The Florida – Georgia District if the LWML meets in September in Florida. Their theme comes from Philippians 1:27 where Paul says , “Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel”.
Paul urges the Christians at Philippi that they “stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the Gospel.” By “standing fast in one ,spirit” he means that they are to show themselves :firm and unyielding in maintaining their faith, with unity of conviction, mind, and will. He wants this congregation to be a group of people who are united in spirit by the firm conviction that their common faith is absolutely true and who stand by this faith without wavering. The expression “in one spirit” does not refer to the Holy Spirit. Christians should feel themselves bound together by their faith and should be unwavering in the declaration of their faith. They should consider such matters as concern their faith as settled once for all between themselves and God. There should be no more questioning or quibbling or argument concerning the fundamental articles of their faith than there is about the facts of common arithmetic. These things are settled for all times and are beyond question. The apostle furthermore writes that he wishes to hear that the Philippians are “with one mind striving together for the faith of the Gospel.” The word striving was taken from the language of sports; it is the word from which our English word “athletics” is derived. The Philippians are to strive, to exert themselves, to work hard, in order to uphold the faith of the Gospel. They have received the faith of the Gospel as a precious possession; they are to put forth every effort to keep their faith and to frustrate any attacks upon it, to drive back all enmity against it. Christians should go to great lengths in maintaining and defending their faith. They should contend for the faith of the Gospel as earnestly, as fervently, as vehemently, as those contend who are engaged in athletic combat. Defending our faith, maintaining it, propagating it, are earnest and serious matters for the Christian. The unity with which this should be done is evident from the expression “with one mind” and from the preposition used in the original of the expression “striving together.” Great tasks require united efforts, and there is comfort in numbers. (Fredric Niedner)
