THOSE OTHER PEOPLE

Paul, an apostle, wrote to the Philippian Christians:

“Some, to be sure, are preaching Christ even from envy and strife, but some also from good will; the latter do it out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel; the former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition rather than from pure motives, thinking to cause me distress in my imprisonment. What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed; and in this I rejoice” (Philippians 1:15-18).

I don’t particularly do this very well… I still think those that precisely and intentionally, or out of ‘envy and strife’ or as another version translates, ‘It’s true that some are preaching out of jealousy and rivalry,’ are Those Other People that need correction and adjustment.

However, Paul says, “Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed; and in this I rejoice.”
I don’t, because I’m not where or what Paul was and I think when I hear and see obvious wrong motives with the Gospel it still rubs my religious spirit the wrong way.

All Those Other People just need to come around and believe what I do…
“Master, we saw someone using your name to cast out demons, but we told him to stop because he isn’t in our group.” (Mark 9:38ff; Luke 9:49ff) Oh, my…
“Don’t stop him! Anyone who is not against you is for you.”
Jesus