“Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good will. The latter do it out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel.” (Philippians 1:15-16 ESV)
Not just love for God, and not just love for neighbor, but love for Paul himself motivated the Christians in Rome to proclaim Christ. Paul declares that it is the knowledge that Paul was in prison for the defense of the gospel and love for Paul that motivated these believers, emboldened them, to proclaim the gospel.
Think about that for a moment. What does the one have to do with the other?
There's nothing like persecution to make us stop and take inventory of what we believe and whether or not it is really worth believing. Anybody can be a Christian when being a Christian is popular. Anybody can give an opinion when that opinion is the popular one. But when being a Christian becomes unpopular, or when being a Christian can get you thrown in prison or even killed, then we stop and count the cost and make decisions about whether or not Christ is actually worth it. At this point many just stop being Christians.
When the gospel is popular then telling the good news actually can make us beloved. But when the gospel message becomes unpopular or even hated then we have to ask ourselves whether it is really worth telling. When speaking about Christ can get us thrown in prison or even killed, then only those of us who really believe the message and are sold on its value will still proclaim it.
And that's where Paul finds himself. To him the message must be proclaimed at any cost. Think about it. Everyone in the whole Imperial Guard, and presumably in Caesar's own household as well, knows that Paul is imprisoned "for Christ." The fact that Paul is willing to suffer imprisonment for Christ is a powerful witness to the truth and value of Christ. Anyone can make a truth claim, but Paul is willing to die for his. That's powerful stuff--not just for unbelieving Romans, but for believing ones as well. His testimony of faithfulness through persecution speaks volumes about the value of his message to unbelievers and believers alike. No wonder his imprisonment has emboldened so many to preach Christ!
And there are some of the more timid brethren who, for one reason or another, may have otherwise remained silent who will now speak up about their faith. Why? Out of love for Paul himself. How can they watch him suffer for what they, too, claim to believe and not take up his cause? So, seeing his faith and faithfulness, they add their voices and thus add credence to his faith and message.
In the news almost daily we hear of fellow Christians around the world who are suffering for their faith. They speak a different language, they wear different clothes, they have funny-sounding names, but they worship and love the same Christ. They are brothers and sisters. Men are beheaded. Women and children are raped and sold into slavery. Whole villages are plundered and pillaged and burned, hundreds and thousands are murdered for the crime of being Christians. How shall we love them? How shall we show our fidelity to their cause? Seeing them martyred for their faith, do we dare remain timid about ours? It is time to speak. It is time to be bold. It is time to proclaim Christ no matter the cost. Love for Christ, love for the world, and love for the persecuted Church demands it.
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