While I have not watched an episode yet, I have heard that Undercover Boss can be a very heart-touching TV show. I understand the basic premise--a CEO or president of a large company or corporation leaves his high position, goes incognito, and takes the status of a lowly employee temporarily. In doing so, he becomes familiar with the plight of some of his employees, not only in their daily work, but in their life struggles. He reveals his true identity at the end of the show, to the complete surprise of his former fellow workers, and then showers some with material blessings to help them in their difficult circumstances.
An exalted high position. A willingness to forsake all that. Temporarily take the form of an ordinary employee. Empathize with his employees. His identity is concealed and then revealed. He returns to his once-deserted office and position. Showers an employee or two with unexpected blessings.
It seems there was another, much earlier incident that takes that similar story line, except on a much grander scale and a world-altering course. Undercover Boss? Nice conception, but not an immaculate one. For that, we must go to the Undercover God.
The producer-director of this real life drama holds all nations and all companies and all people and all there is in the palm of his hands. Talk about power, but this absolute power does not corrupt absolutely. Donald Trump is a mere speck of dust in comparison to this CEO--Creator, Eternal, Omnipotent. You can not find a more lofty position or exalted office. And you can not find a more heart-changing story, when this CEO left it all to enter the depths of the company of his creation, which went horribly awry after rebellion against this CEO entered the picture.
No movie or TV script can hold a candle to what we find in Philippians 2:1 and following. The narrative of the Incarnation is found in Luke 2, but the theology behind the narrative is found in Philippians 2. What exactly happened in that manger scene? Who was born that day? Who was that crying on Mary's lap? Who was it that shepherds came to see? Who was it that divided our date- setting and calendar between B.C. and A.D.? Well, it was none other than the Undercover God.
Those who say that any discussion of theology belongs only in the realm of academicians in seminaries encounter one of the most profoundest theological statements in the pages of Scripture right in the context of practical instruction in Philippians 2. Theology is practical and personal, and therefore it is most relevant and reverent.
Actually, Paul begins in the first four verses of this chapter by talking about the practical matters of unselfishness and humility. In verse two, Paul tells the Christians then and now, "You want to make my day? Then you all have the same mind-set, the same attitude toward one another, the same love for each one. You do that, and you have made my day and my life!" Maybe anticipating some questions, the apostle continues the thought in the next two verses: "Okay, you might be wondering how can we do that though? Isn't that asking too much? How can we have the same love for every single person in the body of Christ? Well, quit the game of one-up-manship and quit trying to put your best foot forward only to put your foot on the throat of someone else. In fact, start thinking and doing that 'looking after number one' is looking after everybody else besides you." There is no "I" in team, but there sure is in sIn.
And this is not asking too much of you. It is within you to do it. That is why he begins the whole discussion in verse one. Every one of us has Christ, his love, his Spirit, his encouragement, his consolation, his affection and his compassion to do it. It is not asking too much of us, because we have it within us to do it. But not only do we have it within us to do it, but we have it before us to do it as well.
Do we have an example out there before us that can provide the best clue on what selfless living and humility are all about? So, in verse five, the bridge from the practical to the theology is a super natural one. Yes, Virginia, there really is a sacred clause: "Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who being in the form of God, did not count equality with God something to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men, and being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross."
The reason why stories like what we see in Undercover Boss or in other heroic, selfless acts stir our heart's passion is because they only mirror in a small way what the Undercover God has done in history. No matter how depraved the human heart is, there is still enough of the image of God within all of us that we yearn for something bigger than ourselves that tell us what life is really all about. You can't get any bigger than the life and death example of the Undercover God, Jesus Christ, in Philippians 2.
When examined in detail, it becomes even that much bigger. No company president would do or could do what Jesus did. No human interest story on the evening news could match what God did when that Babe was crying at Mary's breast. No act of philanthropy or heroism could ever duplicate the selfless life and sacrificing death of the God-in-human-form.
Two intensive and extensive questions are raised in this passage, that has occupied so much time and space by the best of scholars through the centuries. Number one is "What is meant by being in the form of God?" Number two is "What exactly did God empty Himself of when He became man?" For the answer to those two questions, we will devote some time and space at our next blog posting.
I read today that Bethlehem has recorded this year the most number of pilgrims and travelers in history. Maybe many are having a hard time finding room for themselves in an inn. Why a record number this year? Laying aside for the moment the superstitious motivation behind many who make the journey to Bethlehem, I can only think that there is so much growing uncertainty and fear in this old world, and people are craving such things as stability and hope. We don't read of people in mass making long treks to places like Harvard or Oxford on an annual basis to find solutions to the world's problems. We don't read of people traveling the world over to visit some guru on a mountain in India. We only read of people marching on a nation's capitol to protest what is being done or what is not being done. Yes, we are familiar with Muslims by the millions going to Mecca annually, but only the adherents of this religion of fear and hate can attend, and Allah did not become man and dwelt among us. There is a sword in Islam, but there is no cross. They have dying enemies, but they have no dying Savior.
Why this out-of-place, small hamlet called Bethlehem? Why journey there of all places?
Because it was there that the Undercover God appeared and it is only in Him that perfect love casts out fear, and it is only in Him that hope springs eternal. It is a story like no other, and we don't need CBS to promote it on a weekly show. All followers of this Undercover God have it within them and before them to promote this incredible story of biblical proportions on a daily basis.
Joyfully yours,
Chris
