LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 2023, Page 77

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Of One Mind: The Church’s Life in Christ
PHILIPPIANS 2:1–11

LCMS First Vice-President Rev. Peter K. Lange
68th Regular Convention of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod • July 30, 2023 • Matins
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord
Jesus Christ.
In about an hour, as we slowly get this convention
underway, we’ll take up the standing rules for our
gathering, under the theme, “We Preach Christ Crucified!”
In this morning’s text from Philippians chapter 2, the
apostle Paul gives us a list of “standing rules,” so to
speak—a code of conduct, as it were, for our interaction
together during this convention, and for our entire life
together as Christians. Then Paul relates those “standing
rules” to CHRIST—crucified and exalted.
Complete my joy, [he says], by being of the same
mind, having the same love, being in full accord
and of one mind. Do nothing from rivalry or
conceit, but in humility count others more
significant than yourselves.
Let each of you look not only to his own interests,
but also to the interests of others. (Phil. 2:2–4)
And this list of “standing rules” for Christians becomes
even more thought-provoking, if you consider some of
the alternate meanings found in the Greek lexicons for
the words in this list.
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full accord”… “thinking the same thing”… without “strife” or
“contentiousness”? And that’s without even reflecting on
our motivations for what we do. “Do nothing from rivalry
or conceit.” And again remember, these words aren’t only
appropriate for the start of a convention but are God’s
will for our entire lives in our interactions with spouse,
congregation, colleagues, and neighbors. Honestly,
insofar as we’re wretched sinners, these words are like
dry ice on a very sensitive tooth. It doesn’t take much to
do the job.
But Paul, who has just said that we are to be of the “same
mind” and of “one mind,” now uses this very word a third
time to tell us what Jesus has to do with these “standing
rules”!
“Have this mind among yourselves, which is in Christ
Jesus.”
This mind is “in Christ Jesus,” (as the Greek literally says);
and it’s also “yours in Christ Jesus.” Paul says something
similar in 1 Corinthians 2, that “we have the mind of Christ!”
(1 Cor. 2:16).
And here’s how that “mind” in Christ was manifested in
His person and work for us.

“Being of the same mind” can be translated “thinking
the same thing” or “being in agreement.”
“Being in full accord” can be translated “united in
spirit.” (The word even appears on a Greek
tombstone for a husband and wife who apparently
had a model marriage until death parted them.)
The word for “rivalry” (which isn’t supposed to
motivate anything we do) can be translated “selfish
ambition or strife or contentiousness.” And
Aristotle used the word for “self-seeking pursuit of
political office.”
“Do nothing from conceit”? Well, that word literally
means “empty glory.” In Texas they say, “All hat
and no cattle.”
And finally, verse 4 is even stronger in the original
than it is in the ESV. Instead of “Let each of you look
not only to his own interests…” it’s bluntly, “Let each of
you look not to his own interests, BUT to the interests of
others.”

What a way to start a convention! What’s the point of
voting if we’re supposed to be “of the same mind” and “in
Convention Sermons

PROCEEDINGS OF THE 2023 (68TH) LCMS CONVENTION | 77