By Michael Sherer, executive director of technology services and innovation
Scripture: Philippians 2:5-11 (NRSV)
Some 35 years ago, my bride-to-be and I selected Philippians 2:5-11 for our wedding meditation. While not explicitly aimed at husbands and wives, it seemed to be a worthy model for all Christian relationships – that each of us would put on the mind of Christ and model both servanthood and radical obedience to God. In the years since, I’m sure there have been many times where each of us has fallen short of that call to put on the mindset of Christ. But I’ve never once regretted the choice of that passage as the foundation for durable lifelong commitment. Christ Jesus sets the standard for how we relate to one another, and it’s a high standard.
In a divisive era, putting on the mindset of Christ in *all* our relationships is a prophetic call. What would that look like? How would we behave differently? Would we confront more or less? Would we march, or pray, or both? What would radical obedience mean in our context? Would we tweet about it or post it to our Facebook status? What does servanthood look like when the people who need our help most are on the other side of the world? Or are they? Perhaps they’re just down the street. At this point, I have more questions than answers, but isn’t Christian faith more about asking the right questions than having the right answers? If we ask the right questions and listen with the right spirit, the God of the universe may well answer. That is the wisdom that we seek. That is the in-breaking of God we need.
Amen.
Scripture: Philippians 2:5-11 (NRSV)
Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, 6who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, 7but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, 8he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death— even death on a cross. 9Therefore God also highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, 10so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.