This week I’ve been studying Philippians 2:1-4. In verse one Paul prepared the Philippians for the radical perspective he was going to encourage to believe and live, contained in verses two through four. Several scholars understand at least the first half of verse one as Paul using the strength of his relationship with the Philippians to prepare them for his exhortation. If that is the case, we have an example in Paul of how to approach our Christian brothers and sisters with hard truths, how to approach our brothers and sisters with exhortation to live different.
First of all, there is a plethora of evidence in the Bible that we are to say hard things to our brothers and sisters in Christ. We have a responsibility to do that. We are to tell them when we see sin in there life, behavior or character (Matthew 18:15). We are to stimulate (the Greek word implies that some of what we say will be hard for them to hear) one another toward love and good deeds (Hebrews 10:24). We are to speak the truth in love so that we help each other grow up in all aspects as a Christ-follower (Ephesians 4:15).
Now, here is what we may learn from Paul’s example. The two words in Philippians 2:1, NASB translates as “encouragement” and “consolation” give similar word-pictures. They envision a person coming alongside someone else, like putting their arm around a friend to have a talk with them. The reason for doing this is to make an appeal to them to think and/or act differently. But, it’s not with a judgmental attitude. It is out of love.
· We don’t stay back when we see an issue a brother in Christ needs to grow in. We come alongside.
· We don’t lob attacks at them from a distance. We put our arm around them.
· We don’t launch right into criticism. We let them know our care and concern for them.
· We don’t hold back from speaking the truth, even if the truth is hard. Telling them is the loving thing.
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