Do you have Attitude?
Do you have ‘Attitude’?
In today’s world the word seems to have a particular meaning. To ‘have attitude’ suggests a confrontational response to authority. The young person ‘with attitude’ is probably not co-operating as fully as they might with his or her parents/teachers/employer/…
Attitude need not, of course, refer only to negative takes on life, but this might be a helpful place to start because it reminds us that attitudes come from a deep place within us. An attitude is not just a temporary stance we decide to take up for a particular moment (unless you are a ballet dancer!). Attitude comes from that profound sense of where we stand in the world and in relation to others.
So when Paul says, ‘The attitude you should have…’, he is not talking about an outward show or a temporary thought. It comes from that real sense of Christ living within us.
Philippians 2:5-11
5 The attitude you should have is the one that Christ Jesus had:
6 He always had the nature of God,
but he did not think that by force he should try to remain[2] equal with God.
7 Instead of this, of his own free will he gave up all he had,
and took the nature of a servant.
He became like a human being
and appeared in human likeness.
8 He was humble and walked the path of obedience all the way to death —
his death on the cross.
9 For this reason God raised him to the highest place above
and gave him the name that is greater than any other name.
10 And so, in honour of the name of Jesus
all beings in heaven, on earth, and in the world below[3]
will fall on their knees,
11 and all will openly proclaim that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
Do we have attitude? The little girl seems to be rather sulky, doesn’t she? But The Boss asked us not to be so judgemental,in fact he suggests that the severity of our judgements may become how we are measured. I say suggests because he also says anything is possible with his Heavenly Father.
God knows us through and through. He knew I would write but the child may have been very alone and needing our love and care.
St Paul wrote some truly inspirational passages. Here we go, Lord….. but I think sometimes he went forward on his own instead of referring people to Christ’s own words. The interpreter sometimes accidentally obscures the Word.
So, let us mark Easter with a good attitude. Christ gave himself as a Ransom, because we try but we get things wrong. Commemoration and thanks are due because God loves us very much. The love of Christ be with all.