September 16, 2025

GOD’S WORD FOR TODAY:

“Therefore, if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.”  (Philippians 2.1-2)

TODAY’S REFLECTION ON GOD’S WORD TO US:

The Lord continues to show me opportunities where our “be of one mind” calling is to be evidenced in the voice of the Church to itself in worship and to the world in service. There should be no doubt as to our intention as desired by God who created us, sustains us and has called us into the newness of life in Jesus Christ. Nor should there be any confusion as to that intention as we give our attention to the command of Jesus to “go and do likewise.” One such “opportunity” appeared on several of my feeds yesterday. In a visual representation and reinforced with a single comment, the mark was missed as to who we are and what we are to be in the name of Jesus. I am referring to a well-intentioned message which was meant to draw attention to being supportive and encouraging of the legacy of Charlie Kirk. There is no doubt that before his political assassination, Charlie was a powerful voice crying out in the wilderness of the world. Because of social media, the modern-day John the Baptizer waded deep into the waters of life and invited all who would dare believe the truth of God’s Word that was and was about to be revealed to be immersed in a public profession of faith through baptism. His message was filled with the spirit of God which spilled out of his immersion into the word of God revealed in the Law, the Prophets, the History of Israel and those who responded in wisdom across all expressions of life. It was filled with hope. It called for change and transformation of the heart, mind, soul and body. It conflicted with the “powers that be” in Israel. It especially conflicted with those who believed that had the authority to define and refine that Word to suit their personal agendas and ambitions. So strange how on the religion of faith side, the changes the Law of God as His Holy Word were made more diligent and heavy. The Law of God was made a burden. At first look, such an effort could be seen as the means by which reform would occur. The hope of such reform was to “legislate morality and spirituality” forcing all to comply in every single aspect of their life. The multitudinous laws and caveats demanded a confession that not everything the people did had God in mind. The vast covering of the Law, at least their expression and expectation of it, was to control everything in order to keep the nation of Israel from falling out of God’s favor and into the hands of the enemy. I understand not ever wanting to go back to the way it was when the nation of Israel was scattered, enculturated with foreign beliefs and practices, the Temple destroyed and the leadership carried away into bondage in foreign lands. Who would want that? (Strange, now the tactic of the enemy against the “free” world today is not much different. Leadership curries favor of the enemy and opens the doors and borders of the nation to the influence of all nations, especially those who do not honor God.)

If that was the intention and it seems to be of a sincere heart, then what was the problem? The problem was that the leadership did not practice what they expected of others. They assumed a position of leadership that was not theirs. That position, of course, was the place of God. The leadership which was seated in the Temple held themselves to be above the Law because they had become the emissaries of the Law as well as its enforcers. They knew it was impossible for any human being to fulfill the constraints of the Law and be truly righteous. So, they expanded the reach of the Law to include the many ways of a people to be made holy through sacrifices. In essence, their expectation became taxing, literally and figuratively. They put on airs to model that they were following the same expectation. Of course, in their mind of being barely a sinner, little had to be done. On the other hand, the people were, as in the words of Isaiah, afar off. Maybe this paragraph could be read again up to this point but with a mind centered on “then there was Jesus.” In so doing, we could see why Jesus conflicted with the leadership of Israel. He was not one of them but one with God and the people. Yet, His word had an authority which seemed greater than the leadership. His claim that it came directly from God gave the thought of circumvention. He was a dangerous voice and that was bad enough because the people wanted to believe in freedom, liberation, restoration and righteousness. He was more dangerous because His actions authenticated what He said. We could say and should, “Jesus walked the walk, talked the talk.” We could also say “Jesus walked the talk and talked the walk.” And for all of that, Jesus was set upon by the leadership who had another execute their sense of justice, all for the sake of God (though it was for their sake alone). Yes, they had Jesus killed. They felt the conflict of the movement of people not being one of them and one with them versus the people being one with God and one of Christ. Though Jesus never asked for anyone to be Him, He did share the hope that they would be of one mind, one heart, one spirit and one people…God’s people. For Jesus, in the words of Paul, being like-minded with Christ reinforced the peoples’ identity of being God’s people.

So what of that “well-intentioned message” concerning Charlie Kirk which I believe betrays who and what Charlie stood for? In the graphic was a throng of people all having Charlie Kirk heads. The verbage was promoting that what Charlie was saying and doing would be carried on. Killing the messenger would not stop the message. I get it. I also get that it missed the mark of Charlie’s message. In all that Charlie said, for better or worse, Christ was preeminent. His commitment to political reform in this country (which would spill out into the rest of the world) through a right understanding of the Word of God as it plays out in everyday life was bound by his commitment to it and to share it into the world in which he lived. We know “truth hurts.” He never turned away questions, verbal confrontations and honest dialogue. In fact, he encouraged it. He knew that only when the Word each of us says is heard outside of our head and heart could we grasp the height, depth and breadth of it. We would be able to discern how deep or shallow it really was, how effective or ineffective it was, how true or untrue it was. He invoked the truth. He incited the truth. Ultimately, his life was laid down for the truth that the world who really wanted to say what he said would begin to say it and not merely think it or applaud him for saying it. But what Charlie never thought nor wanted was a collection of Charlie bobble-heads. Charlie would be the first to say about that message promoted in social media, “not me but He who lives in me.” He wanted us to put on the mind of Christ and have our thinking restored and our actions turned to the right (not a political leaning) but the righteousness of God.

Mighty ones of God, this is the beauty of being like-minded with Christ. Regardless of the outward appearance, our minds are to be like that of Jesus who put God first in all things and allowed God’s word to flow from Him. He exuded God’s love for His people and made no bones about it. His purpose was clear. He was God’s emissary to the world calling them back to their true identity. He continues to be that voice of spiritual reason in those who understand who He really was and is. We will not be Him perfectly. For that, we only need to confess ourselves (better to one another) in our shortcomings and profess that Christ is still our “way, truth and life.” When others see us, they should being seeing Christ in us. I believe that people are so touched by Charlie, his message and now his sacrifice because they saw Jesus in him. Many may not even know that is what was happening. The demons surely did because they responded vehemently and frequently (just as they did in the days of Jesus when Jesus showed up in their presence.) I know we don’t know exactly what Jesus looked like physically so we can only put assumed Jesus heads on everyone who believes. What we can do is to exemplify the mind of Christ and let that pour out of us. The unbelieving world will not and does not like that. The non-believing world will be invited to investigate it further and come to know it for themselves. The believing world should be challenged exponentially to “walk the talk, talk the walk” like Jesus and so many others who are His Charlies in the world.

TODAY’S PRAYER IN RESPONSE TO GOD’S WORD:

Father, in these days we are finding the need to believe even more than ever before. We all have known trouble, some in greater ways than others, but You are offering us the assurance that we will not be consumed by it forever. Regardless of the “time” we are in and the “time” we have been given, we ask for Your Holy Spirit which Jesus asked You to share with us, to lead and guide and direct us in the paths we should go. Teach us what we still need to learn. Empower us to put that learning into action. Bless our actions not as a works righteousness but as righteous works of faith, hope and love in Jesus’ name. AMEN.