Godliness

You may have first heard the term “godliness” from a parent, grandparent, or other caring authority figure in your life. There’s a good chance you heard it this way: “Cleanliness in next to godliness.” Godliness as a virtue once carried more weight to the average person than it seems to now. Godliness was highly respected. Who wouldn’t work at being clean in order to advance toward such a coveted quality as godliness?

The underlying assertion about that old saying is that they’re both worth working for. Neither comes naturally. Good personal hygiene takes work and being a godly person requires effort. That’s not a fluke. It’s by design. Paul says, “work out your salvation with fear and trembling” (Philippians 2:12).

It is vitally important to note that Paul’s exhortation is in the context of calling the believers at Philippi to be unified. The whole passage is about unity as the body of Christ. In other words, the effort we put into progressing toward godliness is both an individual and team effort.

Although solitude is a good spiritual discipline, getting godly does not happen in isolation. It’s vital to keep a united front “by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose” (Philippians 2:2). That takes work. Thankfully, it’s not merely a result of human effort. We have supernatural help, "for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.” (Philippians 2:13).

One reason unity is so important is that the world is watching. The effect we have on the darkness around us is directly connected to how we relate to each other. Where there is division and self-interest, the world notices. It’s interpreted as hypocrisy. It sends the wrong message, to say the least.

Of course, striving toward individual godliness is essential. We should each give ourselves to becoming more like Jesus. The church is made up of individuals. But watching hearts and minds will not be changed if they don’t sense the strength of numbers.

It can be compared to a team sporting event. Players work together to be of one mind in order to effectively run their plays. Basketball teams gather around the coach during a timeout to strategize for success in the next crucial minutes or seconds. The huddle is important, but fans don’t pay to see only sideline huddles.

Having agreed on their plan of action, the team disperses to carry out their assignment. They’re still unified, but now face to face with the competition. Unity of godliness, both in the huddle and on the field, is indispensable.

Neither individuals nor teams train for the physical rigors of huddling. It’s about the part where the real action takes place. Our Sunday morning huddles are critical. But not utilizing the training in godliness we receive there to face the competition renders it impotent.

Grow in godliness, with God’s help, both individually and through the unity of the body of Christ. If we don’t do that, those desperately in need of what Christ has to offer through us, will stop watching.       

“…so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world”  ─Philippians 2:15