When Christ Is Preached Anyway – Rejoicing even in imperfect witness

Paul’s imprisonment could have silenced him. Instead, it sparked a wildfire. Word of his imprisonment spread, and suddenly others spoke about Jesus more boldly—though not all from pure motives. Some were encouraged by Paul’s courage; others tried to make things harder for him. Rivalries and mixed motives were alive even in the church’s earliest days.

By now you might not be surprised to read that Paul still rejoices:

“But whether or not their motives are pure, the fact remains that the message about Christ is being preached, so I rejoice.” (Phil. 1:18 NLT)

Rivalry in the First-Century Church

We can wrongfully imagine the early church as a unified, harmonious community. In reality, Paul’s letters reveal tensions—between Jewish and Gentile believers, between different teachers, and even between church leaders themselves. If that was true then, just a few decades removed from Jesus, how much more so now! Rival preachers may have been jealous of Paul’s influence, or seen his imprisonment as an opportunity to advance their own reputations. Their motives were suspect, but the message they carried still pointed to Jesus. Paul could separate the purity of the gospel from the impurity of the messenger.

A Modern Parallel: Faith and Politics Today

This strikes close to home. After the assassination of Charlie Kirk, debates quickly erupted over whether he was a “true Christian” and whether his preaching faithfully represented the gospel. The conversations quickly turned to angry and sharp words of accusation, exposing the fractures in how people tie faith to politics, culture, and identity.

For many, there’s a discomfort in seeing the gospel wrapped so tightly with political agendas. Faith can be—and often is—co-opted. The unease is justified. Paul himself would never have blindly endorsed every preacher or motive. And yet, while acknowledging the misplaced motives, he could still say: Christ is preached.

Imperfect Messengers, Perfect Message

Paul’s perspective forces us to confront a hard truth: none of us represent the gospel without bias or blind spots. Our words and actions are always filtered through our cultures, personalities, and limitations. And yet God works through it all. His Spirit moves even when the vessel is cracked, even when motives are muddled.

That doesn’t mean we stop discerning or addressing distortion. But it does mean we hold space for mystery—for God’s ability to use imperfect voices to point toward Jesus.

Living This Out

Instead of fixating on whether others are “doing it right,” what if we focused more on our own faithfulness? What if we trusted God to work even through voices that make us uncomfortable, while ensuring our own witness reflects the humility and grace of Christ?

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Journaling Prompt

Where do you struggle most with other people’s ways of presenting the gospel or talking about God? How can Paul’s words free you to trust God’s ability to work even through flawed messengers?

Breath Prayer

“Jesus, be proclaimed—through others, through me, even through imperfection.”