getting “reasonableness” right

Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; Philippians 4:5

Reasonableness (epieikes). appropriate (by implication) mild: — gentle, moderate, patient. seeming, suitable, equitable, fair.

Reasonableness is crucial for maintaining community; it is the disposition that seeks what is best for everyone and not just for oneself. ESV Study Bible

Why be reasonable in this way?

The Lord is at hand emphasizes the fact that Jesus will surely return as judge and will hold us responsible for our deeds. ESV Study Bible

Reasonableness is the corporate characteristic of the Christian church whereby the experience of being loved by fellow believers creates an atmosphere where everyone seeks the best for one another. It is what happens when the exhortation of Philippians 2:3-4 (… in humility count others more significant… look not only to self interest but also the interests of others…) is obeyed and enculturated among believers.

Sadly, the Church is often very unreasonable. We twist preferences and opinions into hard convictions. We make dogma from our differences. We turn ourselves upside-down in our selfishness! We appoint worldly concerns as the standard of judgment over one another. We exalt self-interest over corporate care, love, and gospel proclamation. We miss out on community and the divisiveness of a fallen world destroys unity and scars the beauty of the Bride of Christ. We are called to live out Philippians 2:3-4; 4:5. Let’s look out for each other! Let’s repent of our divisions and selfishness! Let’s be reasonable!