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he signs are there but no one is salvation with fear and trembling” (2:12
exactly sure what to do. When as- KJV). The context suggests that he was re-
Tsembly meetings conclude, nearly ferring to the salvation (or preservation) of
everyone leaves. Even if there is a break the assembly, which was being threatened
between meetings, only a few gather to by internal division, however small that
chat while many sit looking at their phones, might have been.
waiting for the next meeting to begin. How were the Philippian believers, and
When it does, we read between the lines of how are we today, able to save the local
a brother’s sermon, attempting to discover assembly from division and potential col-
whom he is targeting. Sadly, the pulpit lapse? Paul tells us in his glorious Christo-
has been turned into an opportunity to logical section preceding this exhortation.
air grievances. The Lord’s Supper is filled The answer lies in having the mind (at-
with long pauses for lack of preparation. titude) of Christ. “In humility … treat one
Hardly anything fresh is shared in worship another as more important than yourself.
about the Lord Jesus. Attendance at prayer Each of you should be concerned not only
meetings is poor. It’s hard to meet to pray about your own interests, but about the
for one another when you’re not getting interests of others … have the same attitude
along. How can a local church be saved toward one another that Christ Jesus had”
when such things are happening? Is it too (2:3-5 NET). So I treat that brother’s opinion
late? Is there any hope? as more valuable than mine. I place that
Sometimes we think the answer lies out- sister’s need ahead of my own. I’m willing
side. We invite a preacher from elsewhere to be wronged. I refuse to retaliate. I don’t
to speak to us, but nothing changes. We push for my way but adopt the mindset of
might organize an emergency prayer meet- Christ who took “the form of a servant, and
ing, and it makes things worse because our … humbled himself” (2:7-8).
public petitions can be loaded with accusa- If such an answer sounds unattainable,
tion and self-justification. As strange as it Paul adds this encouragement: “For it is
may sound, preaching or praying in and of God who works in you, both to will and to
itself is not the solution as to how a church work for his good pleasure” (2:13 ESV). We
can be saved. Thankfully, the apostle Paul need not necessarily look outside our own
addressed such a situation in his letter to assemblies for help. The God who saved
the Philippians. A disagreement between us, who brought us together, who led us
sisters threatened the unity of the assembly to gather as a local church is in us, able to
(Php 4:2). He warned the believers about work to accomplish His will if we yield to
selfish ambition and conceit (2:3), about Him. The way to save your church is not
grumblings and disputes (2:14). And he through preaching or praying or praising,
told the assembly, although not in as seri- but by practicing the mindset of Christ.
ous a situation as articulated in this article, And even if you’re the only person who
that they were to “work out [their] own does, that’s a good place to start.

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