Friday after the Eighth Sunday after Trinity, 8/18/00

Philippians 1: 15--18 It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. The latter do so in love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. 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. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice. --NIV

In the name of Christ Who is preached, amen.

Look carefully at this passage. Can it be that people who preach Christ for evil purposes are still accomplishing the will of God? The memory of the televangelists hasn't faded from our minds yet, and some of them were apparently in it just for the money. Could their preaching really save anyone? Yes, it could as long as the Gospel-forgiveness because of the sacrifice of Jesus-is preached.

It is not a new question. Obviously the question came up in Saint Paul's day, and Jesus spoke to the issue, too. There was also a troublesome movement in the fourth century A.D. called the Donatist Schism, that said the sacraments were not valid if administered by someone who was impure.

Fortunately for us, the power of the Gospel and the sacraments isn't in the person who administers them, but in the Holy Spirit who works through the Gospel and sacraments. God is able to use even His enemies to preach His word and save people. Now, that should not be encouragement for us to worship anywhere that is convenient, but it should be comforting to us to know that our salvation doesn't depend on human beings, but on the Holy Spirit working through the means that He gave us. Amen.

Prayer: Dear heavenly Father, thank You for the assurance You give by the fact that the Gospel and sacraments do not depend on the person administering them, but on Your Holy Spirit working through them. Help us always to be faithful in our use of those Means of Grace no matter what we think of the person administering them. Help us also to pray for our pastors so that they remain in the true faith. We ask this in Jesus' name, amen.

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