When I was a junior at Oxy, I had the opportunity to study the book of Philippians for a semester with my peers. It was my first semester in a formal leadership position, and I was challenged by Paul’s posture as a leader towards the challenges he faced in ministry.More than 10 years later, I’m still challenged by Paul and how he holds the value of the gospel - both in its content and its communication. In Philippians 1, Paul writes:

“It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. The latter do so in love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me…But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice.”

I’ve often struggled to understand how Paul is only able to accept this rivalrious preaching, but more so, to rejoice that - somehow - through it the gospel is being preached. If Francis of Assissi’s words are true: “Preach the gospel at all times. Use words when necessary,” then how can rivalrious and envious preaching actually still contain the gospel, which challenges envy & rivalry?

That I don’t know.

What I do know is that the power of the gospel must be great enough to sustain our mixed motives and even our purely bad ones. I’ve had to hold onto this at several times over the past 10 years in ministry, none more than this high season for rivalrious ministry. (Shouldn’t that phrase be an oxymoron?)

What I have seen true - both in the past & the present - is that nothing can stop God. Not rivalry or envy from others. Not mixed motives or bad ones - my own or from others. Nothing. Maybe that is what undergirds Paul’s freedom & strength of joy.