Paul, the Philippian Church, and the Pandemic

Ever since 2020, March became the month wherein people around the world became more mindful of their individual lives and the life of society at large. Last March 2020 was when COVID-19 was declared as a pandemic, which immediate lead to the drastic turn of history from that point onwards. Since then, our definition of normalcy has changed. Many plans were canceled. Financially, everyone was challenged. Mentally and emotionally, everyone was crushed in their spirit. And spiritually, the church and the Christian were collectively and individually called to stand fast.

At this point, I can attest however that many, if not all Christians failed to perfectly stand fast in the past two years.

I can attest because I am one of them.

This article would be a commemoration of the past two years and how the pandemic has brought me closer to the Lord, through the Apostle Paul, and through the ever-living testimony of the Philippian church.

Let me begin by saying that there are two interesting facts about the book of Philippians that I believe perfectly earned its reputation as the "joy" epistle. 

First: the writer. Philippians is one of the prison epistles of the Apostle Paul. He wrote this in what we would know today as a "lockdown," in a "bubble" of a prison cell. It is humorous to think of how much cabin fever and bubble fatigue drove us to madness for the past two years, yet when we remember how Paul was imprisoned for so many times, we suddenly think that this ongoing quarantine is not that bad to begin with. It must also be remembered that the prison cells during Paul's time were nothing like today's prison. There was literally no source of any sustenance for him. People in their time were imprisoned to die. They were literally sentenced to a slow and excruciating death by starving them of any resources for living. More than that, Paul was also laden with sicknesses from all the beatings, from all the torture and abuse, and from the terrible living situation he was placed under. The emotional and mental agony that Paul had to go through was not also easy. He was separated from all his co-laborers in the ministry, he might have only had his writer to accompany him, but also in a state of suffering. There is no fatigue like the Apostle Paul's. 

Second: the audience. This letter was not written to a wealthy church. Neither was it written to a highly intellectual church. Nor was it written to a greatly talented and gifted church. This letter was written to one of the Macedonian churches mentioned in 2 Corinthians. In that letter, Paul actually mentioned the testimony of the Philippian church as a rebuke to the "gifted yet greedy" Corinthian church. 

"Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia; How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality. For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves; Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God." - II Corinthians 8:1-5

While our financial struggles during the pandemic are altogether valid, this passage here mentions explicitly the emotional, mental, social, and financial conditions of the Philippian church. GREAT TRIAL OF AFFLICTION. DEEP POVERTY. The situation at Philippi was definitely beyond their control and it has affected every aspect of their life and being, quite similar to our situation for the past two years.

Yet how can these two, when combined, produce the most joyful epistle in the Bible? In our contemporary society where the pandemic, fueled with a growing economic crisis that is triggered by geopolitical conflicts, seemingly haunt every person and every household, it is evident in the news and in social media that everyone is growing even more tired and weary. The lost world is obviously unhappy as they try to seek comfort and euphoria in all the wrong places. What is worse however is that the children of God were and are being tempted to follow suit. Congregations of churches have grown cold due to the restrictions in corporate worship, which lead to challenges in soulwinning and in doing missions. Instead, the Christian has acquired different priorities--thirst for financial affluence, hunger for recognition and compliments, worldly aspirations, maximalist tendencies in living, self-help, humanistic therapies, temporal, ungodly relationships and friendships, ungodly marriages and families, churchless lifestyles--all of these molded by the fear that perhaps the pandemic might take away from them their security, sustenance, and stability in life, forgetting how God kept Paul and the Philippian church joyfully secure, settled, and sustained, even at the worst scenarios of their lives.

During the past two years, I was given many opportunities through the different messages at church to go and read through Philippians 4. It has been indeed God's intention to bring me to this epistle and chapter as He places me through my quarter-life crisis since 2020. Going through the pandemic allowed me to draw the similarities aforementioned and trace the treasurable lessons that every Christian can learn from the book and chapter. Commonly, Philippians 4 is used in teaching and preaching about missions and about contentment. It is also used as a message in strengthening and encouraging Christians to pursue and do God's will in His strength. But tying these strings together for the past two years, and seeing it mirror my life and everyone else's lives as well made me see that Philippians 4 is a chapter that discusses God's guarantee of holistic sustenance and provision of our needs in each and every aspect of our lives whenever we put Him and His work FIRST--regardless of how worse the situation we are in is. 

"Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice. Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." - Philippians 4:4-8

Upon constantly meditating on these verses, especially when the life for the past two years did not sit well with my emotional and mental health, I have realized the even way before the term "mindfulness" has been coined by psychologists and therapists, the Lord has already established how we can be rightfully mindful in Him and with Him at all times. Mindfulness is commonly defined as being able to be intentionally and purposefully aware of the present without judgment and distractions. This is more known as immersing oneself in the present and living in the moment without any worry or anxiety for what the future might bring, and without carrying any baggage from the past. In Philippians 4:4-8, the Lord has shown us what true and real mindfulness is, especially for His children. We rejoice in the Lord always -- this means we choose to be joyful in Him. Choosing joy comes with surrendering anything that boggles us -- be it our future worries, or our past resentments. Choosing joy in the Lord is remembering His presence in our lives, wherever we are, whatever we are going through. It is recalling who He is and what He does and how He has made us more than conquerors no matter what. Choosing joy allows us to be mindful, not of ourselves, or anything, or anyone else, but to be solely mindful of the Lord -- His character, His power, His presence. In being mindful and conscious of His presence in and with us, our joy exudes with gentleness and kindness that would and should extend to others. While the pandemic has caused people, even Christians, to act rashly in the flesh and follow one's selfish tendencies at the point of causing harm, trouble, and hurt to others, being rightfully mindful tells us otherwise. Rather, others should see that we choose joy everyday. They should see us unfazed by the woes that this present world brings--all because we have been so immersed in the Lord. Our joy in the Lord must result into gentleness and kindness, more especially in a time where these qualities seem to be scarce the most. Ultimately, being mindful in the Lord properly dispels worry and anxiety and is replaced by a constant, healthy communication with the Lord through prayer and thoughts of gratitude. In the end, being mindful in the Lord is what truly brings inner peace -- and it is noteworthy to realize that the peace that God gives goes beyond human understanding -- it does not need our validation or others' affirmation because the peace that God gives is sufficient to keep our emotions stable in Him. Many times especially during the pandemic have we sought for affirmation and validation elsewhere apart from the Lord -- only to end up in great frustration, grudges, anger, and bitterness because we felt like our inner peace was severely disrupted. Truth is, the choice to keep ourselves emotionally stable is ours. By God's grace, may we be truly mindful of the Lord, so that we may always choose joy, extend kindness, and let His peace keep us stable and steadfast. Philippians 4:8 then tells us where to focus and channel our thoughts and our energies on as we stay mindful in the Lord -- none of the things mentioned speak about worldly affluence, wealth, fame, extravagance, and materialism, rather they speak and reflect the very nature and character of Christ -- He is truth, He is just, He is pure and lovely, virtuous and praise worthy. Sadly, many of us waste our energies as we channel them to things that are not Christlike. The happiness they give will always be short-lived and temporal, and we would always come back to our senses at the end of the day even more broken than we were. Indeed, the song rings true, "turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face, and the things of earth will go strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace."

Does God take care of our socio-emotional and mental needs? Definitely He does, when we are mindful of who He is and what He does.

"Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." - Philippians 4:11-13

Now in this part speaks of contentment that comes after staying mindful in the Lord. As a Christian, you have to know by now that contentment is not something we automatically gain or acquire. Neither is contentment innate in our flesh. Contentment is a Godly DISCIPLINE that has to be thoroughly and humbly LEARNED through experience. If there is a best time for us to learn contentment, it must have been these past two years. Throughout Paul's life as a missionary, with all the pains he has endured for the Lord's sake, it is evident in these verses how much he has grown from the proud and mighty Saul that he was back in the early chapters of Acts. These verses greatly show his humility, his refined character, and the rigorous discipline and training of contentment that the Lord cultivated in Him. EVERY WHERE AND IN ALL THINGS really meant that in every aspect, in every fiber, and in every grain of his being, he was INSTRUCTED by the Lord to be content. It shows that contentment is both a skill and a state of mind that we ought to allow the Lord to develop us with. In a world threatened with the loss of career prominence and job security, in a time where competition grows like wildfire, pressuring everyone to have a mindset of "always wanting and craving for more", in a society where social media has framed us to look at what we are missing, to focus at what we do not have, and to lust at what we lack, in a time where lesser progress in life mean complacency, mediocrity, and inability, the enemy really does not want us to be equipped with the skill and habit of contentment. The enemy wants us to run endlessly yet aimlessly -- to chase for things that flee and pass away. Here is Paul's reminder that we must do otherwise. We ought to turn away from the "I NEED TO BE MORE FOR OTHERS NOW, I HAVE TO DO MORE FOR THE WORLD AT THIS MOMENT, I MUST HAVE MORE FOR MYSELF TODAY" mindset, and perhaps, settle and rest with God Himself and what God has given me for the 'now.' True enough, the only thing we must not be contented about is how much we do and give for the Lord and how much we love Him. That is where we cannot stay complacent. That is where mediocrity should not thrive. Yet most of the time, we confuse ourselves and we exchange our supposed discontentment for what we do and give for Him with what He has done and given to us. We have to learn to be contented with whatever He puts in our plate. We need to train ourselves to build a habit of contentment and let contentment be the ruling principle of our lifestyle--the way we live, our culture. Godly contentment is true wealth, it is true gain. So we should allow the Lord to instruct us to have contentment as one of the pillars of our way of life. Instead of rushing towards climbing that career ladder, maybe the Lord is disciplining us to keep our feet on the ground instead. Instead of splurging lavishly on unnecessary wants and desires, maybe the Lord is humbling us to be better stewards of our resources. Remember, our resources are not actually ours, but His. It comes from His bounty of grace and mercy. Instead of hastily diving into wrong relationships that lead to godless marriages and families, unhealthy and toxic friendships that lead to an unhappy social life, worldly vices, passions, and pursuits that lead to wrong priorities and choices, maybe the Lord is teaching us to trust His process, to believe further in His timing, and to embrace His season for us -- perhaps without a partner, perhaps with only a handful of friends, perhaps with a nascent career, perhaps with just the basic needs for thriving. Truly, mastering the art of contentment is what enable Paul to do all things through Christ. Contentment has certainly made him do greater things for the Lord that he has never imagined himself doing way back. Contentment definitely has allowed Paul to not just survive, but even thrive, and bloom in what is seemingly a wasteland to others. Contentment is also what allowed the Philippian church to be richly liberal beyond their power. Remember, we can only be more for the Lord once we are contented in and with Him alone. And this key of contentment in whatever the Lord has given them unlocked their capacity to give more to the work of the Lord.

Does God take care of our physical needs? Surely He does, when we are settled and contented with what He gives and where He places us.

"Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only. For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity. Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account. But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God. But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus." - Philippians 4:15-19

It is only reasonable that it is only until we become mindful of the Lord and become contented with what He gives and enables us to do that we are able to give more for His work, and to do more for His cause. With having our thoughts set right, with having our priorities realigned to His, with having our energies redirected to noble, Godly purposes can our hearts and minds be willing of ourselves, and to go beyond our limited, finite, and frail power, and to abound unto the riches of our liberality. These all stem from the all-sufficient fountain of God's love and grace. The pandemic has revealed to us how greedy, selfish, and self-centered we can be if we stay reliant on our flesh, in this world, and in the enemy. But the great crisis has revealed to the Philippian church how selfless and sacrificial they could be when they stayed mindful in the Lord, contented in what He gives and does, and when they put the work of the Lord first in their lives. This is how God supplied their daily needs, their financial needs. The Lord can never supply our needs when put Him second, or third, or anything less than first. The Lord's promise of supplying our needs is bound within the condition of putting Him and His work first. This is but a sweet-smelling, acceptable, and well-pleasing sacrifice to Him.

Does God take care of our daily and financial needs? Absolutely He does, when we put Him and His work first in our lives. 

Both the Apostle Paul and the Philippian church have set before us an example to follow through in trying times like these. I believe the Lord wants us to respond the same way that Paul and the Philippian church did. And now we get to better understand why He allowed COVID-19 to happen.. why He is allowing these post-pandemic economic crisis and geopolitical conflicts to arise.

How are you Christian, two years since the pandemic began? Where have we set our affections? Where have we established our new normal, post-pandemic priorities? Where have we directed our efforts and energies? Where have we spent our time, our treasure, ourselves?