Supporting the Gospel

Paul loved the church at Philippi and the church there evidently loved him. He wrote to encourage them and they supported his efforts in preaching the truth elsewhere (1:4, 10; 4:15-16). A striking line is found in 1:27 where he wrote: Only let your conversation be as it becomes the gospel of Christ: that whether I come or be absent. I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel. A most interesting literary device is found here. Paul ties two things to one thing. The two things are “your conversation” and “striving.” The one thing is the gospel. Now, the word “conversation” has to do with more than verbal communication. It means “manner of life” or “conduct.” The word translated “striving” means “to make effort in the cause of a thing.” Thus Paul ties conduct and working for a cause together with the gospel of Christ. The apostle wants the Philippians to live so that the conduct of their lives and the character of their work together are positive reflections of the power of the gospel of Jesus Christ. If that was the case for them, can it be any less so for us today? I think not.

But yet we see that such is not always the case with us, here and today. We have Bible classes that a substantial portion of our good people do not attend. We just finished a gospel meeting in which one would have to say that the attendance was mediocre. And this is a good church! What is going on that such things happen? Everybody is busy and everybody gets tired. There are real things that inhibit our attendance at times. I do not have in mind the unavoidable conflict that would keep one from services or classes. But I wonder if we think enough about the thing Paul is getting at here. It seems clear that the purposeful avoidance of Christian duty is a thing harmful to the gospel of Christ. It is also an indication that we do not fully appreciate what God has done for us when we do not do our duty as Christians.

Remember that each one of us counts as a Christian. It is our Christian duty to support the presentation of the gospel and the work of the church in every way that we can. Our personal presence in the services and work of the church is a large part of that duty. Let your duty become your desire. You will be blessed.

Bill Irby