Lenten Reflection on Philippians 2:1-11

 

What you just in Philippians 2:1-11 was a hymn.  It was sung by ancient Christians almost 2,000 years ago as they gathered in homes, feasting on a meal that remembered Jesus Christ.  And, though it was almost 2,000 years ago, we still hear the essence of that song. 

They raised their voices to the night to celebrate Christ, who refused to use his divine powers to control, but rather gave his life up for our sake...for the sake of the lowly.  Christ is the king who chooses to be a slave and serve the peasant.  Christ is the superintendent who chooses to be a teacher’s aide for the sake of the student.  Christ is the general who chooses to sludge through the mud in order to be there to take a bullet for the private.

It is because of that superior love, a love which does not forget even the lowliest of us, that those voices from long, long ago sang out into the night sky.  It is because of that amazing grace that we still gather and confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. 

Like those ancient Christians, we too gather around the name of Jesus Christ.  Christian worship in the ancient world was “Christ centered worship,” and so is ours.

Though it may seem obvious, one of the most important values that we as a people who follow Jesus Christ hold, both when we gather together and as we live out our lives, is “Christ centered worship.” 

Christ is at the center of our devotion.  We sing songs to God.  We raise our voices celebrating Christ.  Though there is a lot of great, meaningful music out in the world, our song is always about the one who created us, and loves us, and redeems us.  And, as we focus on Christ, and raise our voices together, we are reminding ourselves again and again that our very lives belong to Christ.

We are a people who belong to Jesus Christ.  We do not belong to politicians, nor do we follow them.  We do not belong to cultural warriors, nor do we follow them.  We do not belong to social influencers or public personalities, nor do we follow them.  Our song reminds us again and again that we belong to the one who loved us all the way to the cross: Jesus Christ.

The apostle Paul encourages us to, “Let the same mind be in [us] that was in Christ Jesus.”  

Christ is at the center of our devotion and celebration.  

Christ is at the center of our decisions.  

Christ is the voice to which we listen.  

Christ is the personality that we follow.  

We hold central the value of “Christ centered worship” because Christ’s love holds us central.  It is a love that can overcome anything that we throw at it, including sin and death.  It is a love that is worth being a part.  It is a love worth emulating.  It is a love worth living.  Christ is our center.  We strongly value, “Christ centered worship.”