Partnership in the Gospel

I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. (Phil. 1:3-5)

I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel… (Phil. 1:12)

What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice. (Phil. 1:18)

One of the great themes of Philippians is the advancement of the gospel. We all know that we are supposed to care about the advancement of the gospel, but sometimes it takes rereading a book like Philippians to wake us up to this again. We need the reminder, because we forget how important this should be to Christians.

For a long time, it was possible (perhaps not wise, but certainly possible) to assume that almost everyone in America knew the gospel. But we no longer live in a country where we can safely assume this. People exist all over our community with no real understanding of what Christians actually believe. Many have a stereotype in their minds that is the product of the news, movies and TV shows, and political arguments, but lack actual awareness of the hope upon which our lives are built. In addition, many Christians are sensitive to the fact that others don’t want our beliefs rammed down their throats. Effectively, we think, “If they already know what we believe, and if they don’t want to talk about it, shouldn’t we wait until they ask us?”

The problem is what most of us know by experience—they almost never ask! There are people around us, in desperate need of the gospel, who don’t know enough to even begin to ask. They think they know what Christians believe (usually some amalgamation of moralism and political stances) and no Christian stands up to talk about the hope that we have in the death and resurrection of Jesus. That hope—that Jesus’ death and resurrection have brought forgiveness to us, conquered sin and death, and offer new life in the Spirit—remains beyond their reach, because Christians stay silent about the one issue we should be vocal about—the gospel!

Of course we need to approach people with sensitivity and listen before we talk! Of course we need to love with actions as we evangelize! Of course people are more willing to listen if we form friendships first! But if the church stays silent on the gospel, we are missing the calling of Christ! As a church, let us begin to pray that God would give us opportunity to proclaim the gospel, and let us begin looking for opportunities to do so!

Steven+