The Apostle Paul has sent one of the most magnificent letters ever written.  He concludes it with an all-encompassing meaning, and summary.  What did he write?  He uses the word finally five times in his letters.  It is used twice in Philippians.  The word seems to hold special meaning for the Apostle.  It is though, as he writes, that if there is nothing more to be given from me, this is what I want to leave as important to Christian context.  He wrote for the ideal in the reader in the context of Christian culture.  He means here that this summary is the residue of applying Christianity to life.  This is what remains, when the person has matured, and has found how to manage self, thought, time and devotion in an imperfect world.  This is the inner action for the individual.  It is cultivation of a pattern that wins not only with God, but with others of faith or no faith in daily life circumstances.  This is affirmative life from the nature of God.

  1. We are to regard truth. So, truth has much to do with the search for excellence in our lives.  It honors God, because truth is in the nature of God – as love is.  Falsehood in any context become lies against God.  God identifies that occurring to the Christian as occurring to himself, but all lies are violence against him.
  2. We are to regard whatever is honorable. So, we are spiritually guided in what we praise.  This too relates to excellence in our feelings and efforts to advance the better side of matters.  In this we reject the dishonorable, the marginal – lesser things.  This does not deny imperfection in us and society but points direction.  The dishonorable even in secular contexts relates to the record of our earthly performance.
  3. We are to regard whatever is right. So, we are concerned not only to gain the right, but find it in the right way – the means to the end.  This too leads to excellence.  In this we reject the wrong, the unfair, the false privilege, and the evasion of responsibility.  The seeking of right does not justify all means to it.
  4. We are to regard whatever is pure. So, we develop standards that are summarized in righteousness, in call and practice of morality, and to advancing whatever is right. In this we reject for ourselves the unholy, the contaminating influences of sin in persons, society, even in nature – that dilutes spiritual life.
  5. We are to regard whatever is lovely. So, we regard it by choosing what is excellent in beauty, the truly beautiful, and seeking to advance that perspective in life.  We resist the ugly, brutal, and shifting downward, away from beauty in thought, in deed, in nature.  Life context was designed to be beautiful.
  6. We are to regard whatever has good reputation. So, we find some excellence in the adaptations and engagements of what is good in the circumstances that visit us on a personal or corporate basis.  We look for the better side of persons and things.  It is presumed that whatever moves to constructive ends, even when found imperfect, is better than no effort to the service of becoming better for individuals and the society.  We are to be helpful in modeling, as individuals and as God’s congregation (family), so to follow the better patterns for daily life – in thought and action.  This is in respect for the ought-to-be life.

The Apostle makes clear that the Christian, in this pattern, is inviting excellence, and excellence in these matters is part of what God represents to us as his children’s stretch to life.  The list is easy to grasp, to understand, to offer confidence in passing through mortal life to ultimate hope.  Concepts of idealism help even secular education and life generally. This requires no special talent, but considerable commitment to righteous standards and refusal of temptation.  All persons are invited to join.  Not all will respond to the invitation.  A large threat in all this is that we and the community may fall short of the ideals so to be discouraged in trying for approved standards.  It is better to try, and fall short, than to quit.  With honesty and prayer we discover that God assists in the objective.  He designed the series. *Mark W. Lee, Sr. — 2016, 2020