The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached.
Summary: Paul is pondering what is most important in life. In this passage, he shares his conclusion that at the end of the day, all that matters is that Christ is preached.
How much Jesus is enough to save a soul?
This question may sound silly, but it stems from the passage before us. What does Paul mean by “in every way?” Does it matter if I preach a little Jesus or a lot? Is how I preach Jesus more important than the fact that I preach Jesus? What if I preach Jesus, but I do it in a way that you don’t like?
These questions could lead us down any number of interesting paths. For one, we could discuss the divisions in our modern church. For another, we could compare the doctrines of different religions.
But what is important?
Let’s consider God’s point of view for a moment.
If you have ever flown in an airplane, you know that people on the ground look smaller and smaller the higher you fly. Flying over a city, you can look down on hundreds of thousands of people at once.
God sees the whole world that way. He sees every person all at once, and he sees us close-up at the same time (1 John 3:20, Matthew 10:29). In one of his parables, Jesus explains what this looks like to God (Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43)
In the parable, Jesus explains that God sees people as “good seed” and “weeds” (vs 24-26). The “good seed” belongs in the Kingdom of God (vs 43), and the “weeds” end up in the burn pile (vs 40-42).
That sounds simple enough, but from where we stand, it is a mystery. We cannot see into each heart like God can. We try and judge people’s hearts, but we are limited to what they do and what they claim to believe.
This is dangerous territory! Jesus teaches us, “Do not judge, or you too will be judged” (Matthew 7:1, Luke 6:37). Yet he also teaches us that we should “Stop judging by mere appearances, but instead judge correctly” (John 7:24).
The safest route is to keep our eyes on Jesus (1 Corinthians 2:2) and mind our own business (Matthew 7:3-5). Some are called to preach, and they do well to preach “Jesus Christ and him crucified.” The rest of us who belong to God should be able to point to Jesus as well (1 Peter 3:15).
Ultimately, the important thing is not who is pointing to Jesus or what their motives are. The important thing is that we point to Jesus as our Savior and Lord.
Wheat will be wheat, and weeds will be weeds. We can trust God to sort out the rest.
Application: Keep Jesus first in your heart, and point to him always.
Food for Thought: What happens to our ministry when we get caught up in nit-picking other Christian religions?
I think Romans Chapter 14 covers this subject very well. Romans 14:18-19 seems to be a good summary of what Paul speaks of in that chapter:
18 Whoever thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men. 19 So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding.
When we nit-pick other Christian religions, we are unable to live up to the grace we have received thus far. We have received grace and love from God through Christ. When we are unable to give the same to others over issues that don’t affect the message of His unconditional offer of salvation, redemption, and restoration, we cast a shadow on His efficacy. We are unable to show to our brothers and sisters, who serve Christ, the love of Christ. The ministry of Christ, our testimony of Christ’s power, begins to look more like an operation of the mind, rather than a transformation of it.
1 Corinthians 13:1-3 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.
Chris,
Thank you! Your words remind me of Romans 14:4 —
“Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To their own master, servants stand or fall. And they will stand, for the Lord is able to make them stand.“
Very good summation to this question CH, with good Bible references.
I will only add that when we nit pick the nonessentials, then we get our eyes off of Christ. When we are tempted to not pick where someone has gone wrong, we are tempted to go wrong ourselves. If your eyes are off Christ, you may be looking in the wrong place.
Hebrews 12: 1 – 2a: Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.
Thank you, Rich!
You make such an important point!! We can’t be looking at the perceived faults in others and our Lord Jesus at the same time!
Great Points Men!
What happens to our ministry when we get caught up in nit-picking other Christian religions?
We have not been placed on this earth, called to Christ to begin judging the conduct of other individuals or churches. My goal on earth is to become more like Jesus and minister to those God brings into my sphere of influence. It is not to take my eyes off my goal as I begin judging others over myself.
We are forgiven sinners, living in this world as works in progress, called to moment by moment, day by day, in acts of submission, seek to become more like Jesus. This is our goal which will only be fully achieved when we are at last with Him. We have not been called to pass judgement on others who could very well be different parts of the body, effectively ministering to others.
We have been given the power of discernment to examine ourselves and effectively minister to all those brought into our sphere of influence by God. Not for judgement, but to receive His truths as necessary.
Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? 4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye. Matthew 7:3-5
I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. John 13:15
Beloved, we are now children of God, and what we will be has not yet been revealed. We know that when Christ appears, we will be like Him, for we will see Him as He is. 1 John 3:2
Thank you, Ron!
“We are forgiven sinners…”
That is soooo true!
I am reminded of Matthew 18:21-32 where the ungrateful servant forgets that truth and it doesn’t go well with him!