9/8/2022 Philippians 1:15 [NIV]

 

9/8/2021 Philippians 1:15 [NIV]

"It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill."

Tribal Christianity was never God’s plan. The Body of Christ limits its ability to serve the Kingdom of Heaven when it gets sidetracked struggling against each other. Yes, Christ is preached, and sinners are reached with the Good News, but at what cost? When we choose to trash talk other believers or cast doubt on their relationship with Christ or their unique approach to the Gospel, we create a fence around our own approach. The enemy uses these barriers to limit our outreach to the lost.

The world is filled with a great number of Christian denominations and communities. While this can this be both good and bad, different approaches can reach a greater variety and number of people. I believe this is one of the reasons why Jesus commands us to love one another, because it has a real effect on our witness to the world, for good or ill.

The Holy Spirit tries to bring us together around Christ. Yet some spend spiritual energy defending against and attacking other believers, convinced this must be done to save them from errors that have nothing to do with Christ, or the Cross. What should be our response to this? Certainly not by more criticism.

Paul’s response was to rejoice. The real secret to spreading the Good News of salvation in Jesus Christ is to act as if God is in charge and be grateful for the outcomes of what happens when we or others preach Christ crucified for our sins. We are not responsible for what others do. We are responsible for loving others and speaking the truth in love. Done in love and respect, we can grow together in all things.

Yes, there are some whose doctrines would lead people astray, but Christ is able to save those who look to Him rather than doctrine or theology. We need more, not less, of Christ preached to a lost and dying world however it is done.

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