What Does a Christian’s Attitude Look Like?

 

As Christians we are supposed to look differently than the rest of the world. No, the Bible isn’t talking about clothing (though some Christians do need to look in the mirror before going out in a lack of clothing that encourages lust).  The Bible is talking about how our minds and attitudes are adorned as the unsaved world far too often sees very little of Christ in us. The Apostle Paul is very clear in the letter to the Philippians about what our attitude should be. In Philippians 2:5 Paul says that, “Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus.”

These are strong words and a strong challenge to us. But the truth is God did not save us to just let us remain in our old ways. When one becomes “born again” it means just that; new life. That new life demands change and Jesus knew that our old nature, the flesh as the Bible refers to it, doesn’t die off without a lot of effort. The new life demands radical action. Galatians 5:24 tells us that “Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires.” One of the vilest passions and desires we carry is our selfishness. We think way more of ourselves than we even realize. Going back to chapter two of Philippians we read what Paul instructs us to do in terms of our attitude.

Philippians 2:3-4
Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.  Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.

Paul says do “NOTHING” out of selfish ambition or conceit. Then the words get even stronger. “In humility count others more significant than yourselves.” Talk about counter-cultural. Our culture is all about “me”. The selfie defines us today. Facebook has done more to promote self than anything in history. Troll through Facebook; most people’s posts and pictures are filled with themselves.

Jesus is the perfect example of humility. Jesus was, is, and will always be God, yet He willingly set aside His glory to be born in a stable. He lived thirty years in mostly obscurity on this earth and then when He did go public He allowed Himself to be humiliated and lived the life of a homeless drifter. Then came the cross; the emblem of suffering and shame that He willingly bore for all of us. Paul paints the picture very well.

Philippians 2:5-8
Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,  who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,  but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.  And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

We cannot just ignore this scripture. No it must wake us up and it must inspire in us a new passion to live for God. But like Christ, we must face a death. We must take up a cross. We must crucify our flesh. We must change our attitudes toward our brothers and sisters in Christ. We must change our attitudes towards our families. We must change our attitudes towards our neighbors. We must change our attitudes towards those who call themselves our enemies. All of those people out there must become more important to us than ourselves. Maybe we need to break all our mirrors and disable the selfie functions on our phones. You know you can actually use that phone to call someone and ask they are and maybe offer some encouragement.

The Christian life is not about us. It is about glorifying God. None of this is easy. Even Jesus on the night before He went to the cross struggled with His trip to the cross.

Matthew 26:36-39
Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, “Sit here, while I go over there and pray.”  And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled.  Then he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.”  And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.”

So which shall we choose? Our will? Or God’s will?

God’s will for us is that we humble ourselves and consider others as more important than ourselves. He did not leave us alone to battle with our selfish desires. Jesus promised in John 16:7 that He would send us a helper. The Holy Spirit lives inside each Christian and He came and will empower us to live like Jesus.  But we must take that one small step of humility and ask Him to do the work.

Will you? Will you consider others as more important than yourself?