Death... Just Like Me - Philippians 1:20-30

1:20-26 - Even if there are some people preaching the Christ’s gospel “of contention, not sincerely,” the message is still being put out there and people who are ready will recognize it and be drawn to the teachings. All Paul hopes to do is live “with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death. For to me to live if Christ, and to die is gain.” The article on this chapter from gospeldoctrine.com says, “You would think after a few beatings or stonings that Paul would be more circumspect in his teachings. Perhaps he could display a more reconciliatory tone. Perhaps he would tone down his message a little if more suffering seemed imminent. However, the greatness of Paul’s spirit is that he would not hold anything back. It didn’t matter what he had suffered already. It didn’t matter that he was in prison. It didn’t matter that he might soon be killed for the cause. In spite of all he had been through, he would still preach Christ with all the boldness of his younger days.” But the second half of that verse gives a little more insight into the other half of Paul’s thinking. He’s living in prison and facing execution, and honestly that doesn’t really look so bad to him right now. He’s suffered immensely for the sake of the gospel, he’s probably tired, and if my guess is correct, then his wife died many years previously to that and he probably misses her. He spends the next few verses talking about living “in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better: Nevertheless, to abide in the flesh is more needful for you.” I don’t know why exactly Paul brings up this inner turmoil that he’s dealing with, it sounds like that last phrase might be guilt inducing for the reader, like “I want to die, but you still need me, so I guess I’ll just keep living.” It’s kind of twisted, but in another sense it seems like it might be his way of telling them that he is at peace with dying if his execution order does come down. The IM has an interesting take on all this, saying, “While he was detained in prison, Paul was caught between two desires: a desire for death, which would allow him to be with the Savior, and the desire to live and continue to serve Him. Elder Bruce R. McConkie of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles observed: ‘Paul did not fear death. As with others who have fought the good fight and overcome the world, he desires to be relived of the burdens of mortality and rest in the paradise of God; yet his sense of duty caused him to know his ministry here was not over, that though his own salvation was assured, he must remain in the flesh and work further for the salvation of his fellow saints.’ The Book of Mormon prophet Mormon similarly expressed to his son Moroni a duty to preach the gospel while he remained alive ‘in this tabernacle of clay.’” This must be a hard spot for so many people who want to be done with this life, but feel a sense of obligation to stay and help others. It’s like Brigham Young said something to the effect of, “the more I learn about the next life, the more faith it takes to keep me in this one.” Paul knows that his work is not done, so he sucks it up and says, “I know that I shall abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and joy of faith.” The article quotes Spencer W. Kimball as teaching, “the meaning of death has not changed… But to those who have knowledge and faith in the promise of the gospel of Jesus Christ, death’s meaning is also… a change of condition into a widers, serener sphere of action; it means the beginning of eternal life, a never0ending existence. It means the continuation of family life, and reuniting of family groups, the perpetuation of friendships, relationships, and associations… Sometimes we think of death as a great calamity, but death is a blessing; it never comes when we want it or how we want it, but… Paul wasn’t thinking of it as a calamity.” 1:27-30 –Paul says that he wants to hear all about how the people of Philippi “stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel.” Living and working together with one common purpose is essential the building of the kingdom of God. The article quotes Richard G. Scott as noting, “Satan would segregate Father’s children into groups with strongly held individual interests. He would encourage a tenacious preservation of those interests regardless of the consequences to others.” But Jesus and all the prophets counsel otherwise, saying, “be one; and if ye are not one ye are not mine.” How do I live this? Do I live this? I don’t think that I do, I take a very divisive stance on most issues because I feel like I have more experience or a better perspective than everyone else. I think I treat less active or non-members better than I do active members, and maybe it’s because I feel a need to “put them in their place,” and that’s not my job. I’m going to have to think about that more, do I live my life trying to be “one” with my fellow saints? Or just “one” with myself? I guess Paul gives us a clue about how to live unitedly in the beginning of that verse when he counsels “only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel.” When it comes to me, if I focus on why I say something, what my motivation is, is it to make someone “think about their choices?” or is it to give uplifting words to someone who is struggling. Do I speak to gain attention for myself? Yes, all the time, constantly. Should I speak to bring attention to Jesus? Probably more so than I do. Paul doesn’t want the saints to be afraid of “your adversaries” and reminds them, in the JST that those who are against them, “reject the gospel, which bringeth on them destruction; but you who receive the gospel, salvation; and that of God. For unto you it is giving in the behalf of Christ, no only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake; Having the same conflict which ye saw in me, and now hear to be in me.” Maybe Paul brought up the death thing because some of those saints were dealing with the same dilemma as well. If this was his first stop during his first mission, there were probably saints in Philippi for quite some time and they were probably burned out after being persecuted for the gospel and doing the heavy lifting of running the church. But Paul reminds them that suffering for the Lord’s sake brings salvation and they will be embarking on the same journey of suffering for the sake of taking the gospel of Christ to the people as he is.