Gallup recently released a study that showed that membership in a church, synagogue, or mosque had fallen below a majority for the first time in the history of our nation! The decline seems to clearly represent an increasing number of folks who are abandoning their faith in God altogether.
The line held relatively steady between 1937 and 1999, beginning at 73% and dropping to 70%. But, since 1999 the decline has increased speed losing an average of one percent each year. In 2020, just 47% of Americans said they belonged to a church, synagogue, or mosque.
There is certainly a refining taking place within the American Church. At the end of last year, Thom Rainer suggested that church attendance and giving will be down overall by 20-30%. Furthermore, he said that the new definition of a large church will be 250 (down from 400).
Although a portion of that decline is due to the minimization of formal church membership, the vast majority of it is due to an increasing number of people who no longer have a religious preference. In other words, they have grown indifferent toward religion in general, and therefore they are unlikely to attend anywhere.
I believe much of the decline is the result of pastors who are too busy speaking to those outside the church. In all their attempts to prove their relevance, they fail to equip those actually present within the Church. By catering to the felt needs of the culture, they leave their own congregation vulnerable to the culture’s corrupting influence.
The central point Paul is making in these few verses is that the Philippians need to be on guard against false teachers who might have already come through Philippi or will be soon. He was concerned that they would remain steadfast in their commitment to the gospel.
The Philippians are facing the same threat the Galatians faced. Paul’s letter to the Galatians came after they had already deserted Christ to follow a different gospel. Therefore, he was calling them to return to the grace of the true gospel they had originally received. Clearly, that was not the situation in Philippi, but he is concerned that they preserve the gospel which brings about lasting unity.
It would appear that the Church in America is in a similar predicament. We face the unyielding threat of a hostile world that does the bidding of a defeated and furious foe. In light of that, Paul calls the Christian community to joyfully embrace the task of preserving the true gospel from satanic perversions.
Read Philippians 3:1-3
I. Be Glad in the Lord! (1)
After sharing the encouraging news of his plans to send Timothy and Epaphroditus, Paul exhorts the Philippians to rejoice in the Lord. This ought to quiet their anxious thoughts about the well being of Epaphroditus, and cheer them with the news of Timothy’s fellowship in the near future.
The question is whether or not Paul’s exhortation to rejoice had anything to do with his warning that follows (Phil 3:1b-2). I believe it does. Our experience of true joy depends upon our grasp of true religion. That is why a commitment to discipleship is so crucial.
On the one hand, Paul wants his readers to know that he is not burdened by the task of discipleship. Even if Paul has to keep repeating himself, his redundant encouragement doesn’t bother him. He knows it is how God preserves their faith against false teachers.
But, he also recognizes the potential for disciples to grow complacent and indifferent toward their training. When exercise loses its joy, we rarely stick with it. You have to love not only the results, but the work it takes to make progress.
When church attendance is little more than a dull requirement, we will soon lose interest entirely. Paul knows that his instruction and warning protects the church from a hostile environment that constantly competes for her affection.
We can easily grow discouraged by the bleak prospects of the future. At a time with the church needs bold leaders, we seem to find few who are up to the challenge. The membership of many churches is in disarray, because the leaders themselves are distracted and divided on so many issues.
The first exhortation Paul gives in this transitional passage is a theme we have already grown accustomed to hearing about (Phil 1:4, 18, 25; 2:2, 17-18, 28-29. Christians must never lose the joy of their salvation. They ought to be able to rejoice regardless of the trials they are facing. In fact, rejoicing in the Lord is so important, Paul places it before watching.
Before you buy a shelf load of books on subjects you feel inadequate to talk about (pointing at myself here), be sure that you are filled with the joy of the Lord rather than the fear of man.
Paul’s not suggesting we put on a big naive grin, and go about our day as if nothing is ever wrong with the world. He is not suggesting “Don’t worry, be happy,” as if joy were rooted in our ability to escape hardship. Rather, he is encouraging them to have the proper perspective from which they can warn others.
There is a major difference between warning others out of fear or bitterness and speaking the truth in love out of joy and contentment. The former is filled with animosity, but the later is the fruit of the Spirit.
Do you rejoice in being equipped? Does the opportunity to be strengthened in your faith and built up under the preaching of God’s Word bring you joy? I pray that you would experience an increasing interest in doctrine that leads you into a sweeter doxology.
May the leadership never tire of guarding the doctrine and practice of this church. It is our calling and responsibility to protect the flock from corrupt teaching. Many shepherds seem to avoid this task. Unlike Paul, they do consider warning about errors to be a burden. And that means that they are following the culture toward a goal that destroys Christ’s mission.
Joy reveals just how sincerely we understand the gospel of Jesus Christ. Let us meditate upon the sympathy of our Lord who died in order to give us life.When we consider the resurrection life that we partake of in Christ, the joy of the Lord will permeate our words and deeds.
› And that rejoicing is not interrupted, but protected by a proper awareness of opponents of the gospel.
II. Beware of Opponents! (2)
Paul’s tone takes a decided shift in his verse compared to the rest of the letter. One might even accuse him of losing his winsome qualities. He does not mince words in his warning of error. However, it seems clear when comparing this letter with Galatians, that he is providing a warning rather than a correction of compromise.
It seems that Paul has one particular group in mind, but he describes them with three phrases that lack any sense of subtlety or nuance. His warning is bold and direct.
1. Beware of the dogs! Paul is not referring lovable, cuddly, and loyal companions. It was a serious insult to be called a “dog”. Dogs roam about looking for anything to eat, including dead animals, feces, even their own vomit! In addition, they are dangerous and ferocious. You would not want to encounter one in the wild. It’s also a very offensive term that Paul does not employ lightly. He is deeply concerned with the divisive teaching of his opponents.
2. Beware of evil workers! Those diligently spreading their false teaching which denies the completed work of Christ.
3. Beware of those who advocate mutilation! Paul uses a play on words. Instead of circumcision (περιτομή), he calls it mutilation (κατατομή). The Judaizers taught that salvation not only required faith in Christ, but circumcision was also necessary. However, at the Jerusalem Council (Acts 15), the apostles acknowledged that there was no longer any spiritual significance attached to physical circumcision.
“A dog barks when his master is attacked. I would be a coward if I saw that God’s truth is attacked and yet would remain silent” — John Calvin
“The Christian life, then, is a battle, so sharp and full of danger that effort can nowhere be relaxed without loss.” — Huldryich Zwingli
“Those churches that deny the chief article of the faith, which is justification by faith alone, are no churches at all but synagogues of Satan” — John Knox
“From you, my dear Erasmus, let me obtain this request, that just as I bear with your ignorance in these matters, so you in turn will bear with my lack of eloquence.” ― Martin Luther
These are just a few examples of reformed writing that lacks the winsomeness that is so coveted among modern pastors. The reformers, much like Paul, were far more concerned with safeguarding the truth than with being winsome!
Although the world is oftentimes filled with hostility toward the Church, our greatest opponents frequently come from within the Church. Paul’s concern in Asia minor was that his opponents would lead believers astray with a false gospel. In other words, they would enter the church and corrupt its teaching. False teachers always replaces faith with works. They promise justification for a few key actions.
It is the task of the Christian community to preserve the true gospel from numerous perversions.
The Church can never let down her guard. Until she reaches triumphant glory, the Church must remain militant. That includes men who are watchful and ready to warn about threatening scenarios. Paul had a particular threat in mind as he was writing to these particular believers, but the principles of militant watchfulness remain just as important in every age.
I think this responsibility falls primarily upon the leadership of the church and home. Before God created Eve, he gave the task for Adam to “work and keep” the garden. That prelapsarian responsibility carries into his marriage and family. He was given the primary task of providing for their basic needs and protecting them against any threats they might face. This is what we have been talking about at Men’s Breakfast the past few months.
That doesn’t mean all of us need to be pouring over the newspaper every day, but it does mean that we invest in the lives of those God has placed under our physical and spiritual care. We don’t need to warn about every potential opponent, just the ones that are knocking on our door. Right now, there are a few glaring threats knocking on the doors of most denominations.
Husbands and fathers should make every effort to engage in conversation with their wives and children about the challenges they face in their spiritual maturity. What threatens their faith probably has absolutely nothing to do with what threatens the denomination. That won’t always be the case, but oftentimes it is. The only way we can know, is by asking questions about spiritual health.
In the midst of this, we may need to pause and examine whether we are part of the problem. Do you contribute to their spiritual complacency by your own lack of maturity? This takes us back up to the first verse. Do you delight in your own spiritual growth? Are you rejoicing in the Lord with your spouse and children, so that you know the struggles they are currently facing?
The joyful preservation of the gospel will, at times, involve the vehement correction of anyone who threatens its purity and progress. If you rejoice in the Lord, you will look out for any opponents who corrupt the salvation that brings such joy. Christ’s righteous anger shows us the importance of preserving the truth over niceness.
Jesus was full of grace and truth (John 1:14). When his opponents attacked one of those qualities, Jesus was not subtle in his rebuke. Take the example of him flipping tables in the temple and driving out the merchants with a whip. He was cleansing the temple of all that corrupted its proper use as a house of prayer. When communion with God was hindered, Christ’s compassion for the vulnerable demanded a strong correction of their abusers.
With the help of the Spirit we can protect the faith of the vulnerable filled with the grace and truth that come from Christ.
› Surely, that is one reason God has provided the Church. One of the ways we preserve the gospel is by committing to the body of Christ. Be Glad…Beware…
III. Belong in Community! (3)
“We are the circumcision” (See Gal 3:6-4:7; Rom 2:25-29). The Judaizers promote nothing more than mutilation, but we represent the true circumcision—the reality that the sign of circumcision always pointed to. We are the heirs of God’s covenant promises!
The Church is characterized as those who…
1. Worship by the Spirit. On the one hand, we recognize who we worship and come with reverence and preparation. On the other hand, we come through the agency of the Spirit. He leads us and enables us to worship in the right manner.
2. Glory in Christ Jesus. He is who we boast about. Jesus is the reason we are able to rejoice in all circumstances.
3. Put no confidence in the flesh. Since our boast is in Christ alone, we have no reason to point to any distinguishing features about ourselves. No one is superior to another because of their physical description.
True worship reflects dependence upon God. We don’t place our confidence in any work of the flesh, whether it be circumcision (Gal 6:12-15) or any pious action. As William Hendriksen explains: “In broad terms, flesh is anything apart from Christ on which one bases his hope for salvation.” We place our confidence in God and his complete plan of redemption.
Ironically, even though it is from within the Christian community that our fiercest threats often arise, we are never called to abandon that community altogether. On the contrary, we are called to recognize why we belong. Christians are called to diligently protect the centrality of worshiping by the Holy Spirit through Christ Jesus.
My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus blood and righteousness; I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus’ name.
In order to maintain that purpose, we will be called to state some harsh warnings from time to time.
The worldly culture might oppose you at every step, but you belong to a community of saints who receive their strength from God. Our purpose and confidence are restored with new mercies every morning. And as we gather for worship every week, we are challenged and equipped to practice our faith in a manner that honors God throughout the week.
Now is not the time to grow slack in your faith. As the cultural war continues to disrupt the Church, we need strong thriving communities who are steadfast in worship and uncompromising on the gospel.
As those who put no confidence in the flesh, we recognize our need for spiritual support that cannot be found online. We need the support that God has provided in the Church who gather to rejoice in the redeeming work of His Son.
All of this begins with the preservation of the gospel in our own hearts. We recognize how quickly our minds and hearts are distracted and discouraged when they are not devoted to the Word and fellowship, sacraments and prayer (Acts 2:42). It is precisely because we put so little confidence in our flesh, that we need the spiritual nourishment of God’s ordinary means of grace.
We need the regular reminder that Spirit-filled worship provides. We need the reminder that Jesus Christ is worthy of receiving glory because he took on flesh to ransom us.