December 28, 2007

THE POWER OF RIGHT THINKING

Philippians 4:8-9

In 1952 an American preacher by the name of Norman Vincent Peale wrote a book entitled The Power of Positive Thinking.  The book became a best seller. It is a book that has been praised and criticized in equal measure. It is not my intent to praise or criticize the book this morning, or really to comment on it all, except to say this. If I were to write such a book, I would call it The Power of Right Thinking. Or maybe an even better title would be The Power of Biblical Thinking.

The Bible has a great deal to say about our thoughts. In Paul’s letter to the Philippians, it is a topic he mentions repeatedly.

The importance of our thoughts is captured in this old saying: Sow a thought, reap an action. Sow an action, reap a habit. Sow a habit, reap a character. Sow a character, reap a destiny.

In our last message on Philippians a few weeks ago, we stopped in Philippians 4:7. In many ways, it was a poor place to stop, because verses 8-9 are really part of the same paragraph or thought progression. But I stopped there because I wanted to spend a little more time focusing on these last two verses: In order to be sure we don’t isolate these two verses from their context, though, I want to start again with verse 1:

(Take the time to read Philippians 4:1-7 before continuing to verse 8-9.)

Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are honest, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do, and the God of peace shall be with you. (Philippians 4:8-9)

As I said, these verses do tie in with what has gone before. They represent part of the solution (both prevention and cure) to the twin problems of conflict and anxiety, which is what Paul has addressed in this paragraph. He begins with the word “finally”. You all know what it means when a preacher says “finally,” don’t you? It doesn’t mean anything!

We might accuse Paul of that kind of preacher’s double-speak, since he began chapter 3 with the same word! In fact, though, he uses the word to indicate that he is introducing a concluding or summary thought on the subject he has been addressing.

Verse 8 represents a command. The verb is in the imperative form. In both Greek and in English, the verb, the command is held back until the very end of the verse. Think on these things. This word is different from the one Paul uses elsewhere in the letter for the mind, for thinking and for thoughts. It is a much more deliberate word. It speaks of careful calculation, consideration and assessment. We might translate it “contemplate”. Deliberately focus your mind and thoughts on these things.

What are these things that Paul commands us to focus our thoughts on? There are six adjectives in the list, followed by two more which constitute a summary of the other six.

Whatever things are true. This word has the sense of valid, reliable and honest. It is the opposite of false.

Whatever things are honest. This is not a common word in the New Testament, occurring only 3 times. The NIV translates this “whatever is noble.” It means worthy of respect or honor.

Whatever things are just. The NIV translates this “right” It describes those things which are conformable to God’s standards and worthy of his approval.

Whatever things are pure. This word is related to the word for holiness. It speaks of moral purity and in some contexts can be translated as “chaste” focusing especially on sexual purity.

Whatever things are lovely. This is the only occurrence of this word in the New Testament. In the contemporary literature, when it is used to refer to people, it speaks of those who are friendly and full of good will. When it speaks of things it describes things that are pleasing and attractive.

Whatever things are of good report. NIV translates this “admirable.” It is a compound word which literally means “speak what is good.” In the literature of the day, which was often filled with superstition, it described those who spoke only of good omens and avoided words of ill omen. I think we might paraphrase, “Think about and focus on the good news and the positive things you know about people.”

At this point, I think Paul realizes that he has made his point, and that his list of adjectives could go on a long time. So he closes off with two summary phrases that include all that he has just said, and anything else of like nature he may have left out.

If there be any virtue, and if there be any praise. Thinking about such things will motivate us to do better and fill us with things which we can commend to others.

It doesn’t take a Ph.D. to recognize that this list of qualities is overwhelmingly positive. We live in a negative world. There are lots of things to criticize. If we are into finding faults, there are lots of faults to find. Even in the church, we can fall prey to this kind of negative mind set.

This kind of negative thinking, when applied to people, leads to conflict. We become critics rather than encouragers. We become part of the problem, rather than part of the solution. I have done some reading on interpersonal conflict, and various models for the different stages of conflict development. In one such model, there is a very dangerous stage which is labeled “grievance gathering.” In this stage of a conflict, we have essentially written the other person off as “bad” and the source of the problem. Now we are constantly on the look out for more faults and flaws that we can add to our list of grievances against that person. It doesn’t really matter now, how the other person behaves. We have put on a pair of glasses that makes their good qualities and attributes invisible, and all we can see is their mistakes.

I mentioned that it is a dangerous stage in a conflict, because when we reach that stage, it is very difficult to back up; to go back and find a real reconciliation. This is especially true if both sides of a conflict reach this stage. I rather suspect Euodia and Synteche, whom we met in verse 2, had reached this state. But I think there is a way to wind the clock back and find a solution. Why not apply verse 8? Why not deliberately look for and focus on the good that we can find in the other person?

We found out last time that anxiety and conflict are problems that reinforce each other.

If we apply negative thinking to circumstances, what happens? It leads to anxiety, worry and sleepless nights. So instead, Paul instructs us to contemplate and deliberately focus our minds on the good things, the right things, the things that are worthy of praise. Take some time to think about what is going right. You know the old saying:  “Two men peered through prison bars. One saw mud, the other saw stars.” We see what we look for. Paul tells us, “Look for good things, and focus your minds on the positive in your environment and in your life, in your family and in your friends.” Think on these things. That’s a command not a suggestion. And it provides both prevention and cure to these twin problems which create such havoc in our lives.

Verse 9 continues in the same vein, only now Paul turns it into a personal appeal based on his own teaching and example. Those things which ye have both learned and received and heard and seen in me, do, and the God of peace shall be with you.

This is a repetition of what he said in Philippians 3:17: Brethren be followers together of me, and mark them who walk as ye have us for an example. Now Paul is adding not only his example but also his teaching and his words. Once again, the spirit is not one of egotism but of I Corinthians 11:1: Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ. I would point out that with Paul there is no discrepancy between “what you have learned from me” and “what you have seen in me.” There is no sense of “Do as I say but not as I do.” Paul’s life and his teaching were consistent.

These verses are capable of the widest possible application, including Paul’s teaching and example in a host of areas. But once again, I want to focus my comments and application to a more narrow arena, and that is the way he has lived and modeled the principles of this very paragraph, especially verse 8.

We see this in the way he has analyzed his own current life situation at the time when he was writing this letter. If there was ever a person who had good reason to sing the blues and call for a pity party it was Paul. He was in prison in Rome. He has been imprisoned by this time for over two years. He was facing a trial with an uncertain outcome. He could be convicted of sedition against the emperor, which carried the death penalty. On top of that, there is a faction among the believers in Rome who are jealous of Paul and trying to make his life more difficult. I don’t know about you, but I would have been feeling pretty sorry for myself at that point. But instead, Paul writes this letter to his friends in Philippi in which he uses the words “joy” and “rejoice” sixteen times! He is applying his own command. “Rejoice in the Lord always!”

He is also applying verse 8. He is finding the positive, the good things in his life to focus on; For example, his imprisonment. Remember what he said in Philippians 1:12: Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel. That is a good thing! I choose to focus on the opportunities I have had to share the gospel from right here in my prison cell, and the fact that the gospel has spread throughout the praetorian guard.

What about the jealous believers? That’s the sort of thing that can eat you up inside. Look at Paul’s response in verse18: But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice. He has deliberately chosen to look at the good side of a sticky problem. More people are hearing the gospel.

But what about his upcoming trial and the possible death sentence? Look at verse 21: For to me to live is Christ and to die is gain. Or verse 21: to depart and be with Christ…is better by far. Death is a one way ticket to heaven. Bring it on!

Do you start to see how Paul is modeling what he has been talking about in Philippians 4:1-8? Rejoice in the Lord! Display gentleness (as he does with the contrary believers in Rome). Pray (like he does for the Christians in Philippi). And focus on the good and the positive in every situation. That’s why he can say in verse 9: What you have learned…heard…seen in me – put it into practice.

Paul’s positive response to difficult circumstances should not have taken the Philippians by surprise. Remember the story of the founding of the church in Philippi, recorded in Acts 16? Paul and Silas were arrested, beaten and locked in the stocks in the inner prison. So what do we find them doing in the middle of the night? They can’t sleep, so what do they do? They pray and sing hymns! And all the other prisoners are listening to them (Acts 16:25). How do you sing in prison? By applying Philippians 4:1-9. What you saw in me, put it into practice!

Before we leave this passage, however, I think it is important that we have a right foundation for such thinking. That’s why I said I would title my book, “The Power of Right Thinking.” Right thinking is positive but it is more than that. It has a Biblical foundation. It is not simply blind optimism.

What is the theological base for Paul’s positive approach to life? I believe we find it most clearly expressed in Romans 8:28: And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

That is a powerful statement of God’s sovereignty and also his good purpose toward those who love him and who are pursuing his purpose. God is causing all things to work together for good. What Paul is doing in Philippians 1 and in his prison cell in Rome is simply looking for and enumerating those good things that are coming out of God’s sovereign plan for his life. I know it is hard to see at times! It takes the eyes of faith. It sometimes takes the faith to say, “I will wait and see.” But I say to you this morning, no matter what you are facing: “God is working all these things together for your good.” Believe him! Trust him!

Paul is really giving us a lesson in applied theology. What you saw in me, put it into practice!

And note the result, in the final phrase of this wonderful paragraph: And the God of peace will be with you. What a wonderful conclusion! If we put this together with verse 7, we have an unbeatable combination. With the peace of God to guard us and the God of peace to guide us, we have all that we need to walk confidently, boldly and positively into 2008!