PHILIPPIANS 1:27

27 Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel.

Verse 27 Paul doesn’t detail what he means by “a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ”. But he does specify what its result will be: a firmness of purpose, an eager desire to establish the credentials of the Good News, and – most importantly – a sense of unity with other Christians who are doing the same.

There are many ways of living out the gospel lifestyle, and we won’t all do it in the same way. But whatever the specifics of our particular “worthy manner”, it will have the same results in our lives if we’ve got it right. First, we will not be easily moved by opposition, scorn, threats or contrary ideas. The integrity of our living will give us a secure foundation which won’t easily be shifted. The times when we feel least certain of our ground, least enthusiastic about our Christian witness, are the times when we’ve slipped into living with a double agenda – partly living out the gospel, but partly indulging our own sinful nature. And a double-minded man is unstable in all his ways (James 1:8).

Second, we will be ready to battle for the truth of the gospel. The more it means to us personally, by its daily effect upon us as we live out its lifestyle, the more we will be upset when it is attacked, indignant when it is dismissed, eager to explain when it is misunderstood. We will find ourselves getting into conversations we never anticipated, and sometimes getting our of our depth in our enthusiasm to advocate the truth. We will become eager to learn more so that we can “contend” better.

Charles Wesley put it like this:

My heart is full of Christ, and longs
Its glorious matter to declare!
Of Him I make my loftier songs;
I cannot from His praise forbear;
My ready tongue makes haste to sing
The glories of my heavenly King.

Paul said, “If I proclaim the Message, it's not to get something out of it for myself. I'm compelled to do it, and doomed if I don't!” (1 Cor 9:16, The Message).

But third, and this is Paul’s major point, we will be drawn together. We aren’t living in a manner that adorns the doctrine (and isn’t that an interesting phrase) as long as we’re fighting with one another, writing articles pointing out one another’s doctrinal deficiencies, forming lobbies to oppose one another, scoring cheap points instead of concentrating on the essentials. Last night I found on the Internet a dissertation about the mistaken theological views of Dr Paul Tournier, whose prolific writing and personal counselling have helped millions (well, me for a start). I was quite depressed to see yet another great Christian servant receive yet another broadside. But then I noticed that the student concerned had very fairly written these words in his introduction:

This author has not been without personal reservations in completing this investigation. What began as a detached theological attack soon changed, upon reading his works and coming to know him through these, into a deep respect for his value of unity among men of every theological persuasion. That this research could contribute to divisions or perpetuate barriers did, indeed, instil personal feelings of guilt. In talking with many who have met him or who know him personally, the relative insignificance of his particular viewpoints became evident when set against the background of all the good he has contributed to the lives of those he has touched. It is similarly hoped that the study of these findings will be set against the same background.

Good sentiments well expressed. The concern for the gospel’s defence, in tension with the concern for “standing as one man” – that’s the manner worthy of the gospel which Paul is speaking about.