But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. (Phil. 2:13b-14, ESV)
I've heard many preachers use this passage to teach that Christians need to forget about their past sins, (which they usually politely call "mistakes" or "failures") in order to develop a "healthier, more victorious" self-esteem. "Just forget about it," they say. "You're not that person anymore. You're better than that!" Instead of lifting up the sufficiency of Christ's sinless life, atoning death, victorious resurrection and exalted intercession for us, these preachers lift up the supposed inherent goodness of the believer for themselves.
Now, I agree that we shouldn't be morbidly consumed by guilt, since Christ has freely and thoroughly forgiven us. However, I find several problems with the positive-self-image movement that disregards and suppresses the memory of past sin.
First, this interpretation is inconsistent with Paul's own practice as recorded in Scripture. Paul saw himself honestly and humbly in light of his past sins, of which he did not hesitate to remind his readers:
"For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. " (1 Cor. 15:9)
Note how this sober memory of the past, coupled with a deep knowledge of the continued presence of his sinful nature, led Paul to describe himself --in words inspired by the Holy Spirit:
"Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost." (1 Tim. 1:15)
"To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given..." (Eph. 3:8)
"...though I am nothing." (2 Cor. 12:11)
"Wretched man that I am!" (Romans 7:24)
It's more than a bit of a stretch to say that the author of these texts wrote Philippians 2:13-14 in order that Christians would deny the reality and seriousness of their past sins.
Further, this interpretation fosters self-reliance and self-righteousness instead of biblical humility and dependance upon Christ. Rather than cry out "God be merciful to me, a sinner," the new attitude of prayer becomes "God, I thank you that I am not like other men." (Luke 18:9-14) Instead of esteeming others more highly than ourselves, we insist that others esteem us as highly as we do! Having no need to pray for spiritual strength, we fill our small prayers with presumptuous requests for more physical blessings, because we think we deserve them! God is undoubtedly displeased with such un-Christlike character.
Finally, this is clearly not what the passage teaches in context. Paul has just listed his greatest personal assets, the reasons that he could be most exalted in his own eyes and in the eyes of others. But because these things draw attention to himself and promote self-righteousness, and are therefore hindrances to him knowing Christ fully, he considers them as the foulest of garbage! His greatest personal assets are now his greatest liabilities! "You want me to brag about my old, external law-keeping? Never! I have absolutely no righteousness but Christ, who is gloriously perfect for me! You think I was zealous? My fleshly zeal may have put others to shame, but now it shames me most! By my zeal I sought the death of the saints, but by Christ's zealous love He sought to make me a saint by His own death!"
So in our text, Paul wasn't choosing to forget an old, negative self-image; He was choosing to forget about himself in order to pursue Christ! Rather than a "think better of yourself" message, he's preaching a "think less of yourself and more of Christ" message. To forget about who we naturally are and what we are still capable of is foolish and idolatrously arrogant, and it belittles God. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is glorious not because it makes us feel good about ourselves in ourselves, but precisely because we look our wretchedness square in the face, call it what it is, and then see that the Lord of glory lovingly took on flesh, weakness, torture, death, and the very wrath of God, to make us as perfectly acceptable to the Father as He is.
If we keep looking to the risen Lord revealed in Scripture, the more deeply we feel the despicableness of our sin, the more fully we will rejoice in the glorious liberty of Christ! Our imaginary greatness stands in opposition to the true greatness of Christ for us. We cannot cling to both. (Matt. 16:25)
[This will probably make little to no sense for those who haven't yet lived it.]
I know of nothing more troubling for a Christian than to experience an extended season of spiritual apathy. Many of the great saints of old referred to this proverbial valley as "the long, dark night of the soul"-- a dark and dry season through which every true saint will probably journey. In light of Scripture's strong warnings for those who falsely think themselves saved and yet bear bad fruit, it's truly frightening to realize that, perhaps for some time, you've become more comfortable with sin, less attracted to the Word, and generally less interested in knowing and obeying God. During this time, God and spiritual realities feel quite distant; while you agree intellectually with Scripture, it stirs you up very little, if at all. Paradoxically, the most frightening thing is how little you're frightened by this condition. What's most troubling is how little you're troubled.
This apathy is certainly good cause to "make your calling and election sure," (2 Peter 1:10), because it is characteristic of many false converts who previously responded dramatically to the gospel, (Mark 4:16-19). Yet what seasoned Christian has never known unprecedented times of spiritual drought? Luther did. Bunyan did. The Puritans wrote extensively about such times in what has famously become, "The Valley of Vision: a Collection of Puritan Prayers and Devotions," (highly recommended by... well, pretty much anybody worth listening to.) It seems that God providentially ordains that most or all of His children will face the Long, Dark Night.
But can a loving Father really allow his children such pain, or even depression? He can, and He does. Foundational to surviving in and growing through the Valley is a firm confidence in the character and promise of God revealed in Scripture. "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers." (Romans 8:28-29) Before the earth was formed, God ordained that all things should happen to produce the highest good for His elect people: Christ-likeness for Christ's glory. Despite our feelings, the darkest valley in a believer's life is the merciful blessing of a gracious God. Because God is sovereign, good, and faithful, we can have peace in the valley while we wait on the Lord to lead us through it.
Among the innumerable blessings God brings through the valley is a deepened assurance of salvation, once the believer has been driven to test himself to see if he is in the faith, (but that's a whole other blog.) Eventually, God grants the believer a diminished reliance upon self, a greater dissatisfaction with the present world, and ultimately a fresh vision of the glory of Christ and the power of His cross. Due to the weakness of our flesh and the pervasiveness of indwelling sin, we would never learn these truths so fully were we not lovingly led into the valley. But though the cross which leads to life is invariably painful, thereby is God's strength made perfect through weakness, and God's glory made to shine in the darkness.
"He made darkness his covering, his canopy around him,thick clouds dark with water... For it is you who light my lamp; the Lord my God lightens my darkness." Psalm 18:11-28
Please wear clothes. No seriously, clothes. No matter how much your magazines and the current fashions may tell you otherwise, it really is in everyone's best interest for you to cover yourself up modestly. And if you claim to be a Christian, the issue is far more serious for you. It is to be expected that unregenerate women will show cleaveage, too much leg, and wear clothing so tight that every bodily curve is exposed. But you, O woman of God, flee these things, and pursue righteousness, godliness, modesty, and virtue.
If you feel constrained to advertise your body to the world so as to attract attention to your flesh, you are demonstrating that (1) you have no faith in God to provide a husband for you apart from your help, (2) you want a guy who mostly just wants sex, (3) you think your physical qualities are the ones most worth displaying, (4) you don't really believe in the God of Scripture, or you don't care about disobeying Him, and (5) you want men to have sinful thoughts about you. That list could really be much longer...
Proverbs 11:22 says, "As a ring of gold in a swine's snout, so is a lovely woman who lacks discretion." Translation: a beautiful woman who flaunts her body is far more repulsive than attractive to him who has wisdom. Do you really want a guy worth having? Do you really want to be a woman worth having? Make sure you really are saved, examine yourself before God, test yourself to see whether you are in the faith, and then walk in obedience to His good, pleasing, and perfect commands, of which modesty is only one.
