The Jeremy Lin problem
About a month ago, the New York
Times published an op-ed piece entitled, “The Jeremy Lin Problem”. In case you
don’t know who this is referring to, Jeremy Shu-How Lin is a 23-year old
Asian-American basketball player who went unnoticed for most of his career up
until February this year when he started leading the New Yorks in a string of
wins, sparking the interest of sports fans within the United States and
worldwide, in a phenomenon that has now widely come to be known as “Linsanity”.
He is a graduate from Harvard University with a degree in economics (which
explains why he is such a hit with the Tiger Mums). Unlike many basketball
personalities, Jeremy does not use coarse language on or off the court but
comes across in interviews as courteous, polite and is often heard commending
his team-mates rather than putting them down.
Yet according to columnist David Brooks, Jeremy Lin has an anomaly;
by which he is not talking about Jeremy’s ethnicity, education or athletic
ability. You see, Jeremy Lin is a Christian, and the article suggests
that his biggest anomaly - Jeremy’s greatest problem - is this: “He’s a
religious person in professional sports”. David writes:
“The modern sports hero is
competitive and ambitious. (Let’s say he’s a man, though these traits apply to
female athletes as well). He is theatrical. He puts himself on display...This
is what we go to sporting events to see. This sporting ethos pervades modern
life and shapes how we think about business, academic and political
competition.
But there’s
no use denying — though many do deny it — that this ethos violates the
religious ethos on many levels. The religious ethos is about redemption,
self-abnegation and surrender to God.”
Notice how this doesn’t just
apply to basketball and sports: “The sporting ethos... shapes how we think
about business, academic and political competition.” The conflict that is
described here applies to you as a student, as a businessman. It affects the
way someone runs for political office (or treasurer of ABACUS). In any and
every situation where you will need to prove yourself and deliver on a set of
goals, this article is saying that your belief in God is going to trip you up
and hold you back. Trusting in Jesus is incompatible with achievement in the
workplace, or so the article suggests.
Our passage today begins with
humility but ends with glory. Paul, who wrote this letter to the Christians at
Philippi, focuses on the obedience, the sacrifice, the humility of Jesus Christ
but from that centre of Christian faith, he urges us to work out our
salvation; in other words, to strive. Right at the end, he points to the
athlete and to the hard-working farmer as illustrations of what it means to
live to God’s glory. It is a tension that the bible insists is authentic
and essential for every believer. We need both - to trust Jesus for our salvation and to work out our salvation.
We will approach this passage under three headings:
1. Be
faithful: God is present
2. Be
confident: God is working
3. Be all
in: God is rejoicing
Be faithful: God is
present
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 according to his
good purpose.
Philippians
2:12-13
Paul begins by telling his
readers, This is something you already know. In fact, it’s what you have
always been doing. Paul begins with their obedience, in the first instance,
to him as their senior pastor. Paul looks back at the history he has had with
these Christians and he smiles. “I thank God every time I remember
you”(Philippians 1:3). While the NIV has “my dear friends” in verse 12, a
better translation would be “loved ones.” This is the ultimate bromance. Here
is a deep affection, a real connection, a partnership in the gospel.
Now, when Paul talks about obedience, he isn’t dealing with
a church who is going, “Who does this guy think he is - telling us what to do?”
No, he says You have always obeyed. But now, it is even more
important that you continue in your obedience in my absence. Why? Because
their ultimate obedience isn’t to Paul but towards God. “Not only in my
presence, but now much more in my absence,” adding these words, with fear
and trembling.
Obedience has a bad rap today. It
is seen as foolish. It is considered dangerous. Our modern understanding of
democracy and freedom encourages us to question any authority that sets itself
up against popular opinion, to rebel against any power that suppresses the
voice of the people. So when we read Paul’s words encouraging Christians to
obey God with fear and trembling, it is possible that some of us imagine a
harsh dictator oppressing his citizens using force and coercion. Yet what we
need to realise is that Paul has just been describing Jesus Christ, exalted by
God to the highest place as Lord and Judge because of his obedience - an
obedience which verse 8 says, flows from humility and led to indignity, to a
shameful death on the cross. His obedience is rooted in a loving relationship
with God the Father. His obedience is empowered through a humble dependence on
the Spirit of God. And Paul says, ours is the same.
That’s the why of
obedience: we obey Jesus, who himself was obedient unto death. But now Paul
deals with the questions of how and when. How are you obedient to
God? When do you display your obedience to Jesus Christ?
The answer is not just when
you’re in church. Not just when your leaders are around to give you a pat on
the back for helping set up the sound system, for teaching the kids at Sunday
school. If that is what you’ve been doing so far, Paul is saying, That’s
good. Well done. But... But it is even more vital that you continue in
obedience when there’s no one watching. “But now much more in my absence,” he
writes.
In other words: Are you the same
person on and off the court? If here in the Chinese Church with your brothers
and sisters around, you are a gracious person, a loving brother, a caring
sister, a helpful servant - would I see the same person on Monday morning, when
you are in the office, when you are stuck in traffic, when you are revising for
your exams at the Central Library, when you are at home with mum and dad, when
clocks have switched over and you’ve had one hour less sleep. It is even more
important for us as Christians to be obedient in the absence of authority
because ultimately, we answer to God’s authority mediated through Jesus Christ.
This is faithfulness. This is true obedience.
It is unfortunate when the topic
of God’s authority is brought up only to justify rebelling against a human
authority - like oppressive governments, dictators and the like. The bible
teaches us as Christians to submit to authority; that there is no authority
except that which God has established; and that he who rebels against
authority, rebels against God (Romans 13:1-2). Some even find excuses within
the bible to justify rebelling against church authority, citing passages like 1
Corinthians 4:4 (“It is the Lord who judges me”) while ignoring 1 Corinthians
5:12 (“Are you not to judge those inside?”), dealing with church discipline.
Again, these troublemakers are not the ones Paul has in mind. Rather, Paul says
of his friends in Philippi, You have always obeyed. Now do so even
more in my absence.
The immediate context is authority over God’s church and
accountability amongst God’s people. Paul as the founding pastor writes from
prison, in chains. That is the reason for his absence. He is confident that he
will be released soon (Philippians 1:25-26), but until then, he writes to this
small congregation in the city of Philippi, encouraging them to remain faithful
in the gospel.
How does that translate here in the Chinese Church? Two
years ago, we had two senior pastors. Two years on, we have none. And it is
tempting to put off our responsibilities as the Chinese Church until the next
one is found. It is tempting to put off mission, prayer, devotion, evangelism,
membership until a pastor is here, because really, some of us might think, That’s
his responsibility. That is his job. Notwithstanding the importance the
bible places on clear leadership within God’s church, especially with regards
to the teaching of scripture, with regards to the accountability over people’s
spiritual lives, isn’t this text saying to all of us - whether we are leaders
or not - How are we being faithful to Jesus now? When Jesus returns on
that final day and asks you for an accounting for your life, I sincerely hope
you aren’t planning on giving the excuse, “Well, it’s not my fault. We didn’t
have a pastor. That’s his job.”
Paul is telling us, Be faithful today. Learn obedience
now. God is your sovereign judge. That phrase “with fear and trembling”
recurs in the Old Testament describing man’s response to God’s final judgement
(see Exodus 15:16). Most notable however is Psalm 2, where it is speaking not
just of God’s enemies (though it does includes them as “the kings of the
earth”), but calls them his servants; those who “serve the LORD with
fear and rejoice with trembling” (Psalm 2:11). Psalm 2 is the same psalm spoken
by God at Jesus’ baptism and at his transfiguration, “You are my Son; today I
have become your Father.” It recognises Jesus’ authority as God’s chosen King,
the Christ. Meaning, for Christians today, our obedience to Jesus is not simply
motivated by the final day of judgement - in dread and fear - but rather more
so because of Jesus’ death on the cross, where he was exalted as the Christ.
Christians therefore serve Jesus in love tempered with obedience, in joy
sustained by reverence. Serve the LORD, the Psalmist says, with
fear and rejoice with trembling.
Which is why, Paul doesn’t say Watch out for judgement!
Rather, what he says next is Work out your salvation!
Be confident: God is working
Continue to
work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you
to will and to act (literally, to work) according to his good purpose.
Philippians
2:12b-13
Have you ever had someone say to you, “Try your best and God
will do the rest”? When you are at a crossroads in your life and you can’t
decide which path to take; when you feel like giving up on a long and difficult
situation that never seems to improve; when you are stressed out about facing a
huge challenge - an assignment, an exam, an interview - it is such an
encouragement to know that God is always in control. That you should just do
what you can, try your best and God will take care of the rest.
Having said that, I don’t think that’s what Paul is saying.
I think he’s saying something even more profound, and much more encouraging.
On the one hand, Paul says Continue to work out your
salvation. Keep working at it. Don’t give up, that’s what it means. Give it
all you’ve got. Two very important things to notice about what Paul is saying:
(1) It’s continual; and (2) It’s personal.
Firstly, it’s continual. This needs to happen every day.
Continue to work out your salvation. Whether you became a Christian twenty
minutes ago or twenty years ago, Today, this needs to happen. Right
now, work out your salvation. And tomorrow, when you get up, continue
working out your salvation. The term for this is sanctification. It is a daily,
continual, process of growth, renewal and relationship with Jesus Christ.
Secondly, it’s personal. Your own salvation. I can’t do this for you.
Your parents can’t do this for you. When it comes to prayer, reading the bible,
giving, serving; especially when it comes to repenting of your sins and
trusting in Jesus - you work out your own salvation.
That’s verse 12, speaking from our perspective. We work out
our salvation with fear and trembling before God. The flipside though comes in
verse 13. Here we find God’s perspective. For it is God who works in you.
So on the one hand, yes, you need to work it out. You need to do the math. But
actually God is the one working through you. Meaning this: It’s not 1% you and
99% God. That’s not what Paul is saying. Paul is not saying, “Try your best,
God will take care of the rest.” Rather he is saying, God is the working God
who enables you to join him in his work. It is 100% you. It is 100% God.
Where do I get this? From the second half of verse 13, “To
will and to act according to his good purpose.” Whose will and whose actions is
Paul describing? It’s yours. It’s not talking about God’s work, God’s will.
Paul is saying your will and your actions are all determined by God. Try to
wrap your heads around this: As you work out your salvation through your daily
actions and decisions, the bible says that God is ultimately the one working,
not just alongside you, but through you. He wills your will. He works your
work. It is 100% you. It is 100% God.
What difference does this make? If you are in that situation
of uncertainty and you are praying for direction. If you are in that situation
of difficulty and you are praying for wisdom. If you are in that situation of
helpless and you cry out to God for salvation. God help me. Please give me a
sign. Please make a way. If you are stuck in difficulty, uncertainty and
helplessness, I’ve got to tell you, that advice of “trying your best and
letting God do the rest” will only work short-term. Now I understand why we
give this advice - I’ve said the same thing to some of you in the past. But it
really only works in the short-term at best, and in the long term, it may lead
to even greater depression and disappointment.
Why do I say this? Because ultimately, the “1% me and 99%
God” formula still draws attention to what I can do about that situation and
what God expects me to do in that situation. It may just be 1%. It may just be
that one thing. But when you’re stuck in depression and uncertainty and
helplessness, that 1% is going to be the one thing that weighs you down. You
are going to place all your eggs in that one basket. You are going to place all
your chips on that one hand. You are going to spend all your energy and time
finding that one key to success, that one magic prayer, that one special person
and either it’s going to all work out beautifully, reducing God to a genie in a
lamp who grants all your wishes because you said the right words, you came to
church, because you did something right; or more likely what’s going to
happen is you’re going to be disappointed with God and question your faith in him.
What’s the alternative? The bible points us to a working God who work is seen
in us and through us. And what Paul is saying to us as Christians is, “Join
him”.
It boils down to our confidence in a sovereign, gracious
God. Do you realise what Paul is implying when he says, God is the one who
works “to will and to act”? He is saying, it’s not just what I do in terms of
my actions, it’s not just how I do in terms of my performance,
but even at the level of what I think in terms of my motivations - Why
I’m doing that job, why I’m in that relationship, what I expect to get out of
coming to church today. That is how sovereign and in control God is. And what
that does is two things: Firstly, it frees me from second-guessing myself. Should
I do this or that, does God want me to go this way or that way? - not that
we should not pray over our choices - but rather it encourages me take risks
for the sake of the gospel and to work out my salvation every day, How can I
work on my holiness today? How can I work on my generosity today? It means
I will fail. It means it is going to hurt. But that’s OK because God is in
control. The bible says I can keep going back to God in repentance, asking him
for forgiveness, knowing that Jesus Christ covers me with his righteousness.
Secondly, it motivates me to press on with absolute confidence that my life is
going somewhere. Katergazomai, translated here as working out, means to
produce something, even to finish something. It means God wants my life to be
fruitful, to display concrete evidences of Jesus work through my actions, words
and thoughts. Earlier in the letter, Paul writes this:
Being confident of this, that
he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of
Jesus Christ.
Philippians 1:6
When you look at Christian, you should a big sign that says,
“Work in progress”. When you look at Christ, you see blueprint, the plans of
what that finished work will look like. And God guarantees us that the
construction will be completed on schedule.
Let me ask put it this way: Where is your life headed? What
do you hope to do with your one life such that when you look back at it,
there will be no regrets? In other words, what’s the plan? Get married? Be a
successful entrepreneur? Win X-Factor? Some of us hear that question and get
excited - Yeah, I’m going to do this and to be that. Some of us get
depressed - I have been there, done that.
Do you realise what you have here in these verses? It’s a
guarantee. God will finish his perfect
work in you and through you. It’s a guarantee the bible wants you to take out
and to look at every single day of your life - Every action that I take, every
thought in my heart - is being used by God to change me, to mould me, to
transform me to be like Jesus. If we are honest, some of those actions we’d
like to take back. Some of those thoughts we deeply regret. But if God is God,
and Jesus Christ is Lord, it is especially those difficult circumstances in our
lives that God uses for his glory. 100% means the good years and the bad years.
100% means the times of plenty and the times of want. All of it is under God’s
control. Nothing falls outside of his plan. If you have this confidence, you
can look back on your life, see something really painful or difficult and you
can honestly say, “I messed up,” or “Oh wow, that was really awful”, but you
are able to do so without bitterness, without regret, but instead with
thankfulness in your hearts and renewed trust in the grace of God. That’s the
guarantee God gives us through the cross. Jesus takes all our sin, all our
shame. He gives us all his joy, all his reward.
Paul is urging us: Work it out. Keep on going. Why?
Because God is 100% for you in Jesus Christ. God is 100% in you, working out
your salvation in Jesus Christ.
Be all in: God is rejoicing
One of my all-time favourite movies is Toh San which
is Cantonese for “The god of gamblers”, starring Chow Yuen Fatt. The final
scene is a real cliche: Toh San, the hero sits across the table from his
arch-nemesis, Chan Kam-Sing in a high-stakes game of five-stud poker and says,
“Don’t waste any more time. Let's say we go all in - 26 Million!” (Mo sai si kan. Zhou wai Sai - Yee chin lok pat man!) What’s he doing? He is going all in.
Toh San bets everything he has on one hand!
In these final verses, Paul says, “I’m all in!” He does so
with no regrets. No hesitation. What is more, he does so with joy. I am glad
and rejoice and with all you. Paul writes:
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
2:17-18
What would it take, I wonder, for you to go all in?
To place everything you have on the line. To sacrifice everything you have
spent your lives working towards. To risk losing it all in one go. What would it
take for you to that - responsibly and willingly? We’ve looked at two
possibilities so far. We looked at faithfulness: that knowledge
that God owns all things and blesses us with all things. And we looked at confidence:
that guarantee that God gives us through the cross. So for some, maybe what we
need is to be faithful with the gifts God gives us; they are not our own; they
are to be used for his kingdom. For others, it is the reminder that God is
worth the investment, his guarantee is that he will bring every work to
completion. His plan will never fail.
So, we’ve seen two motivations, two reasons to invest our
lives fully in God. What Paul does here is give us a third: It is joy.
Paul has put his life on the line. That’s what he means by the drink offering
being poured out alongside the sacrifice. It’s a picture from the Old Testament
temple. The sacrifice was the bull, the goat, the main thing that was offered
up to God on the altar by the priest. The drink offering was the side event,
almost like a toast (Yaaaamseng!) By analogy Paul is saying this: his life
isn’t the most precious thing he has to offer. The most precious thing he wants
he already has. It’s Jesus.
Or take this as another example. Next week, many of us will
be celebrating M and L’s wedding. It’s going to be in a beautiful college here
in Cambridge, there’s going to be amazing food, people are going to get all
dressed up. Let’s face it, it’s going to be an elaborate, beautiful, joyful and
frankly, quite costly thing to have, all on just one single day. But the two
people who are paying for it all, who are bearing most of the cost - not just
the money, but also the time, the effort, the preparation and the stress - for
them, it is nothing compared to the most precious thing they will receive on
that day - the promise to faithfully love one another in marriage as husband
and wife before God. There is no comparison. The cost is real. The cost is
significant. But they gladly spent it - they go all in - with fullness
of joy because the most precious thing they want, they already have.
Paul says, “I am glad and I rejoice with all of you. So you
too should be glad and rejoice with me.” He’s saying you have that reason to go
all in. If you have Jesus Christ, you have found that joy. Through Jesus Christ,
God is working in your life to bring you into that joy - For it is God who
is works in you to will and to act according to his good pleasure.
The Jesus Christ problem
According to the New York Times, Jeremy Lin has a big
problem. He can either be religious as a Christian or he can pursue his joy in
sports as an athlete. But according to columnist, David Brooks, he can’t do both.
They are in conflict with one another.
And let me tell you, David Brooks is right but at the same
time, profoundly wrong. It is a problem not for Jeremy Lin but for Jesus
Christ. You see, how can Jesus bring glory to God and bear the punishment of
God? How can Jesus save others and not himself? How can Jesus be absolute judge
of the universe and at the same time be handed over to the judgement of men?
Through the cross. Don’t you see? Jesus Christ is
able to do both and he did accomplish both through the cross. Mercy and wrath.
Love and justice. Glory and ignominy. Life and death. They meet at the cross
where Jesus Christ was crowned and crucified.
Go to the cross. Give your all to him. And receive from
Jesus Christ full forgiveness, full restoration, fullness of life and fullness
of joy.
