With Fear and Trembling - Phil 2:12-18

Philippians 2:12-18 (NIV)
¹² Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed--not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence--continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling,
¹³ for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.
¹⁴ Do everything without complaining or arguing,
¹⁵ so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe
¹⁶ as you hold out the word of life--in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing.
¹⁷ But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you.
¹⁸ So you too should be glad and rejoice with me.

This past week I thought a lot about the phrase: “work out your salvation with fear and trembling” and not only because we are continuing our series through Philippians.  The terrible tragedy in Japan has had many people Christian or otherwise asking, “Why?”  I was with one staff member who asked me on Friday: “OK Pastor, was God sleeping or what?”  It is not my intent to answer the question of the problem of evil here.  As a trans-denominational organization we have many differing opinions on God’s providence and will.  What I will say is that it is good to wrestle with the question.  In fact I was reminded by my co-worker’s question about a Psalm that poses that exact query:

Psalm 44:23-24 (NIV)
²³ Awake, O Lord! Why do you sleep? Rouse yourself! Do not reject us forever.
²⁴ Why do you hide your face and forget our misery and oppression?

I think as Christians we too quickly want to run in and say why a tragedy has occurred.  Some famous Christians have gotten themselves in some trouble doing just that.  I think Christians need to be seen wrestling with the question as much as giving an answer.  We must wrestle respectfully.  The Psalmist of Psalm 44 opens with a section that gives God the glory due Him.  It concludes with Verse 8:

Psalm 44:8 (NIV)
⁸ In God we make our boast all day long, and we will praise your name forever. Selah

Even Jesus may have even sidestepped the question when given the chance.

John 9:1-3 (NIV)
¹ As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth.
² His disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?"
³ "Neither this man nor his parents sinned," said Jesus, "but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life.

Perhaps Jesus does answer the “why” question with “this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life.”  That is what I always thought until about a month ago when I was reading a commentary on John by David Guzik that points out:

“It is possible that John 9:3 could be punctuated like this: ". . . nor his parents sinned. But that the works of God should be revealed in him, I must work . . ."”

The oldest manuscripts of the New Testament do not have punctuation (or even spaces between words) which leave translators with difficult choices.  Maybe Jesus doesn’t answer the question at all.  That is for each of us to decide and wrestle with. Either way I think we can learn from Guzik’s idea.  It is when we work that the works of God are revealed.  It is not enough for us to wrestle with our faith.  (Why there is evil in the world is only one of those questions.)  We need to live our faith. 

The “fear and trembling” part of the passage is preceded by a call to obedience and followed by a call to “shine like stars” in a depraved generation.  It is good to ask, “God how could this happen?” but first we must always ask “God what can you do through me to help?” 

Imagine how much more Christ would be glorified if instead of giving an answer we were giving aid. 

Mark Wallace