The Pulpit Commentary — Philippians — Section 183

standnrd of superficiality; wherever an honest statesman stands above his party the moment bis party cast away their principles; wherever a self-commanding woman dares to be II rebel against extravagance and insincerity; wherever a disciple of Christ is not ashamed to own and praise that holy Lord, by whom only he has forgiveness, though unbelieving associates taunt and ridicule ;-there we behold saints of Cmsar's household." II. BmmDIOTION. "The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit." The blessing invoked is grace, or unmerited favour. It is invoked, as belonging to him who, from his saving work, has the right to dispense it to his people. It is invoked on their spirit; for from the spirit as the centre must blessing go forth upon the whole nature.-R. F. Vers. 1-6.-Genuine ahurchism. "Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved. I beseech Enodias, and beseech Syntyche, that they be of the same mind in the Lord. And I entreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellow-labourers, whose names a.re in the book of life. Rejoice in the Lord al way: and a.gain I say, Rejoice. Let your modern.- tion be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God." 'l'hese words suggest to us certain ideas concerning genuine Ohurchism. Churchism, of course, implies a Church or Churches, i.e. community or communities of men. Here in England we have what is called the Church, which its ministers seemed delighted to call "our Church." Here also we have Churches which sectarian leaders somewhat arrogantly call "our ahurches." Such Churches are too frequently assemblages of men characterized often by ignorance, exclusiveness, and intolerance. Now, neither in" our Church" nor" our Churches" do we always find genuine Churchism. But the text suggests certain things essential to genuine Churchisn1. It suggests- !. How the members should be esteemed by their TBUE PASTOR. They shonld have the deep tender love and strongest and devoutest wishes of the pastor. "Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved." What an accumulation of strong epithets of affection are here I "Longed for;" yearned after. "My joy;" that is, the source of my joy; his chief interest was in them. "And crown;" by this is meant that he gloried in them, he prided himself in them. '!'hen follows his ardent desires for their highest gooJ. That they should "stand fast in the Lord," that they should be "of the same mind in the Lord," that they should help one another, etc. An affection of this kind implies the existence of two things. 1. Tlte existence in the pastor of a loving nature. There are men who claim to be pastors of conventional Churches, not always blest with the most amiable natures; they are irascible, splenetic, etc., belon.dng to the generation elsewhere called the "children of wrath "-that is, their nature is more or less malign. You have only to hear the querulous tones of their voice and the ideas they express in their discourses to feel this. '!'heir ideas are more like yelping curs scratching the earth than singing birds soaring into sunshine. They irritate their audience. 2. Tlte existence of a lovable character in thei-r disciples. The audience must have a loving uature; for if the pastor, however lovable himself, is amongst people of a. morally unlovable character, how can he feel affectionately towards them? Genuine Churchism, then, implies a spiritually loving pastor and a morally lovable charge. II. How the members should act in relation to THEMSELVES. Three things are indicated here. 1. Moral firmness. "Stand fast in the Lord." Moral firmn,'ss implies not only deeply rooted convictions, but a strongly settled love. Moral firmness is as opposed to obstinacy as to vacillation. It is a state of mind settled in its chief faiths and loves; it is "rooted and grounded in the faith." Where there is not moral firmness in the members of Churches there is no genuine Churchism. Genuine Churchism implies moral manhood of the highest type. 2. Bpi-ritual unity. "I beseech Euodi11s, and beseech Syntyche, that they be of· the same mind in the Lord." 'l'hcse names in 11ll likelihood represent women. Paul had many women belonging to Im charge, and who co-operated with him in his work. 1u the long li~t of greetings  186 THE EPISTLE TO THE l'HILIPPIANS. [OH, IV. 1-23.