The Mind of Christ: A Blueprint for a Church that Glorifies God
Imagine, for a moment, the greatest gift ever offered to humanity. It isn't a mountain of wealth that could disappear overnight, nor is it perfect health that will eventually fade with age. While many might immediately think of salvation or eternity with the Creator, there is a specific, communal gift God designed to make his grace visible to the world: the church.
For many, the word "church" carries baggage—memories of "church hurt," abuse, or disappointment. Yet, in his letter to the Philippians, the Apostle Paul describes the church as a source of profound joy and a vehicle for God's glory. To reach this potential, the church must move beyond being a mere building or an anonymous collection of people. Instead, it must be a community that is united in purpose, humble in serving, and fundamentally shaped by the mind of Christ.
1. United in Purpose: Unity Without Uniformity
Paul’s instructions in Philippians 2:1-11 begin with a logical argument built on the shared experiences of believers. He asks a series of rhetorical questions: Is there any encouragement in Christ? Any comfort from His love? Any participation in the Spirit? Any affection and sympathy? For the believer, the answer to these is a resounding "yes".
Because we have received these gifts from God, Paul argues that our response should be to "complete his joy" by being of the same mind and one accord. However, biblical unity is often misunderstood. It does not mean uniformity—the idea that every member must look, act, or think the same way in every area of life. The church is a global, diverse entity that transcends culture, nationality, and personal hobbies.
The Football Team Analogy
We can illustrate this unity through the analogy of a football team. A 300-pound lineman and a 200-pound wide receiver have vastly different body types, skills, and roles. If the lineman tried to run like the receiver, or the receiver tried to block like the lineman, the team would fail. They are not uniform, but they are unified by a single goal: the success of the team.
Similarly, God has given every member of the church different spiritual gifts. We are not meant to fulfill the same roles, but we are called to a unified purpose. When we allow trivial differences—like sports rivalries, politics, or personal preferences—to divide us, we fail to reflect the Gospel.
A Predefined Mission
Crucially, the "purpose" of the church is not something left for leaders to invent. While many churches create mission statements to fit their local context, the ultimate mission was set by Jesus Christ nearly 2,000 years ago in the Great Commission. According to Matthew 28:19-20, the mission is to make disciples of all nations. A church that glorifies God is one that stops trying to set its own agenda and instead invests its time, energy, and effort into building His kingdom.
2. Humble in Serving: Counting Others More Significant
The second pillar of a God-glorifying church is a commitment to humble service. Paul gives a staggering command: "Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves".
This is fundamentally counter-cultural. Humans possess a natural "sin nature" that prioritizes self. Just as a toddler does not need to be taught the word "mine," adults naturally focus on their own comfort and interests. Paul does not suggest that looking after one’s own interests is inherently wrong; in fact, he acknowledges it is responsible to do so. However, the problem arises when we look only to our own interests and ignore the needs of others.
Overcoming Internal Divisions
In the Philippian church, economic and social divisions were creating "clicks". Wealthy members were focusing only on those of similar status, ignoring the impoverished members of their own congregation. Paul’s correction is that we must view every person as an image-bearer of God, possessing inherent worth and value.
A church that glorifies God cannot be self-centered; it must be others-focused. This isn't a call to "grin and bear" a chore, but to find the joy that comes from having a real impact on someone else's life. When ministry is done through the power of Jesus, it becomes a source of fulfillment rather than a burden.
3. Shaped by the Mind of Christ: The Theology of the Kenosis
The ultimate motivation for unity and humility is not a moral checklist, but the person of Jesus Christ. Paul instructs believers to "have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus". To understand what this means, we must look at the "Kenosis," or the "emptying" of Christ.
Emptying by Addition, Not Subtraction
Philippians 2:6-7 describes Jesus, who existed in the "form of God," yet "emptied himself" to take the form of a servant. It is a common theological error to suggest that Jesus ceased being God when He became a man. On the contrary, Jesus’ "emptying" was an act of addition, not subtraction. He did not lose His divine nature; rather, He took on a human nature.
This is known as the hypostatic union: Jesus is one person with two distinct natures—fully God and fully man—coexisting without division or change.
The Depth of Christ’s Humility
The humility of Jesus is seen in the "distance" He traveled. He went from the highest heights of heaven—where He was surrounded by constant angelic worship and was impenetrable to pain—to the lowest form of humanity. He didn't just become a man; He became a servant, the "lowest of the low" within human society.
The "limit" of this emptying was not the incarnation (becoming man), but the crucifixion. Jesus was obedient to the point of death, even the shameful and agonizing death on a cross, paying the penalty for sin so that humanity could find forgiveness. Paul’s point is clear: if the King of the universe was willing to become a servant for us, we have no excuse to remain prideful or refuse to serve one another.
4. The Exaltation: Every Knee Shall Bow
Because of Christ’s perfect obedience, the story does not end at the cross. Paul writes that God has highly exalted him and bestowed upon him the name that is above every name.
It is important to note that God did not exalt Jesus by "making Him God again"—He never stopped being God. Instead, God installed the incarnate Jesus as the reigning Messiah. It is specifically the name of Jesus—the one who took on human form and suffered—before whom every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that He is Lord.
An Invitation and a Warning
This theological truth serves as both a comfort and a warning. The Lordship of Jesus is an objective reality that will eventually be acknowledged by every person in heaven, on earth, and under the earth.
The Invitation: For the believer, this is a call to live under Christ's Lordship joyfully now, trusting that the one who humbled Himself now reigns over all things.
The Warning: For those who do not know Jesus, the question is not if they will bow, but when and how. One can acknowledge His Lordship in joyful faith today, or in final judgment later.
5. Practical Application: A Serving Church
Being a church that glorifies God does not mean adding "ministry" to an already overcrowded schedule as if it were a hobby. Paul’s own life was completely overtaken by his allegiance to Christ, leading him to endure shipwrecks, beatings, and eventually imprisonment.
For the modern believer, having the "mind of Christ" means that every area of life—as a parent, a spouse, or an employee—is lived with the ultimate purpose of serving others well. It does not require serving in every single ministry available, but it does require faithfulness. If there is a need you can meet, refusing to help out of selfishness is a departure from the "mind of Christ".
Conclusion
The church is intended to be God’s greatest gift to the world, but it only functions as such when it follows the blueprint laid out in Philippians 2. When a congregation rejects "selfish ambition," embraces its "unified purpose," and anchors its identity in the "humility and exaltation of Jesus," it becomes a community that truly glorifies God. By bowing before the same King, we find the strength to count others as more significant than ourselves and fulfill the mission of making disciples.