Our manner of life

Our Manner of Life

In his letter to the church in Philippi, Paul says, “let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ.”  

What precisely is a “manner of life?” The translations vary on this phrase.  The New English Translation bible renders it as “conduct yourselves” and has an interesting note:

“Conduct yourselves" (Grk “live your lives as citizens”). The Philippians lived in a free Roman city, and thus understood from their own experience what it meant to live as citizens. Paul is here picking up on that motif and elevating it to the citizenship of heaven. Cf. 3:20 (our citizenship is in heaven)”.

So, a manner of life isn't just what we think, or just what we do; it’s an expression of who we are within our community. It’s our way of being among our people, our fellow citizens.  

And Paul will go on to say that our manner of life, our conduct among our people, should reflect Christ’s presence within us. We aren’t told to merely have “the doctrine” of Jesus or the “the behavior” of Jesus, but his mind—which Paul goes on to describe in Philippians chapter 2. 

Jesus’ manner of life, his conduct among his people, his “mind,” is described as thoroughly humble, thoroughly gracious, thoroughly self-sacrificing, thoroughly trusting. The fruit of that manner of life was death, but through that death, we received resurrection, reconciliation, and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit into our hearts.   

In preparation for worship this Sunday, I’d ask that you spend some time reflecting on your manner of life. Can you describe it? Can you discern it's roots or characteristics? Can you share your insights with someone and reflect together on it?  

Paul tells us elsewhere that we have the mind of Christ, that we are citizens in heaven.  It is our privilege and joy to deepen our encounter with these realities throughout our life’s journey and I look forward to exploring that together this Sunday.