Brothers At Arms

Not long ago I was watching Star Wars: The Clone Wars with my children. There was an episode stressing the importance of teamwork among a group of misfit Clone Troopers, and the tagline for that episode was “Brothers in arms are brothers for life.”If you’ve ever known someone who has served in the active duty in the armed forces, they may testify to this concept. Being on the front lines fighting a common enemy often builds unmatched bonds that last a lifetime. Brothers in arms are bothers for life.

I believe this illustrates a concept found in the first chapter of Philippians. Paul is writing to a group of believers with a level of love that is unmatched in any of his other letters. Look at what he says in verse eight of chapter one: “For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus” (Phil 1:8, ESV). Yearning. Longing. The affection of Christ.

Clearly there is something special going on here. The bonds that have been formed between those represented in this text are significant. The question is, how did they get there? Why does Paul have such love for the Philippians, and, presumably, vice versa? Is there a way to see those same kinds of bonds developed within our churches?

The answer is found in the preceding verses. Look at how Paul begins the letter after the greeting:“I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy,” (Phil 1:3-4, ESV). Here is more evidence of the strong and loving relationship between Paul and the Philippians. Memories bring joy and Paul is constantly thankful for the Philippians. Again, why?

The answer, sandwiched in between his declaration of joy at the thought of the church and his expression of love and desire to see them is found in verses 5-7:

“Because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion on the day of Jesus Christ. It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel” (Phil 1:5-7).

There are two phrases I want to zoom in on for our purposes here: First “because of your partnership in the gospel.” Paul and the Philippians are partners in the gospel. They work toward the same end.

I’m a bi-vocational pastor; when I’m not shepherding, I’m shining a different kind of light doing electrical work. I know what it’s like to work with individuals who do not share my values, goals, and desires in business. Such partnerships are weak and easily fall apart. But I also know what it’s like to work with others knowing that our values align. Those partnerships are not only profitable but are a joy! Paul identifies the Philippians as partners in the gospel. Their values are aligned. They have the same goals and desires: to see the gospel proclaimed.

Second, notice the phrase in verse 7, “For you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel.” The Philippian church has engaged with Paul in gospel ministry. They got their hands dirty doing the Lord’s work! This would have looked different from person to person. Not all of them would have been called to preach. Not all would have been called to apologetics work. Not all had the gift of evangelism. But that didn’t seem to stop them. They gave themselves to the work when and however they could.

Think about what this cost the Philippians 1. It cost them monetarily, as they gave sacrificially for the advancement of the gospel in support of Paul (see 4:14-18).2. It cost them personal comfort. Their lives were upended. There was no returning to the status quo (See Acts 16).3. It cost them personal safety. Paul is in jail, and several of the Philippians have endured suffering and persecution as well (see 1:29).But they had counted the cost and had determined that what they were enduring was worth it for the sake of the gospel.It is through the fires of gospel ministry that Paul’s love and admiration for the Philippian church developed. Their bonds were formed in gospel fire. Therefore, he thinks of them with joy and desires to be with them again.

Many of us would love to see our churches be places where this kind of deep love and affection is on display between one another, and we often plan fellowship events to help foster that kind of love. Such events are good and ought to be done!

But if we want to see our relationships go to the next level with one another within the church, we need to get our hands dirty doing gospel ministry alongside one another. We need to be on our knees going to spiritual war for one another and for our communities. We need to stop thinking about our church buildings as social spaces and start thinking of them as armories, outfitting and preparing us for spiritual war as we seek to win souls for the sake of the Kingdom of God. One of the natural results of such partnership will be bonds of love forged in the fires of gospel ministry.

After all, brothers in arms are brothers for life.