Title: The Gospel is a Battle!
The gospel is a battle!
Philippians 1:21-30, Third Sunday of Creation, September 18, 2011
Paul, who is writing a letter to the Philippian community, is now in prison. Two thousand years ago, prisons in the era of Roman rule were so poor that even a strong person could not endure them. Paul was a sick man. I have lived with the disease all my life. The physical pain he had to endure in prison was hard to describe in words. No matter how deep your faith, you cannot easily overcome this situation. Another important point in understanding Paul's life is the fact that he was not recognized by the core Christian powers at the time. Although Paul is now recognized as second to Peter, he was not at all like that at the time. He was a troubled man from the point of view of Judaism in Jerusalem. So they would send representatives to the community Paul had established and point out Paul's mistakes. Paul could not bear this pressure and eventually gave up his mission in Asia Minor and moved to Greece. One of the earliest churches established in the field of new missions is the Philippian Church. It is said that Paul was tormented both inside and outside the church.
Christ is life
Gospel and Suffering
Paul summed up the matter theologically in verse 29 like this: “It has been granted to you on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him.” Paul referred to such a life as a battle. It is said that such a battle applies not only to Paul, who is now in prison, but also to everyone in the Philippian community (verse 30). Faith and suffering are presented here as a bundle. In the Christian faith, faith and suffering are not separated. In order to live it with Christian spirituality, we have to fight inevitably. Stefan Essel, in the book Be Wrath, called out to be angry with injustice. Anger is evidence of knowing the difference between right and wrong. More precisely, it's proof that you're alive. Do you believe that Jesus Christ of the cross and resurrection is life? Then do not be afraid to fight the forces that oppose life. The suffering that comes along the way is proof that our faith is alive. Amen.