"It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. The latter do so out of love....The former...out of selfish ambition....But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way...Christ is preached." (Philippians 1, NIV)
The phrase in our text translated, "selfish ambition," is translated in the KJV, "pretense." The DRA translation says, "by occasion." A person driven by impure motive will always find or make "occasion," for it's manifestation.
George Armstrong Custer has been praised by some, vilified by many. In my opinion, there were many things about Custer which made him a good soldier. He played a key role in the Union victory at Gettysburg, though some attributed his performance to rashness and recklessness; the incident at The Little Bighorn gave his critics the ultimate "grist for the mill." What happened at the Battle of the Little Bighorn? I have read several books on it, and believe it was ego spurned on by ambition and a sense of invincibility which led to Custer's demise. There is no doubt of Custer's ego, that which can make a person do great things, but which can also destroy him. Custer had been told to wait for General Terry's column, which would be coming up the river. He refused a Gatling gun which would have given him a powerful advantage. In short, Custer at the Little Bighorn suffered from pretentiousness. He did not wait for the rest of the army; he could do this on his own. And his excuse for refusing the Gatling was that it would slow him down. Now this is not a "treatise" on the Europeans and First Nations relationship. Custer from time to time did speak of "fairness" in the Government's relationship with the Indian. In the whole realm of conflicting human attitudes and behavior, this is just another twist in Custer's somewhat paradoxical life.
Our text speaks also of this paradox in mankind. The Holy Spirit reveals that a person can actually, "preach Christ out of selfish/false motives." As I began this latter New Testament reading for this quarter, the thing which has always amazed me came up again, that even during the First Century, when persecution of the Church was coming from many quarters, there were still people who would claim to be born of the Spirit, Followers of Jesus, and who would, "....preach Christ out of envy and rivalry,...selfish ambition,...from false motives." This is absolutely nonsensical. It shows the power of ego, of pride, of distorted ambition which will risk persecution, even death on the altar self promotion.
But while this is a sobering reality, we need to agree with Paul, "But what does it matter," that some of those radio, television, popular preachers, those working with the homeless, those going on mission trips, working endlessly and tirelessly in local congregations, etc., may be driven by who knows what? "But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached."
Father, in Jesus' Name, "Search me." Amen.
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Please remember to pray for our Mission, May 1-20.
The phrase in our text translated, "selfish ambition," is translated in the KJV, "pretense." The DRA translation says, "by occasion." A person driven by impure motive will always find or make "occasion," for it's manifestation.
George Armstrong Custer has been praised by some, vilified by many. In my opinion, there were many things about Custer which made him a good soldier. He played a key role in the Union victory at Gettysburg, though some attributed his performance to rashness and recklessness; the incident at The Little Bighorn gave his critics the ultimate "grist for the mill." What happened at the Battle of the Little Bighorn? I have read several books on it, and believe it was ego spurned on by ambition and a sense of invincibility which led to Custer's demise. There is no doubt of Custer's ego, that which can make a person do great things, but which can also destroy him. Custer had been told to wait for General Terry's column, which would be coming up the river. He refused a Gatling gun which would have given him a powerful advantage. In short, Custer at the Little Bighorn suffered from pretentiousness. He did not wait for the rest of the army; he could do this on his own. And his excuse for refusing the Gatling was that it would slow him down. Now this is not a "treatise" on the Europeans and First Nations relationship. Custer from time to time did speak of "fairness" in the Government's relationship with the Indian. In the whole realm of conflicting human attitudes and behavior, this is just another twist in Custer's somewhat paradoxical life.
Our text speaks also of this paradox in mankind. The Holy Spirit reveals that a person can actually, "preach Christ out of selfish/false motives." As I began this latter New Testament reading for this quarter, the thing which has always amazed me came up again, that even during the First Century, when persecution of the Church was coming from many quarters, there were still people who would claim to be born of the Spirit, Followers of Jesus, and who would, "....preach Christ out of envy and rivalry,...selfish ambition,...from false motives." This is absolutely nonsensical. It shows the power of ego, of pride, of distorted ambition which will risk persecution, even death on the altar self promotion.
But while this is a sobering reality, we need to agree with Paul, "But what does it matter," that some of those radio, television, popular preachers, those working with the homeless, those going on mission trips, working endlessly and tirelessly in local congregations, etc., may be driven by who knows what? "But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached."
Father, in Jesus' Name, "Search me." Amen.
*****************************
Please remember to pray for our Mission, May 1-20.
When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"
"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2
"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2
