Striving Together
“Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ . . . standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel”
Philippians 1:27
We would all do well to heed Paul’s exhortation to the saints at Philippi to behave in a manner worthy of the gospel that has saved us and is progressively transforming us into the likeness of our Savior and King. This requires an unyielding commitment to “standing firm” in matters of biblical truth and godly living, unified “in one spirit, with one mind” in loving care and selfless ministry to avoid strife within the church, and “striving together” (συναθλοῦντες, contending, struggling alongside) to advance “the faith of the gospel.” We must present a unified and immovable front against all of Satan’s forces that oppose the truth, always watching for his clever distortions and counterfeits promoted by false teachers who are both witting and unwitting purveyors of deception. Is “striving together” a priority in your life and ministry?
Jesus warned, “Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves” (Matt. 7:15). Tragically, this warning often tends to go unheeded. Far too many churches are constantly reinventing themselves to be more attractive and relevant to a post-modern culture that hates Christ and is characterized by prevailing attitudes of skepticism, subjectivism, and relativism. We live in a world where all viewpoints—no matter how absurd and contradictory—must be considered equally valid. Whether it is politics or religion, emotion has now replaced reason.
If we as pastors and church leaders take seriously the exhortation to “(strive) together for the faith of the gospel,” we must be careful to avoid jettisoning unpopular truths that will indeed offend the many, but will prove to be words of eternal life to the few. “Doctrines of demons” (1 Tim. 4:1) are more often promoted by what is not said, than what is said. Ask yourself, “Are there certain biblical truths that I avoid or trivialize?” If so, you’re not “(conducting yourself) in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ.” You are, in fact, “ashamed of the gospel” that is “the power of God for salvation” (Rom. 1:16).
We must all heed Paul’s exhortation to Timothy to “be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also” (2 Tim. 2:1-2). And what did he hear from Paul? He heard Paul speak divine revelation, consistent with Paul’s own testimony: “For I would have you know, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but I received itthrough a revelation of Jesus Christ” (Gal. 1:11-12). And Paul didn’t hold anything back; he didn’t selectively choose passages and doctrines that would be acceptable to his audience. Rather, he said of himself, “I did not shrink from declaring . . . the whole purpose of God” (Acts 20:27). He was not ashamed of the gospel!
May this be our testimony as well as we “strive together” against sin and Satan’s demonic hosts, knowing that God “is able to do exceeding abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us” (Eph. 3:20).
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