Beta group: New Responsibilities

Philippians 2:12-18

Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed--not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence--continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling,  for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.

Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life--in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labour for nothing. But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. So you too should be glad and rejoice with me.

The "work out your salvation" bit seems to get misused to say that we should be in fear and trembling at God.  There's the healthy respect you show to a circuit breaker on a 400 kV power line, and there's the fear that you're going to get zapped by that power line if you hang around.  I think we're supposed to be more in the healthy respect category.

"Do everything without complaining or arguing" is hard.  Our pastor actually preached on this not too long ago.  It's easy to complain, easy to argue that it's not your turn to make dinner or clean the toilet.  Getting up and actually making dinner requires effort, and dragging yourself away from the kitten for a half hour.

"... blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation"  Who thinks we're in a crooked and depraved generation?  Who thinks we're not?  The contrast level between a Christian and the rest of the world doesn't seem to be that much.  We're not shining like stars, more like 40 watt light bulbs with a coating of dust.  How do we change that?