A plethora of voices surrounds us. Our companions and loved ones communicate with us while our employers provide instructions on performing our tasks. We receive their distinct viewpoints on the events unfolding in the world through various media outlets, such as news sources, social media, and podcasts. Additionally, figures in positions of authority articulate expectations and guidelines for our behavior and lifestyle. With so much noise around us, it may be hard to understand what we should say and when especially in mixed groups. However, Paul reminds us that no matter what is being said, we should always strive to proclaim the Gospel in all circumstances. Therefore, when we find the opportunity to speak, may the love of God come forth from our mouths.
We must always proclaim the Gospel because we comprehend that the messages thrown around us can be confusing, and the world strains to find any cohesion to a message of hope in our loud environment. The Gospel reminds us that no matter where we come from, where we are right now, and what our status will be in the future, we are empowered to share God’s loving grace with everyone, and no one is exempt. Therefore, brothers and sisters, there is no excuse for us; as long as we live, we can share God’s message of freedom with all the people.
The Gospel’s spread was paramount to Paul after his encounter with Jesus. He fought with Jews, Romans, and other Christians to ensure that the Gospel would remain GOOD NEWS. This passion ultimately landed him in prison, where we presume he wrote this letter to the people of Phillippi. Never fearing the repercussions, Paul was confident that his imprisonment would ultimately lead to a more complete proclamation of the Gospel worldwide.
12 I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, 13 so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ. 14 And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear. 15 Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good will. 16 The latter do it out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. 17 The former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely but thinking to afflict me in my imprisonment. 18 What then? Only in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and I rejoice.
The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Php 1:12–18.
No matter your circumstances before or now, God can and will use them to advance the Gospel. Paul understood that his predicament in prison allowed God’s message to travel to Rome. In this situation, we can learn from Paul that instead of looking at our lives and sitting and wallowing or worrying, we can look at the obstacles placed before us as unique opportunities to share the Grace of God. Hardship tempts us to focus on what we can’t do, but the Holy Spirit empowers us to use even adverse events in our lives to pursue the message of God from a new perspective. From prison, Paul had access to people and authorities that he couldn’t have had if his missionary journeys did not have opposition, and Paul took advantage by bringing the Gospel with him to the center of power. We, like Paul, need to look at where we have been, where we are going, and how we can bring the Gospel with us and share it with people to whom we didn’t have access and in places we were not previously. We need to understand that by proclaiming the Gospel, we don’t “win” souls; that is the job of the Holy Spirit. We, instead, offer encouragement to others that boldly following Christ offers a witness to the power of Christ over even the darkest situation.
Even among Christian circles, several voices proclaim Christ but do not do so that the name of Christ will be lifted, but rather that their profile would be lifted or that they could use the church’s influence to obtain power and influence over people. The message of the Gospel cannot focus on selfish ambitions because the Gospel is about proclaiming freedom from sin, which is powerful. It comes as no surprise that those that seek after power would be intrigued and interested in being able to harness this power for their ends. Such abuse of God’s power can lead to adverse reactions toward the church and division among Christians. Paul reminds us that no matter people’s intentions, the Gospel is powerful enough to be proclaimed despite the proclaimer’s intent. We see this in situations where people proclaim messages with malicious intent, but people turn to Christ anyway. When this happens, Paul rejoices, and we should rejoice as well.
God calls us to follow Paul’s example and focus on the proclamation. The Christians voicing the Gospel with their mouths, living the Gospel with their bodies, and embracing the Gospel with their minds bring unity, truth, hope, peace, and love to the whole world. No one is exempt from this mission; you are never too old, too young, too bright, too unintelligent, too outgoing, or too shy to share the Gospel with the world. Christ came bringing release to all those captive to sin, and there is no one that we can deem unworthy of God’s grace. Therefore, pray for your enemies, even those that mean to harm you, because if they are redeemed, we rejoice. Until there is no more life in our bodies, God calls us to proclaim the Gospel.
The Gospel reminds us what Christ has done for the world, and our lives need to be representative of an understanding that we are not the focus, but instead, we need to reflect God’s love for others. There is no excuse to drive division among one another; rather, we strive to lift others up. God calls us to proclaim the Gospel in all seasons, even in our deepest despair, because in doing that, we will show Gospel and encourage others in their need. Paul would agree with the phrase often attributed to St Francis, “Preach the Gospel at all times; when necessary, use words.”
Elpis and Shalom 