Stand By Me (4)
Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, Philippians 2:1 NASB
Affection – Apparently Paul got it backwards. We would have expected the next word, translated “compassion,” to be this word, splanchnon. Or maybe Paul got it right and the translation just reverses the terms. At any rate, “Only the noun occurs in Paul, and he uses it not merely to express natural emotions but as a very forceful term to signify an expression of the total personality at the deepest level.”[1] In classical Greek it is essentially a word about being so moved with emotion that you literally feel sick. Don’t for a minute think that Paul has some timid expression of sympathy in mind. Or the kind of cute sayings found in greeting cards. This is not a pat on the back, firm handshake, “thanks for sharing” kind of feeling. This is deep, abiding, personal, emotional commitment to another. This is “love one another” in the koinonia of the Messiah.
Of course, Paul combines this essential characteristic of community with the next term, oiktirmoi. The two go together. We will see why soon. But for now we need to ask some serious questions.
- How emotionally distant are you from the plight, the problems and the joys of your fellow believers? Do you hold back? Or are you weeping with and rejoicing with?
- Have you have experienced the movement of the Spirit over the need of another with such intensity that it almost made you ill? What did you do? Retreat? Or engage?
- If the mountains can clap for joy, why can’t you? If the sky can cry over the tragic deeds of man, why can’t you? How much of the Greek world of anti-emotional “balance” has infected your life?
- David shows us that emotions are the vehicles of korban, drawing close to God. All of them. Anger, joy, despair, elation, sorrow and hopefulness—all of them lead to God if we let them. What about your emotions? Are they transporting you into God’s presence or are they forcing you into your own castle?
In the fellowship of the King, splanchnizomai (to have compassion) is one of the true hallmarks of faith. Following YHVH is an emotional experience. We feel His presence just as much as we investigate what it all means. It is head, hand and heart in this community. Don’t rob yourself of weeping, laughing, growling or clapping. And don’t hold back when others do.
Topical Index: splanchnon, affection, compassion, emotions, Philippians 2:1
[1] Kittel, G., Friedrich, G., & Bromiley, G. W. (1985). Theological Dictionary of the New Testament (1068). Grand Rapids, MI: W.B. Eerdmans.
REMINDER: Don’t forget that you can make a contribution to At God’s Table every time you purchase from Amazon. Just use this: CLICK HERE
For those who are interested, here is a translation of Phil.2:1 from the original Aramaic:
1 Therefore, if you have encouragement in the Messiah, or consolation of heart in love, or fellowship of the Spirit, or loving kindness and mercies, 2 Complete my joy: that you have one mind, and one love, and one nefesh, and one purpose.
Much easier to read and understand. The meaning of the two translations, after the Greek translation had been explained by Skip, seems similar.
When I did EMS work I had to harden myself to what I saw and did. It was both good and bad. It is the hurts of my grandchildren that is softening my response now. When my ten year old grandson says he is no good and a bad person my heart breaks. His mother is a crazy maker and his step dad is an anger addict. We are working on resolving this. This whole thing is causing me look at all people in a different way. Many people I know have been in homes like this. Person: highest value, greatest importance takes on a whole different meaning.
“Person: highest value, greatest importance takes on a whole different meaning.” Agree, absolutely, Bob. Shalom!
The Father’s Love is Head, Hand and Heart…I pray for the day when everyone who claims Him as Father opens themselves to be conduits of that Love..on earth as it is in heaven. What an incredible day that will be!
“Have you have experienced the movement of the Spirit over the need of another with such intensity that it almost made you ill?”
Yes! My home was opened to young adults who were so troubled with staying with family having idols and chanting in their homes. Then had visits from those family members checking up on what/who would have done such a thing to welcome their brother/son into their homes.
Those folks had nothing to say, but obviously impressed when they see the beautiful home and closely knit family it was. That started the kibbutz we had for some 25 years, and is still continuing; it just grew as those youngsters brought their friends, colleagues and parents for fellowship.
Then there was another who was diagnosed as mentally disordered! I clearly heard ABBA saying in my spirit “this guy needs help”! What I went through for him against family members, was beyond anything I have experienced, there was joy whenever he could respond to Torah, but much suffering, despair and sorrow in a constant tug-of-war, when he would/could not be helped. The drugs administered to him has so disoriented, distorted his mind, he was totally unsound. I gave up, seeing there was nothing further I could do, but left him to ABBA.
Following YHWH IS an emotional experience! You can say that again, Skip. But, it does enrich one’s spiritual life, like it did mine.
Wonderful TWs, thank you, Skip. Shalom.
Thank you, Ester, for sharing what Abba has done through you! I especially can appreciate the extreme effort you put into someone that you had to hand back to Him! If we look through the eyes of the world, we think we have to ‘succeed’, or at least get some ‘results’. I have realized that that is not how Heaven sees, though. There are so many heavenly reasons for hesed that don’t even look necessarily like ‘salvation’ to us! I think I have just had to give up that kind of thinking altogether. I didn’t put all the effort I did, please G-d, in raising my children just because I thought they would be ‘successful’ one day. No, I did it because that is what my heart wanted and needed to do right then. I know you have more stories. Maybe you can tell us some, some time. I am encouraged just knowing that you have done it at all. It gave me something to praise YHVH for today!
I looked for the farm I am currently on years ago through the eyes of kibbutz. I dream every day of one day being in the right way to be honored with that. Every day I want that, too. There are so many lost and hungry youngsters who need Home! Family. Community. This is the year that I am throwing forward in faith the baby steps of active investment in the base for that dream. I have decided to not act like I am ‘behind’, or lacking, and instead act like I have the ability to invest in the farm’s potential. My son and I have felled and milled timber, not just firewood, this year and bought and planted trees and other steps toward something Abba can bless. You have to at least show up with a little basket of something for Him to work with! It can be scary to move forward with a dream, and that includes investing in myself, so that I can have something to put out for others. Here goes stepping over the side of the boat! Halleluah!
Shalom Laurita! It was a natural process, I had no idea what opening up my home to youngsters would lead to such a beautiful, fulfilling and enduring community/kibbutz lifestyle. Those youngsters were/are a challenge, but it enriched my personal spiritual growth, that is so rewarding.
Yes, it has to start with us taking that initial step of willingness, doing/giving what we have. I do have many more stories to relate, sometime :- )
Love to you.