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, the people in attendance are getting all the feels, and in that I rejoice. (Philippians 1:15-18, Modernized to fit our contemporary theology).
I’ve heard this verse quoted often as defense of accepting pretty shallow doctrine and rejoicing in the fact that “at least the gospel is preached”. But often, the gospel isn’t being preached but the name of Christ is simply being tacked on somewhere along the way. What it’s really about is that the people in attendance are leaving feeling good about themselves and they got a Jesus sticker at the door, so we are supposed to pretend that this is something Paul would celebrate.
But that isn’t at all what is happening in this passage. The problem isn’t that people are proclaiming false things about Jesus the problem is that they are proclaiming true things about Jesus with messed up hearts. As a result, Paul is rejoicing in the fact that Christ is being proclaimed even if by someone who wants to do him harm. It’s like the college students who get saved studying Jonathan Edwards’ famous sermon Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God. The professor intends to mock God, but God’s Word is powerful and students get converted in spite of it. The gospel is being preached even with ill motives and for that we are told to rejoice.
I don’t take any comfort in souls being deceived by a watered down gospel or an absolutely false gospel. I could care less if there are “visible results” and the name of Jesus is attached to them. That isn’t a cause to celebrate. What is a cause to celebrate is when the gospel is being proclaimed. If people are having emotions directly proportional to the truth being proclaimed then I am all for it. But I refuse to celebrate emotionalism.
Cold-hearted worship is a contradiction in terms. Worship should be passionate and our whole being should be engaged. The truth ought to move us. Preaching as Martin Lloyd-Jones has said, is to be “logic on fire”. You can keep your emotionless preaching of the truth. That’s a bit too close to the demonic for my taste. After all, demons have great theology and would make great teachers of theology but their good theology doesn’t move them to personal holiness or to worship the living God.
At the same time you can keep your passionate worship which gives you all the feels but it’s more moved by the strings you play on an instrument than feasting on the truth of the gospel. You can have goosebumps raising “worship” but if it doesn’t lead to personal holiness it’s about as redemptive as an Ozzy concert.
The emotions which are shown at a worship service are no true indicator of a movement of God. You want to see a movement of God then see what happens six months down the road. Are those people who are “getting all the feels” in worship moved to humbly serve in a local church? Are they digging in to know God and make Him known? Do you see a changed life? That’s a movement of God. It’s not measured by tears shed, aisles walked, or persons bathed at church.
The unadulterated and culturally offensive gospel of Jesus proclaimed, that is what should cause us to rejoice.
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Photo source: here
Good word. I’d just add that I wonder how often the gospel is ‘tacked on’? More often than not, I imagine that an incomplete, inadequate, even misleading appeal/message is offered in place of the full gospel. Kind of like offering a Big Mac to a person but leaving the meat and all but one condiment out. May get a sweet, tangy taste of ‘special sauce,’ but the substance just isn’t there.
Mike, I am trying to locate an article about friends being more than a project, and I thought it was written by you, but I cannot find it. I want to share it with someone who is starting med school, and will be confronted by many non-believers. Does this fit anything you have written lately, or do I need to look elsewhere? THANKS or all of your wisdom – it is GREATLY appreciated!