The Joy of Integrity

In an increasingly secular and challenging cultural landscape, maintaining Christian integrity is paramount. Drawing from the Apostle Paul’s letter to the Philippians, written while he was under house arrest in Rome, this message outlines four essential priorities for believers to endure pressure and harassment. Paul, anticipating that what was happening to him (persecution and possible death) would soon come to the Philippians, provided guidelines to help them stand fast in their commitment to Christ.

The central theme is that Christian life was never meant to be lived alone. Believers derive strength not from individual actions, but from their collective unity.

1. Priority One: Conduct Worthy of the Gospel

The first priority Paul mentions is conduct. Believers must ensure that their “conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ”.

The Greek word used for “conduct” (politeuma or polus) means “city” or the largest political unit, from which English derives words like “politics” and “police”. Paul was writing to the citizens of Philippi, a Roman Colony. They were Romans 800 miles away from Rome, but their names were still on the Roman citizenship rolls.

Paul uses this analogy to remind believers that they are citizens of Heaven. This allegiance to heaven must directly affect their lives on Earth. The standard for all action—from answering questions about appropriate Christian behavior (e.g., casinos) to daily decisions—should be whether that conduct is worthy of the gospel.

• Living Differently: When Christians live and process life through the “mind of Christ,” they become uniquely different from the world around them, just as the Romans in Philippi were different from the surrounding Greek culture.
• A Light in Trouble: This unique difference makes an impact. When non-believers face trouble, the Christian’s door is often the first one they knock on because the evidence of Christ in the believer’s life serves as an “anchor” and a reminder of “something different”.

2. Priority Two: Consistency in Faith

The second essential priority is consistency. Paul expressed concern about the Philippians’ faith when he was absent. He urged them to “stand fast in one Spirit” whether he was present or not.

• Faith in Christ, Not Leaders: Paul wanted their faith to be rooted in Christ, not in him (Paul).
• Unwavering Character: A Christian’s faith should be consistent, not determined or controlled by their environment or circumstances.
• Trouble Reveals Character: When trouble comes, a consistent Christian will not be made different by it. Instead, trouble reveals the courage that was latent in their life all along. Consistent Christians face “the troubles and the joys, the problems and the pain,” remaining true to their commitment.

3. Priority Three: Cooperation and Unity

The third priority for enduring pressure is cooperation. Paul explicitly states, “the Christian Life was never meant to be lived alone”. This cooperation requires believers to “strive together for the faith of the Gospel” in “one spirit with one mind”.

• The Church as God’s Gift: The church is Christ’s great gift to the body of Christ, underscoring the necessity of assembling together.
• Striving Like Athletes: When Paul instructed them to “strive together,” he used a Greek word that gives us the English word “athlete”. This unity is a special struggle, like athletes struggling side by side against a common opponent.
• Collective Strength: The strength of believers is found not in who they are individually, but “in who we are collectively”.
• The Law of the Pack: Quoting a visualization from poet Rudyard Kipling, the message emphasizes that in standing for the gospel truth during pressure, “the strength of the pack is the wolf and the strength of the wolf is the pack”. In the church, the strength of the church is the Christian, and the strength of the Christian is the church.
• Consolation and Courage: Believers deal with cultural harassment and lack of toleration for Christianity as a church. When gathered, they find consolation and courage in one another, realizing they are not alone in facing these challenges. The biblical principle is that two are better than one, and a “threefold cord is not quickly broken”.

4. Priority Four: Courage in the Face of Persecution

Finally, Paul calls the believers to courage. He encourages them to face their opponents and trials “not in any way terrified by your adversaries”.

• Avoiding the Stampede: The word “terrified” is used only once in the New Testament (here) and describes horses that are “spooked into an uncontrollable stampede”. Paul’s warning is to avoid getting “blown off course” by outward stimuli that cause inward fear.
• Suffering as a Badge of Salvation: Courage in the face of opposition is a double-edged sword. For the adversaries, the believers’ steadfastness is “a proof of prediction”. But for the Christians, suffering persecution is an “evidence of your salvation”. The Bible states that the “godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution”. If a believer is not living for Christ, they likely will not be bothered. When persecution occurs because one’s belief is translated into behavior, the Bible marks this as being “worthy of harassment”.
• Historical Context: Paul wrote this letter around AD 60-63, shortly before Nero began intensely persecuting Christians by blaming them for setting fire to Rome in AD 64. Christians were subjected to “exquisite tortures,” including being dressed in animal skins and thrown to lions, or being covered in pitch and burned as human torches. Paul understood the reality of suffering, having visited the prison regularly.
• Suffering as a Privilege: Suffering for Christ is regarded as a privilege and a gift from God. Jesus said, “blessed are you when they revile and persecute you… rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven”. The suffering faced by Christians is “glory forever”.
• God’s Sufficiency: Persecution and suffering are the moments when believers discover that “God is enough”. If they never had troubles, they would never know that Jesus Christ is sufficient for all times. Suffering is God’s way of “burning the dross from our lives so that the gold rise[s] to the top”.