Last week I read the blog of a friend Lynn Anderson, a friend of mine. Lynn has preached in Churches of Christ for decades. He is the author of several books. Now in the final chapters of his ministry he serves as a mentor and consultant to ministers, elders, churches and other organizations. Lynn has preached at Highland and has served as a consultant for our staff and elders. I have never sat and talked with Lynn when he didn’t go out of his way to pray with me or encourage me spiritually. He is in my Christian-Hall-of-Fame. In my short Christian life Lynn Anderson has been a fixture. His preaching and writing are among my earliest Christian memories. And there’s a part of me that has always assumed that Lynn will always be around. But last week he announced on his blog that he needs spinal surgery and that there are very significant complicating factors.
And as I read that news, I sighed with discouragement. Because I wish we lived in a world where saintly, godly, people like Lynn wouldn’t experience such things. I want to live in a world where good Christian people are immune from problems. But his blog entry was a reminder that problems happen even to good Christian people.
This is not a truth we want to accept. For example, Matt Russell recently wrote that in American Christianity, there is a “narrative of ascendancy.”[1] What he means is that many Christians in American think that becoming a Christian is going to lead to life getting better and better. You’ll get wealthier, or healthier, or resolve your family problems. But in fact, Russell argues, we American Christians need to re-learn a “narrative of descendancy.” That is, even for Christians, life can seem to get worse and worse. Problems happen even to good Christian people.
And one of the best Christian people, Paul, writes about his own “narrative of descendancy”: Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel (Phil. 1:12 TNIV). Paul refers to “what has happened to me.” What has happened to Paul? As I noted in the first lesson of this series, Paul is writing to the Philippians from jail. As he says in 1:7, he is in “chains.” It’s most likely from a jail in Rome or Caesarea. That’s what’s happened to Paul. A saint, a spiritual hall-of-famer is in jail. Problems happen even to good Christian people.
And those problems can lead to pain when we recognize how they subtract from our personal plans. The problem of Paul’s jail sentence had the potential to lead to pain for Paul and for the Christians in the church in Philippi. Paul notes in 2:24 that he wants to visit the Christians in Philippi. But this problem of being jail has made visiting the Philippians impossible, at least for the time-being. That personal plan is hindered by this problem. In addition, Paul seems to have feared that the Philippians were experiencing pain because of this problem. It’s likely that they were concerned that Paul’s life was coming to an end. Their spiritual leader was in danger of dying. Not only did they probably fear the end of his life, they feared the end of his ministry. All of Paul’s preaching and teaching and church planting were going to come crashing to a stop. Paul’s problem was leading to pain because they all recognized how that problem could subtract from their personal plans. It was going make impossible what they each desired and dreamed.
Isn’t this often our reaction to problems? The first thing we do is catalogue all the things that can’t happen because a problem has happened. In the closing months of my senior year, my brother and I tried to get into Oklahoma Christian University. We had already been accepted at New Mexico State University. But we believed that we really needed to attend a Christian university. Thus, we began obsessing about trying to get into OCU. We sent for information. We checked into scholarships. We looked into buying a car. But in the end two things killed that dream: first, we could not get the financing we needed; second, our parents would not permit it even if the funds came through. And I remember how disappointed I was. I really wanted to go to OCU. And I saw not going as a real problem. All I could think about was what was not going to happen because this problem had happened: I was not going to get a Christian education; I was not going to meet and date and marry a Christian woman; I was not going to have the opportunity to grow deeper in my Christian faith. Problems lead to pain when we
realize how they subtract from our personal plans.
But Paul’s problem led to praise because he recognized how it contributed to God’s purposes. Listen again to Paul’s perspective: 12 Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel. (Phil. 1:12 TNIV). First, hear what Paul does not say. Paul does not say that God caused his problem. This problem came about because sinful people could not stand to have Paul doing what he was doing. Paul does not attribute this problem to God. And second, Paul does not say that only good has resulted from the problem. This problem is the end of some of Paul’s personal plans and some of the personal plans of the Philippians. Some things are not going to happen because this problem did happen. But rather than focus only on how the problem is subtracting from his personal plans, Paul is also able to focus on how the problem is contributing to God’s purposes.
Listen to the full text: 12 Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel. 13 As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. 14 And because of my chains, most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear. 15 It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. 16 The latter do so out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. 17 The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. 18 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, 19 for I know that through your prayers and God’s provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance. 20 I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. (Phil. 1:12-20 TNIV). Twice Paul says that in the midst of his problem, he is rejoicing: And because of this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice… No doubt there is pain. Yet in spite of the pain, Paul is now praising. It is possible in the midst of problems to praise.
But how did Paul’s problem lead him to praise? It led to praise because Paul recognized how the problem was contributing to God’s plans. Paul points to three ways in which these painful circumstances were actually contributing to God’s purposes: 1) Christ was being made known in new places; 2) Christ was being preached with new boldness; and 3) Christ was being honored in new ways.
First, Paul sees that his problem has actually led to Christ being made known in new places: “13 As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ.” There is debate as to where Paul is when he writes this. If he is in Rome, then the words “palace guard” may refer to the Emperor’s guard. If Paul is in Caesarea, the words can refer to the governor’s palace. Either way, Paul is saying that his problem has resulted in people who wouldn’t have known about Jesus now knowing about Jesus. News has spread into corridors where the news never would have spread had Paul not been put in jail. These people in the governor’s palace or in the Emperor’s guard were probably not on Paul’s original preaching itinerary. But suddenly he has a chance to share Jesus with them because he’s imprisoned right next to them. News about Jesus has spread into corners it never would have reached had Paul not been imprisoned. Christ was being made known in new places.
Second, Paul sees that his problem has actually led to Christ being preached with new boldness: “14 And because of my chains, most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear.” There were Christians in the city where Paul was imprisoned. These Christians were preaching. But Paul’s willingness to go to jail for Jesus has inspired those Christians to preach all the more: “If Paul is willing to pay that kind of price for Jesus, surely I can do more to spread the message myself.” If this problem had not happened, these Christians would have been inspired. Look at what happened that would not have happened if this problem had not happened: Christians were emboldened to share the story of Jesus. As the story of Paul’s imprisonment circulated, Christians were inspired to boldly preach as they had never preached before.
Third, Paul sees that his problem has actually led to Christ being honored in new ways: “20 I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.” This is a difficult section to interpret. But in general Paul seems to be expressing his belief that through this problem he will have an opportunity to exalt or honor Jesus. Paul understands that this problem brings with it an opportunity to honor or exalt Jesus in new ways. It creates an opportunity for Paul to honor Jesus in a way he could not have honored Jesus if the problem had never come about. He would get to demonstrate his loyalty to, his love for, and his commitment to Jesus in a way he never would have demonstrated had he not be put in this jail. Problems can lead to praise when we recognize how they can contribute to God’s purposes.
Over the summer Brishan and Jill worked hard to find a house to purchase in Memphis. They finally found the one they wanted and made an offer. Unfortunately, the bank sat on the offer for weeks. Deadlines came and went. Brishan was going to have to start his ministry in Memphis without a home to move his family into. That was a pretty significant problem. The problem forced them to find temporary housing. Brishan and Jill moved into the home of Highland members Brian and Sara Hoover. The Hoovers were headed out of town for about a month. The Hatchers were invited to stay in their home as their search for a permanent home continued. It was a discouraging setback. But something good did come out of it. A few days after the Hoovers left their home, Jill discovered that the Hoover’s large freezer had quit. She was able to move most of the frozen food into another freezer before it went bad. Had their house purchase never been delayed the Hatchers would have never been in the Hoover’s home to find the broken freezer and all of that food would have spoiled. Better yet, one day Brishan returned to the Hoover’s home to find water dripping down a light fixture and covering the floor. A drainage pipe for one of the air conditioning units had broken. Brishan was able to call for help and stop the leak. Had their house purchase not been delayed, the Hatchers would have never been in the Hoover’s home to find the broken drainage pipe and the Hoover’s would have returned to walls and floors that had soaked in water for a month. I’m not suggesting God delayed their house purchase for that reason. I’m merely pointing out that what was indeed a painful problem actually resulted in praise. You can bet Brian and Sara Hoover are still praising because of how the Hatcher’s saved their home.
I mentioned earlier the problem I encountered as a senior in high school. My dream of attending a Christian college came to an end. All I could think of was the ways in which that problem subtracted from my personal plans: getting a Christian education, meeting and marrying a Christian woman, and growing as a follower of Jesus. But because of that problem, I was left with only one option: attend New Mexico State University. There, I became involved in a campus ministry. That experience led me to go into full-time ministry. There, I met, dated, and married Kendra. There, I was mentored by godly Christian men who are deeply responsible for the Christian I am today. None of that would have happened had that problem not first happened. I can praise God because I now see how that problem contributed to God’s purposes.
Mike Cope is an acquaintance of mine from Abilene, TX. His sister-in-law is named Pam. Ten years ago last Tuesday, Pam Cope received the worst news a mother can receive. Pam owned a cozy hair salon in Neosho, Missouri. Her life revolved around her son’s baseball games, her daughter’s dance lessons, and family trips to Disney World. But on June 16th, 1999 her 15 year old son Jantsen went to lift weights with the football team, laid down to rest, and died. His heart just quit. It turns out that he had an undiagnosed heart ailment. That loss was almost unbearable. It was as bad as you can imagine. These two strong Christian parents were overwhelmed with pain. Finally, needing to get as far away as possible from everything that reminded Pam of Jantsen’s death, she accepted a friend’s invitation to travel to Vietnam. She ran as far away as she could. But during that trip, at Pam’s lowest moment, God began to work. Pam writes that the moment she stepped off the plane in Vietnam, everything she had been feeling since her son’s death began to shift. There in Vietnam she was struck by the poverty and plight of children. The grief she had felt for Jantsen now also became grief she felt for these children in front of her. And by the time she returned home, Pam had a new purpose: to use her pain to change the world, one child at a time. Today, she is the mother of two children adopted from Vietnam. More than that, she and her husband have created a foundation called “Touch A Life,” dedicated to helping desperate children in countries like Vietnam, Cambodia and Ghana. One of the things the foundation does is help buy children back who have been sold into slavery. They literally purchase freedom for enslaved children. Pam’s story has been turned into a book called Jantsen’s Gift and it’s been shared in the New York Times and on the Oprah Winfrey Show. God did not cause that problem. But God did work through that problem. The Touch A Life Foundation never would have come into existence had Pam not gone through that grief. God was able to take this terrible circumstance and use it for his purposes—use it to save the lives of hundreds of children around the world.
I began this sermon by telling you about my friend Lynn Anderson who’s developed significant health issues. He writes that at first he saw this as bad news. I suspect he began to count all the ways this problem would subtract from his personal plans. But listen to what he writes now in his blog: Yesterday I got some news I didn’t want to hear. Then I read these words from Oswald Chambers: “If God can accomplish His purpose in this world through a broken heart, then why not thank Him for breaking yours?” “If you are going to be used by God, He will take you through a number of experiences that are not meant for you personally at all. They are designed to make you useful in His hands, and to enable you to understand what takes place in the lives of others. Because of this process, you will never be surprised by what comes your way.” Yes, my doctor told me I needed some spinal surgery. Then in the pre-op process, he discovered another potentially more serious complication. But he couldn’t give me a clear definition of what he meant. He said, “I will give you a full report and an opinion this coming Tuesday.” The first thought was: Oh, this is terrible news. Why did this happen to poor little me? Then I saw these words from Chambers. And God has reframed my ‘bad news.’
Instead – no matter what the doctor tells me Tuesday – I chose to believe that God is preparing me for something important. And that’s what this boils down to—a choice. We can choose to focus on the pain that problems always bring. Or, we can choose to believe that even through this problem, God can work his purposes. We can choose to praise.
[1] Matt Russell, “Can Your Church Handle the Truth?” Leadership (Spring 2009), 43.
Great thoughts!
thanks
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