Philippians 2: the heart of humility

Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind.  Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:

who, being in very nature God,
   did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
rather, he made himself nothing
   by taking the very nature of a servant,
   being made in human likeness.

And being found in appearance as a man,
   he humbled himself
   by becoming obedient to death –
      even death on a cross!

Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
   and gave him the name that is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
   in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
   to the glory of God the Father.

Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed – not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence – continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfil his good purpose.

Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, ‘children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.’ Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labour in vain.  But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you.  So you too should be glad and rejoice with me.

Philippians 2:1-18

It was preparing a study on this passage my late teens that I first discovered the doctrine of sanctification, as I pondered the phrase 'work out your salvation' (2:12).  As I come again to this passage, I realise that sanctification and humility are one and the same.

Humility can be a prickly concept.  On the surface, it is generally viewed as a positive virtue - I daresay as a result of the impact of Christianity on our culture.  However, there is also a message alongside this of loving oneself, not being afraid to take up the space we need, and fighting for what we need.  It is true that there can be a framing of these things within Christian thought (although it will look different from our secular culture), but the Christian concept of humility is still wildly radical and challenging.

One of the reasons humility before another being (and I include a deity or deities in that) is so contentious is because it can be abused: the wife submitting to a domineering husband, and losing her identity and gifts as a result.  Or take that further - human beings submitting to a god who is a self-centered despot whose sole aim is to make everyone do their bidding, possibly not unlike Richard Dawkins' most unpleasant character in fiction.

However, this passage shows us that humility, placing others above ourselves, and being free from selfishness or vanity, are things that come from the very God we worship.  Paul charges the Philippians to have the same love [as Christ] and to be one in Spirit (2:4).  He urges them to have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:

who, being in very nature God,
   did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
rather, he made himself nothing
   by taking the very nature of a servant,
   being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man,
   he humbled himself
   by becoming obedient to death –
       even death on a cross!

(Philippians 2:5-8)

Note that Jesus did not deny that he was God, much in the same way that we should not deny that we are made in his image, and are valued by him enough for him to die for us.  But Jesus laid aside all that he had and made himself nothing, by taking the nature of a servant.  We've spent a lot of time thinking about how this was demonstrated in the incarnation, when Jesus came as a baby, but how much more so is this message reinforced when we come to Easter and he dies a criminal's death, becoming obedient to death - even death on a cross! (2:8).

And so, it is as we let the Spirit of God work in us, allowing him in, that we have our hearts changed.  This is not just a resolution to be better, out of guilt or obligation, to make up for some lack in us.  This is us in Christ and he in us - for it is God who works in you to will and act in order to fulfil his good purpose (2:13).

One important point: it should be noted that the context of this passage is talking about within the community of believers (in your relationships with one another).  Of course, this does not limit us to believers in those we take in on ourselves to serve and prioritise the interests of, but it does mean that this passage in no way condones the abuse of the vulnerable.  The charge is to everyone, and if everyone is to follow these principles, then no one's humility should be abused.  Of course, church communities are not perfect, but one has to call into question the salvation (and therefore the inclusion in the definition of 'one another') of those who continue to unrepentantly abuse others.

But what would our church communities look like, and our families, marriages and other relationships for that matter, if we truly 'died to self' and always looked to the interests of others?  There are two things that will happen.  The first, which is by no means insignificant, is that the body of Christ will be build up with equality, unity and diversity, as each person is supported and able to serve.  However, there is also a second impact - the one quoted by Jesus himself at the table with his friends:

'A new command I give you: love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.’ (John 13:34-35)

Paul echoes this sentiment (Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky) - this is something radical, and a way of being that will bring others to Christ.