it is their right. We should not stand against homosexuality; it is just how they were born. We should not stand against divorce, it is just the way it is - it just didn't work out.

In reality, if we stand against any of the items mentioned we will be automatically a shining light house in the mire of the world. Or should I say we will be a shining target to be aimed at by every detractor of our time. Oh well, that is what God wants so be it and praise Him for it.

4. Constable mentions "We obtain salvation by receiving it as a gift (Eph. 2:8), but having received it freely we have a responsibility to perfect it." No disagreement here, but he goes on to say that this is sanctification. Not sure there is agreement there however. I would suggest that it is much more than sanctification, it relates as well to our belief system. If our beliefs are askew, then how can our sanctification be correct? If we follow wrong teaching our sanctification may be based on poor if not erroneous principles, thus we might be walking in sin.

Preachers often scoff at theology, yet they know that theology is the basis of all proper living, and proper understanding of God and His desires for our lives. If our theology is on target, and if we desire to walk with God, then our living/sanctification will be on target as well.

I fear many a preacher/teacher desires that others live as they live, not necessarily as theology would dictate that they live. This is one of the causes of friction between pastors and congregations. If the pastor believes one thing and the congregation another, then the pastor is always trying to browbeat the congregation into submission to HIS belief system, not necessarily God's system.

We are each as individuals believer priests before God. We each have the Spirit of God living within for our guidance and teaching. If we then are in the Word, ought the Spirit not be teaching each of us? If this is the case then if the pastor teaches counter to the Spirit's teaching ought we not follow the Spirit? Of course we should. If the pastor teaches counter to the Spirit or the Word then he speaks falsely and ought to be rebuked for his false teaching - ya right - I can see that happening in the current clerical society of our day. You know, that society where the congregation can't possibly properly understand the Bible without years of Greek and Hebrew; that society where the preacher is the total authority within the church; that society where the leaders dictate the happenings of the church to the congregation for the carrying out; that society were the preacher is always right and the congregant is always wrong; that society where the preacher is the "Lord's anointed" and the congregant is the servant of same.

Preachers get over yourselves; you have no special keys to spiritual life. You have no special illumination to the Word. You have no special anointing to dictatorship. You have no special anything that raises you above your congregation. They can come before God in the same manner as you. They can be taught by the Spirit in the same manner as you. They can be guided into sanctified living in the same manner as you.

We are ONE body - all in the same boat - the boat where we need the Lord's help to navigate life's turbulent waters. The Word and the Spirit are our guide to working out our own salvation and that is why Paul said to do it with fear and trembling. We ALL are to do it very carefully as we walk toward eternity with Him.

If I see that the Word tells me one thing and the pastor/teacher is telling me another, it is up to me to follow what the Lord has revealed to me. It is also incumbent upon me to be sure that what I believe is truly correct.

Many pastors today demand obedience to all that they believe, otherwise the other person is somewhere on the continuum between just incorrect to heretic. Not a good method to guide a church. The little differences are of little importance, each should seek God's guidance on those things. Today's church is so totally splintered due to this nit picking of minor doctrines that little is being done.

Much of the church hopping we have going on today is due to this thought that PASTOR is correct. Anyone being found disagreeing with any point of PASTOR'S teaching is made to feel out of place if not totally uncomfortable.

Years ago we entered an Independent Baptist church for Sunday school and when the pastor got up for his thoughts he reeled of a long laundry list of things that you most certainly believe if you were a true believer. His list had many things that were a long way from salvific and the implication was that you were lost without these "key" doctrines. It was of interest that with each and every point he leaned forward and stared at us as if to say, if you don't hold these things you should leave now. We did since I didn't think that King James Only ism was salvific in nature as well as several other of his points.

In another church we had hardly seated ourselves when the pastor shoved a doctrinal statement into my hand with the statement, "This is what we believe." It was as if, we don't know why you are here, but this is what we believe and you are not welcome if you don't buy it all.

Yes, I might have read into the situations more than was meant, but why on earth would a pastor challenge a newcomer with minors when the point of all we do should be salvation for others? At least with the printed doctrinal statement we were kind of exposed to the gospel along with the odd doctrines that they held which were not winners or losers in the area of salvation.

The 2006 Barna reports state that the house church movement is growing drastically. Why? Because in those small groups people can find a few that agree with them to fellowship with rather than get into the Word to discover what the truth really is.

This isn't the whole reason for the drastic increase but it is one of the major ones I would think.

5. Paul may have been referring to the Old Testament drink/pour offering mentioned in Gen. 35.14 "And Jacob set up a pillar in the place where he talked with him, even a pillar of stone: and he poured a drink offering thereon, and he poured oil thereon." or in Ex. 29.40 "And with the one lamb a tenth deal of flour mingled with the fourth part of an hin of beaten oil; and the fourth part of an hin of wine for a drink offering. 41 And the other lamb thou shalt offer at even, and shalt do thereto according to the meat offering of the morning, and according to the drink offering thereof, for a sweet savour, an offering made by fire unto the LORD." However some authors suggest that since the Philippian believers probably weren't well versed in the Old Testament that he may have been using the picture of the pagan offerings poured out on idols.

Now, that might be, but let's think about it for a moment. Paul has taught these folks and taught them well. What was he teaching them? Was he teaching them the New Testament only? Not likely since some of it hadn't been written and none of it had been compiled into a Testament. He would have been teaching them the Old Testament and information that he had received from the Lord Himself.

It is most likely that they knew of the Old Testament sacrifices so would have immediately seen his words as relating to that offering to God.

6. The Life Application Bible mentions "Our life should be characterized by moral purity, patience, and peacefulness, so that we will "shine brightly" in a dark and depraved world."

Do you believe this to be the truth?
Do you believe that you fulfill this truth?
Do you believe that your family fulfills this truth?
Do you believe that your church family fulfills this truth?

Does moral purity include watching perverse television/movies? Does it allow for taking in all of the swearing, crudeness and immorality?

Does moral purity include telling things that are not true to your fellow workers? Fellow believers?

Does moral purity include reading books that are full of the items mentioned under television?

Does moral purity include what you allow into your thought life?

Does patient include how you act in the long line at the checkout stand?

Does patience include how you act when you are being treated shabbily in the business place?

Does peacefulness allow for how you conduct your home life?

Does peacefulness allow for how you treat your coworkers?

Does peacefulness allow for how you tread your fellow believers at church?

If not then you are not the bright light that you should be in the world around you.

We are called to be the beacon to save souls from the rocks of destruction. The light house in days past was the only thing that kept ships from foundering on the rocks. If we are not the beacons that we should be, lost people will surely find destruction.

Can you imagine if someone gathered the people you work with and associate with during the week and asked them of your life would they suggest that you are a light in the dark?