15It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. 16The latter do so in love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. 17The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. (NIV)
Some were preaching Christ and proclaiming Him in part to encourage Paul in his imprisonment. Others did it from selfish ambition, adding to their sin by thinking that they could harass Paul in the process.
Our proclamation of the gospel affects other believers, it edifies and strengthens. The people wanting to encourage knew Paul was excited that his imprisonment was resulting in preaching and people being converted. This was worth it to Paul, and quite rewarding - even as he suffered.
Prayer
Lord, suffering can be grand, so your word says. By your grace, please guide me to suffer well and by it have occasion to proclaim the gospel, and grant me glad willingness to die for your sake - and live and love for your sake. Amen.
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8 comments:
Pat, do you think the Bible is merely a political document meant to inspire us to shake up the establishment? Or is it an all encompasing document designed to challange us personally, and within the community as well? My lastest thread regarding the election has me thinking and re-thinking my positions. How can two individuals (you and Ian) have such different views based on reading the same Scriptures. It's really discouraging to me how one person believes in communism and another can still believe in the American syste. Is it just a matter of interpretation?
That is a critical question Dave, and one need only apply the classical discipline of hermeneutics, whether that applies to the constitution, the bible, or the the Humanist Manifesto.
Words have meaning, and one must understand the historical/cultural, grammatical and linguistic context in which the statements were made and what the meaning of the authors was. How did the original audience understand these things? Only then can we make contemporary application.
In our post modern age, when subjectivism is the ruling paradigm, anything can be made to mean anything. But you or I or Ian would protest if someone were to take our words and turn them into something they were not.
John the Baptist told the Roman Soldiers to be content with their wages. He accused Herod of sinning by having his brother's wife.
The only establishment that Jesus sought to overthrow was the legalistic Pharisee and scribe establishment!
The entire bible is what God decided necessary to direct humans to fulfilling the mandates in keeping with God's will for binging about His righteous rule and establishing His kingdom - information as to God, creation, humanity, the natural world, etc. That is impossible without the Gospel, which by definition excludes the universalism embraced by the UCC for example, and ANY other religious tradition. That is undeniable from the scripture.
The gospel must not be bound to a political system, neither is God counting on that.
But it is not possible to mine liberation theology from scripture. It simply is not there.
Actually, you expounded on this perfectly. I look at this extrapolation as something foreign to common folks. Look at the reaction Rev Wright? Why was it so hostile? Is it because I am a racist by nature? Or is it because I don't see the correlation between this type of theology and the Bible I love? I'm really beginning to think I live in a parallel universe where people are so divided that eventually there's going to be real civil unrest. People cannot contain this much anger and misrepresentation and lying and deceit without eventually going off the rails.
I agree. We are on the verge of busting open. Not a good thing!
I know as a Christian I am called to be salt and light. And I don't see myself as the torches and pitchforks of this generation. So what is role? Do I stand back and admire the double standards, lies and half truths? And how can I be salt? We've lost the culture war and it seems that we're losing the war on common sense as well. Any suggestions other than laying low?
We must be salt and light in our immediate sphere of influence. Our conduct must adorn the glorious gospel, and we are never to let our hope in God wane in the face of the rebellious activities of mere mortals.
WE make sure that we have not fallen into the trap of thinking that as Christians we have different compartments for secular and sacred - all we do is sacred.
Be involved in writing editorials, serving in the community - loving your neighbor. These are good things.
You and I love to write and think and speak, so we also have to be mindful of the scriptural warning that "in the presence of many words, sin is not lacking".
We out to death the deeds of the flesh! We set our affections on things above. We bear about in our mind and bodies the outrageous truth that Christ conquered the death and decay that is all around us.
We marvel at Christ and help others to do the same!
That's the short answer!
Hey, Patrick. I saw a post from you on the BW3 site and thought I'd drop by and say hello to a former BIOLA MA/Apologetics classmate. You have a nice blog here, and its a real achievement to keep a steady flow of posts going (I get too distracted by other things, myself). I'll stop by again. Take care, brother.
Blessings,
Steve
Just checking by here myself, Steve. Thanks for stopping in! I will post again soon.
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