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Destroying Our Private Cities

MY girl friend from college was staying with her sister and brother‑in‑law for the weekend.  She was on an assignment for her course in child psychology.  Her project: Observe how little children interpret the world around them.

     One of the observations was unplanned.  Her four‑year‑old nephew, Ben, unashamedly opened the bathroom door and entered, to the surprise of his aunt.  Although a bit startled, his aunt was able to use the occasion to help Ben understand the concept of privacy.

     “Ben, when people close the door, that means they would like to have their privacy.”  Ben acknowledged his aunt’s instruction and went his way.  The issue seemed to be settled.

     Later that afternoon, Ben's mother noticed his bedroom door closed.  That was a bit unusual, she thought.  She proceeded to open it to check on her son.

     “Ben, are you all right?” she asked in a tone of concern.

     Ben looked up and in a matter‑of‑fact voice said, “Mom, I closed my door because I want my own private city.” 

     That serendipity is as instructive as it is winsome.  It is both appropriate and polite to respect another's privacy.  But there comes a time in a culture when the concept of privacy can hinder the equally appropriate sense of community.  It can stifle cooperative participation in the responsibilities of the community.  Attitudes such as my world, my choice eventually produce the pursuit of personal fulfillment.  Like young Ben, people today seem to crave their own private city.

     After steering the Philippian believers back to their original call—their first love—Paul says to them, “Work out your salvation with fear and trembling.”  Sometimes we need to hear the actual Greek word order.  Say it aloud: “With fear and trembling, your salvation, work it out.”  Paul puts the verb last for emphasis.  It is a serious matter our salvation to work out.  We often simply respond to this text by adding, “Work out what God has worked in.”  We should note two things, however.  One, this text is addressed to the whole congregation.  The “you” is plural.  That prompts the other points or questions: What is being worked in and how does the congregation work it out?

     The phrase “fear and trembling” can have a wide range of connotations: fear of failure, nervous anxiety about one's responsibilities, awe and reverence in the presence of someone or something.  Which best fits the context?

     When fear and trembling are juxtaposed in this manner, they can suggest something positive rather than something negative.  Only Paul, among New Testament writers, joins the two words.  Nowhere does he use them to indicate an attitude we should have before God—that is, fearing and trembling before God.  Invariably he uses them to indicate the disposition people should have toward each other (1 Corinthians 2:3; 2 Corinthians 7:15; Ephesians 6:5).  Were we to give this idiomatic phrase a contemporary twist, it would be something like, “Have respect for each other.”  In the broader context, Philippians 2:12 calls us to renew our obedience to Christ by showing mutual respect within our local church.