standards of Christian faith. Such conduct is absolutely inexcusable and should be resisted. I have the privilege of being a child of God through personal faith. It is not because of something I did for myself. He accomplished it all at the cross. With this privilege I must also be a responsible be liever. I must live worthy of this wonderful calling. This is why we are exhorted to conduct ourselves worthily as a citizen of heaven as well as of this country. There is a very great danger that we will lose sight of this all-important fact, so great are the pressures of secular ism all about us. As Paul speaks about our spir itual conversation (1:27) he refers to that which has to do with our way of living for the Lord before others. When Paul writes to the Christians of Philippi that they are to conduct themselves worthily as citizens, he is not thinking of a lit eral city but rather the New Tes tament Church which is the Body of Christ. Believers today are to share a common life, contributing to each other's well-being as living members of the Body. When be lievers forget they are members of a Christian state, however loosely it might be conceived, then the light of the individual conscience reigns supreme. There is great danger when each one does what is right in his own eyes. This is simply anarchy and chaos. There has to be proper or der. This explains Paul's phrase that we conduct ourselves worthy of the Christian citizenship we have through the Lord. Paul knew how proud the Philippians were of their earthly citizenship. They ev en allowed it to affect not only the Page 47
be as it becometh the Gospel of Christ." It is an important fact to realize that privilege always im plies spiritual responsibility. To whom much is given, much shall also be expected and required. Too often, with the pressures of life's responsibilities, we become impetuous and impassionate in our daily activities. We need to keep in mind that we do not hold our position in Christ ourselves. It was all given to us by the Lord. As be lievers we are always to live wor thy of our spiritual possessions. What we have has been given freely from Him who is the King of kings and Lord of lords. Old things should be put away so that everything else can become won- drously new. It has been pointed out that flat tery is telling somebody how won derful they are with the gift that they did not earn. On the other hand, if you compliment an indi vidual for his successful business then it would be proper since he probably worked for his position. We all have received so much from the Lord, we have absolutely nothing about which to boast. We received these things as perfect gifts from His hand. Here in Philippians, Paul is speak ing about the privileges we have in Christ. Yet, as verse 27 defin itely points out, there are also spiritual obligations. Do we stand together against opposition? Are we faithful in prayer? Do we draw together increasingly in love, hav ing our fellowship enriched by the Holy Spirit? Certainly most of us need this emphasis on Christian conduct. There is such a real dan ger of living like the world while demonstrating little of the high
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