Pentecost 15 A (Proper 21A) – Philippians 2:1-18 – “Change Your Mind” – September 25, 2011

There was once a man who had his boss over for dinner. Repeatedly the boss said, “You know, I am a self-made man.” He was vain, conceited and very full of himself. Finally, the man’s 6-year-old son could han¬dle it no longer. He asked, “Daddy, if he’s a self-made man, why did he make himself that way?”

“Selfish ambition” and “vain conceit”… those are the words the NIV uses to describe a mindset that seems to have been a problem for the Philippian Christians. Few attitudes so harm relationships in the church as these. Why? Because we can get our minds so set on our own needs and desires that the church suffers. Our thoughts turn to our own lives, whether it be our successes and triumphs or our hurts and problems. How easily our thoughts turn away from those around us and the tasks of love and service and witness God has placed before us. We want things done our way. We take a stand, assert our control, and expect people to fall in line. What’s worse, we ignore the interests of others (v 4) and of Christ Himself.

Of all the threats to the unity of the church, being focused on our own needs and wants and desires may be the greatest. It’s no wonder that when St. Paul lists the works of our sinful nature in Galatians, he includes “selfish ambition” (Gal 5:20). People focused on themselves see them¬selves everywhere. A pane of glass becomes a mirror. Another’s success makes them see their own lack of it. Another’s failure makes them grateful it isn’t theirs. People focused on themselves wonder why everyone isn’t just like them. People focused on themselves have no room for the needs of others, for a Word from God, or even for Christ and the Spirit, because they are already full of themselves.

Adam and Eve were full of themselves when they first sinned. The truth is, we are all a bit full of ourselves. But Jesus said that if anyone wants to follow Him, he or she must deny self (Mk 8:34). No wonder people being focused on themselves is perhaps the number one problem in the church! We can’t look out for others if we’re focused on ourselves. We can’t follow Christ when we’re focused on ourselves. We can’t even worship right when we’re focused on ourselves.

The solution is a change of mind, a new mind¬set; in fact, four new attitudes of mind. Before we get to that, though, let me show you what must happen first if we are ever to lose the sin¬ful self that has filled us full. It works like this. Christ comes to us—in water poured over us in the Triune Name; in a Word; in a Meal, in a hymn.

Christ lived for us—perfect¬ly, flawlessly—a righteous life, through and through. He poured out His life for us, emptying Himself. He died for us, unselfishly, taking our punishment on Himself. When we realize—sud¬denly or over many years—how much Christ loves us, we also see how small our full self is compared to the vast expanse of His love.

The Bible stories—His stories—become ours. The more Christ fills us through Word and Sacrament, the less room there is for our selfish selves, and the more His Spirit shapes the mind of Christ within us. We think more highly of Christ than of ourselves; we think and speak more of His words and thoughts, and less of our own.

It’s almost like absorption through osmosis. It’s like two people who fall in love and spend a lifetime together. More and more they think alike, sound alike, and even finish each other’s sentences. They know what the other will order for dinner and what the other will need when ill. This is what’s behind Paul’s statement in v 5, “Have this mind among yourselves which is yours in Christ Jesus.” We should have the same mind¬set as our Lord!

But it doesn’t just happen. You can’t work your way into a Christ-like mind-set. That comes as you spend time with Him in the Word; ponder¬ing the significance of your Baptism; receiving Him in Holy Communion. He speaks; you listen and respond. More and more, you lose your self and you become more like Him. Strangely, we begin to see Him everywhere rather than reflec¬tions of ourselves.

In my former congregation we had an altar with a statue of Jesus above it with hands extended, caring, and beckoning. Little children often gave voice to their marvel… that Jesus was there in church with us.

Truly He is and its His constant, relentless love that empties ourselves of our old sinful, self-centered selves. His love is so powerful that it changes us, emp¬ties us, and makes us people who begin to think and act in a small way like the Christ who died for us.

As I said earlier, the change that happens in us is a new mind-set; four new mind-sets, to be exact. As Paul celebrates the attitude of Christ as He accomplished our salvation, these four mind-sets become clear:

The first mind-set is service. Christ “made himself nothing, taking the very form of a servant” (v 7). The Son of God became a servant! So must we. He did not hang onto His divine power and preroga¬tives as God, but emptied Himself. The Son of God became our servant. This willingness to leave self behind and serve others is one new mind-set Christians receive from their Savior.

The second is humility. “He humbled himself,” writes Paul in v 8. We resemble Christ when serving others in Christ’s name becomes more important than asserting ourselves. With the mind of Christ, our needs, wants and desires become second to those around us. We do not have to have things our way but rather do all things for the good of others.

The third is obedience. Again in v 8 Paul writes, “he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death.” He did the Father’s bidding. He is the obedient Son. We are like Christ when, despite all the risk and anxiety, we live for God – seeking to live the life He has called us to live – seeking to follow His commands – because of all He has done for us.

The fourth mind-set is sacrifice. Christ “became obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” Jesus was the perfect sac¬rifice, once and for all atoning for the world’s sin. We who have everything because of His sacrifice know that whatever we give up is no sacrifice at all, for we have lost nothing of value, and in Christ we gain riches that are invaluable.

Christ was exalted at the end of His mission as humble, obedient servant to save the world. Just listen, and glory with Paul in the exaltation of our Lord: “Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (vv 9-11).

We, too, who humble ourselves for Christ’s sake, will be exalted. For now, though, we have before us a lifetime of opportunities to see things as Christ would see them, to think and act as Christ would think and act – a lifetime to get to know Jesus and help others get to know Jesus. Moved by the perfect example of our Savior and empowered by the Holy Spirit’s work in our hearts, let us strive to put on the mind of Christ Jesus. Amen.