Oct 31 – Nov 01, 2020
From the Pastor’s Desk: Rev. Simon LeeDear brothers and sisters of RCAC,

There is very little reason to be happy in this period of pandemic. In BC every day we are told that more than two hundred people are tested positive for COVID-19, much worse that the first three months of the pandemic when things seemed to be very much more under control. Everyone is hoping that the pandemic will be over soon so that all of us can live happily. But we will have to wait patiently.

I wonder what would make you happy in life. For me, having a good meal with family and friends, playing different sports, doing things I like and travelling all would make me happy. But if I ask, what would make you or me joyful? Perhaps your first question would be what’s the difference? Well, happiness is based on something that “happens” that brings delight and pleasure, but joy is something that, even though one may or may not feel “happy,” is something that is meaningful and satisfying or rewarding. Yes, joy is more than happiness. If so, what makes me joyful would be spending quality time with my family of 16, and ultimately my joy would be intimately tied to fulfilling the meaning and goals of my life, which is to serve God and make Christ known. What about you?

In 2002, psychologist Dr. Martin Seligman wrote in his book Authentic Happiness that true happiness is derived from three major sets of experiences in life: the pleasant life (happy life), the engaged life (immersed in things you enjoy) and the meaningful life (purposeful and rewarding life). Since that book, scholars have added a fourth set, the balanced life. I echo and have taught all these understandings in positive psychology. But to go further, I would add, like Rick Warren, what makes a person truly happy and joyful, is the “Purpose Driven Life” (2002, 2012), as seen in the “Purpose Driven Church.” (1995)

As we are delving into the book of Philippians, we are learning more how Paul finds joy in his life. It is illustrated in the partnership in the gospel (1:5) he has with the Christians in Philippi.  The joy he had transcends 1. His physical predicament (being in prison), 2. His psychological pressure (dealing with church conflicts) and 3. His spiritual dilemma (choosing between life and death).  He saw that there was more good than bad from his imprisonment as a result of his service for Christ. This could be seen in terms of opportunity to witness to the guards, and also in terms of the strengthening of the faith of the Christians in Philippi. He could look beyond the ugly politics of the church as long as the gospel of Christ was being preached. He thanked the Church for praying for his “deliverance” (from prison) but was torn choosing between life and death (1:23), as he said, “For to me, living is Christ and dying is gain.” (1:21) What is the secret of Paul’s steadfast joy and superb spirituality? I wish I could be more like him.

Here it is instructive to note and realize that the word in v. 19 for “deliverance” (Gk. soteria) is interesting because it could mean “deliverance” (as in, release from prison) or as in v. 28 means “salvation” (as opposed to destruction of their opponents). By using the same word first in a temporal sense and then in an eternal sense, perhaps Paul was teaching that God is ultimately in control in all circumstances as well as issues of life and death. Therefore he was at peace, whatever the outcome of his imprisonment.

It is natural for all of us when we pray that we pray for what is most important and immediate to us, as for example in praying for our dear ones who are sick that he or she be healed by God. But whether God in his sovereignty “answers” our prayer and “deliver” us, we all who are in Christ are ultimately “saved” to be with Him forever. This is demonstrated admirably by my dear colleague and friend, Rev. Matthew Wong, seven months ago before going into his surgery. He declared that whatever happens, may God be glorified. Let us continue to pray for him that God will answer his prayer and God’s perfect will be done.

Paul then urges the Christians to “conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel” (1:27). Here “conduct yourselves” means literally “live your life as citizens” (Gk. potiteusthe) and here Paul has in mind specifically “citizens of heaven” (3:20).  So just as they in Philippi as Roman citizens should live in manner worthy of that, in the same way, as citizens of heaven they and we too should live according to the ways befitting our citizenship in heaven. In other words, as Christians we should live life consistent to the fact we are saved by grace as a result of the salvation accomplished for us by the death and resurrection of Christ. We are all “gospel-bearers” (bearer of good news) and we should be worthy of that honour!

Therefore Paul urged the Christians to live in unity. If they do so, Paul tells the Christians that would “complete my joy.” (2:2) Paul’s ultimate joy was to be found in seeing the Christians in the Church united and serving the Lord with joy. He had urged them to be “standing firm in one spirit, with one mind, by contending side by side for the faith of the gospel.” (1:27)  The need for unity weighed heavily on the mind of Paul (2:1-4). Why did he keep talking about things like how some were “motivated by selfish ambition or vanity,” and how they “should be concerned not only about your own interest…” (2: 3, 4)?  Maybe his appeal to Euodia and Syntyche “to agree in the Lord,” and to urge the Christians to accept them because they also laboured side by side (struggled together) in the gospel ministry, along with others, would shed some light on Paul’s concerns. (4:2-3) For whatever reason that there was tension in the Church, Paul wanted to see them work side by side, shoulder to shoulder. This need to ensure unity in the Church at RCAC is precisely why I personally have learned to let go and learn to echo Paul’s words: “What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice.” (1:18). That is why Paul asked the Christians in Philippi to emulate Christ in his humility: “You should have the same attitude (mind) toward one another that Christ Jesus had.” (2:5, NET)  Christ’s example of humility par excellence is found in the hymnic and poetic passage in 2:6-11.

Many of us know the hymn “Blest Be the Tie That Binds” and the lyric is as follows:

Blest be the tie that binds,
Our hearts in Christian love;
The fellowship of kindred minds
Is like to that above.
Before our Father’s throne,
We pour our ardent prayers;
Our fears, our hopes, our aims are one,
Our comforts and our cares.

This hymn was written by Rev. John Fawcett in 1782. He was a pastor at a small and rather poor church in Wainsgate, England and had served faithfully there for many years. To make a long story short, he and his wife had an opportunity to go to pastor a much bigger church in the city where he could serve more people and better provide for the needs of his family. As they were prepared to leave the folks at the Church, the whole Church came out to send them off with teary eyes. The Fawcetts decided to stay when they saw that. This hymn was inspired and written after that. This hymn has inspired me to be faithful to God’s calling. May RCAC also model after Christ.

This prayer of Paul is also my prayer for RCAC:

Therefore, if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort provided by love, any fellowship in the Spirit, any affection or mercy, complete my joy and be of the same mind, by having the same love, being united in spirit, and having one purpose.” (2:1-2) Amen.

Your servant in Christ,

Pastor Simon Lee