Whether In Pretense or In Truth

Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good will.  The latter do it out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel.  The former proclaim Christ out of rivalry, not sincerely but thinking to afflict me in my imprisonment.  What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice. – Philippians 1:15-18

This boggles my brain. Paul’s entire ambition was the proclamation of the gospel (God created man, man fell, man spent thousands of years trying to get back to “god”, God sent His Son to fix the mess).  Paul was not concerned with his reputation.  Paul was not even concerned that he would be vindicated eventually from bogus charges, neither in life nor death (gah! another bogglement – take that people who seek martyrdom).  His ambition was just to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Even when he saw people doing it with wrong motivations, which apparently the Philippians had reported to him, he was so unattached to his reputation and the “method” that he rejoiced simply in the fact that Christ was being proclaimed.

With that I rejoice for the guy on 45th & Bell proclaiming Christ to people with their windows up and their radios on. How many times have I called that guy a fool?  (Of course, I also pray that his love may abound more and more, with knowledge and discernment – Phil. 1:9)

Every day I am more and more convinced that there is nothing beyond Christ and Him crucified.