Over the last couple of days, I have been reading through the introduction to Paul's letter to the Philippian church, and Paul has an astounding bit of teaching on the reality of preaching the Gospel from different hearts, for different purposes, and what it ultimately means for the Christian.
Paul speaks about the growing confidence of those who proclaim Christ, and that this confidence has grown out of Paul's imprisonment for the Gospel. He exhorts these brothers that they would grow in boldness and to speak the word without fear. But Paul also recognizes that not all those who are energized with this newfound zeal for Christ are preaching and sharing truth from a heart of love and good will, but rather with a spirit of envy and rivalry, that these are speaking more boldly in an attempt to increase the affliction of Paul's imprisonment. So, some are speaking truth with the intention of fulfilling the commandment to love our neighbors as ourselves, to be peacemakers, to be labors in the field ready for harvest. Others are speaking from a heart that says that maybe if they speak boldly, if they proclaim this stumbling block of the cross, perhaps they will rise above Paul's status, be seen as the next great man of God.
Our initial response to this is that one of these groups is right, one is bringing glory to God, while this other group is clearly wrong and working outside the will of God. But Paul, the Apostle and upholder of God's sovereignty in all things... whether we see them as good or bad... reveals an astonishing truth:
"What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice. Yes, and I will rejoice, for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance, as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain." (Philippians 1:19-21)
Paul says that it is not the intention at the heart of man that will determine his life. It is not a matter of who preaches, or the intention of why they are preaching, but it is the truth of Christ that they are preaching that truly matters. Paul knows that freedom in Christ is this, that in the life of the Christian there is never one thing that occurs that is not intended for the everlasting good, joy, and peace of the Christian. That God works all things together for good to those who love God and are called according to His purpose. (Romans 8:28) And Paul recognizes that the eternal good to which God is working all things for His children is bringing forward the image of Christlikeness in us. God will use all things, all schemes of man, all kindness, all heart-wrought desires (good and bad) that lie in the intentions of man, all things to sanctify His sheep. Paul doesn't simply settle for mental ascent to this reality, but he rejoices in it as truth. He hears what is being said, and he understands the intentions at hand, but he does not worry, he does not get angry, he does not desire vengeance, he rejoices in the surpassing knowledge and understanding that he belongs to God. In this, though he be slayed, not a hair on his head can be harmed.
We spend entirely too much time worrying about what other people are saying, how other people are living, and what other people's intentions and desires are. We are called to speak truth in love, and to trust in faith that our ultimate good and God's ultimate purpose will always prevail, whether in life or in death.
