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.
To Paul the gospel is so important that he is able to rejoice simply in the truth that it is preached. Whether those preaching are doing so in an attempt to make his situation worse or because they share his desire to bring as many people as possible into a relationship with God.
I can't think of a contemporary equivalent where some might preach from false motives, but I wouldn't be surprised to find one. But perhaps the challenge for us comes through our attitude towards those who do not do things the way we do them.
How often do you give thanks for the other churches around you, churches that may preach the gospel in a different way but who still preach the gospel. Maybe you could take the time to ask God to bless those who meet in different traditions this weekend.
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We have just come back from visiting friends in a predominantly Muslim country. They worship in an English language church, but this is not where their heart is; but it is where as a family it is right for them to worship.
They contribute into their church in oh so many ways, but because they also have an awareness of the wider work of the church, they seem to hold a very mature balance between God's life in the various and differing churches, and not least in those providing for the culturally different converted Muslims.
Sometimes we need to put down any thoughts of the "right way", and just marvel that God is at work in so many different church traditions.
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