Lydia's Church

I've been a Bible reader most of my life.  I've been to seminary.  I've been a pastor for 25 years.  But there are still times when I'm stunned to see a familiar Bible passage in a new light.

The book of Philippians has long been one of my favorite.  A book of joy, to a healthy church, laced with many insights and the depth of the love of Jesus.  I've even memorized portions of the book.

But just this week, as I turned to read it's familiar pages once again, I had one of those lightening bolt insights that changes everything.

Let me explain.  Acts 16 tells the story of a woman named Lydia.  She was a business woman (a dealer in purple cloth).  It seems she's wealthy with a large home.  And in Acts 16, she becomes a follower of Jesus when a man named Paul tells her about Him.

I've always seen Lydia as something of an early pastor / church planter.  After all, she introduces her entire household (servants, workers, etc) to Jesus.  She convinces the apostle Paul and his whole team to come and stay at her home.  She's a powerful woman.  And as a new church in her town forms, it meets in her home, where Paul and his team teach.  But Paul and his team don't stay forever... in fact, they are run out of town.  Before they leave entirely, they meet with the church at Lydia's home.  It doesn't say it in Acts, but I've always figured that Lydia assumed the leadership for this church.  After all, it was her home.  (Another example?  Priscilla & Aquila would have led the church in their home - Romans 16).   Many of the people came to this church because of her.  She's a leader in the community.  And she's been trained up-close-and-personal by Paul, Silas, and the team.

But it wasn't until this week that it finally dawned on me... Lydia was from Philippi.  Which means that the letter to the Philippians is a letter to Lydia's church.

I read my favorite book in a whole new light.  No wonder the only two names of leaders mentioned in the book are names of women!  No wonder Paul says that the Philippians are in his heart!  No wonder the Philippian church is a church that financially supports Paul... it's pastor is a businesswoman!  No wonder this is a church that cares for the basic needs of Paul!  No wonder this is a book infused with joy!

How could I have missed this before?  In some ways, I feel stupid... until I realize that in all my years of seminary... and in all the Bible commentaries and study Bibles I've read... no one has pointed this out.  What a shame!  Understanding this really does shed a different light on the text...