The Chains That Advanced the Gospel

Introduction

What does Philippians 1:12 mean? Paul’s imprisonment in Rome, where his chains became known throughout the praetorian guard, actually served to advance the gospel. Preaching from Philippians 1:12-18, Revd. Mark Fletcher shows how opposition to the early church, far from silencing it, made believers bolder - and calls us not to be ashamed of the gospel today.

They say that the only thing worse than being talked about is not being talked about. And that was certainly true of the early church, where this tiny group of disciples made an incredible impact on the world in which they lived. But perhaps one of the most surprising things is quite how much opposition they faced. An interesting moment back in the end of Acts chapter 28, where Paul arrives in Rome and the religious leaders want to hear what he has to say, for this reason. They said, “We want to hear what your views are, because people everywhere are talking against this sect, Christianity.” Now, I don’t know about you, but I think probably one of the hardest things I find about being a Christian is the quite negative reaction that you often seem to get from people, which seems really quite disproportionate.

And I think you always want to take criticism seriously and be prepared, as Peter says, to give a reason for the hope that is in us. But it’s worth recognising that there may well be something else going on there, because that isn’t a new problem, and we can learn from Paul. So, if you remember the context of this, last week we began this lovely letter to the Philippians, and we were encouraged to live a life of love, to grow in knowledge and depth of insight, and to bear fruit of righteousness. And who could object to that? Why would proclaiming a message of grace and hope and love result in such a negative reaction from people?

In fact, so negative that Paul is in jail for it. And it’s never really that clear what Paul has done wrong. In fact, if you want to understand that, there is a very interesting perspective given by one of Paul’s critics way back in Acts chapter 17, where it says this: “These people, Christians, who have been turning the world upside down, and they sort of did, have now come here. And they are all acting contrary to the decrees of the emperor, saying there is another king named Jesus.” Isn’t that interesting? Because what the gospel is doing, the message of Jesus is doing, is sort of challenging the status quo of their world, and it does the same in ours.

I think we sometimes forget the implications of that which we believe, because if there is a God whose ways are not our ways. And if the world is not as it should be, and human beings are not the ultimate authority, well, that is going to provoke a reaction, for better or worse. To be a Christian is to say something which is wonderfully good news for some people, but can feel quite threatening to others. One of my favourite stories growing up was Robin Hood. Anybody aware of that piece of work?

And if you remember the background of that story, and admittedly the history is slightly incongruous, but nevertheless the story goes like this. There was a good king called Richard who’d gone away on a crusade, and he had left Prince John and the Sheriff of Nottingham and a bunch of corrupt church leaders in charge, and they were oppressing the poor and getting rich, and Robin Hood and his merry men remained loyal to King Richard and stood up for what is right, and that made them a threat to the status quo, and they were denounced as outlaws. Can you see there’s a sort of parallel there with what it means to be those who are loyal to God in a world which chooses to go its own way?

Maybe a better explanation would be one by N.T. Wright, who puts it well as always. He says this: “Paul’s missionary work should be conceived not simply in terms of a travelling evangelist offering people a new religious experience, but of an ambassador for a new king.” And that could only be seen as subversive to the whole edifice of the Roman Empire, and that when Paul ended up in prison as a result of his work, he took that as a sign that he had been doing his job properly. Can you see what we’re talking about here? To proclaim that Jesus is Lord, to speak of the kingdom of God, is to stand in a degree of conflict with the established order of this world, and that will provoke a reaction.

And so Paul’s imprisonment here in Rome is in many ways an act of resistance. Verse 13, he says: “So it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to everyone else that my imprisonment is for Christ.” And you know that word Christ is the word for king, anointed king. And so the soldiers surrounding Paul, the ones who were guarding him, and these are not just any soldiers, by the way.

These are the palace guard or the Praetorian. They are the elite soldiers who protect the Roman emperor. And one way or another, they are hearing about Christ. And some of them are becoming Christians. And it’s a really significant thing. I don’t know if you know, but in actual fact, the Roman military was one of the main ways that the gospel was spread throughout the empire. It may well have been that the gospel was first carried to Switzerland or to England in the heart and life of a Roman soldier. And the story of the conversion of the first Christian emperor, which is an incredible thing, Constantine the Great, who says he was converted because he saw a cross in the sky, may actually have been more about the political expediency of the fact that the majority of the soldiers in the empire had become Christians.

And so this is really significant.

People are being converted because they understand that Paul is standing for Christ in the face of the empire. And that seems to be inspiring the church. Verse 14: “Because of my chains, most of the brothers and sisters have become more confident in the Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear.” Isn’t there something slightly surprising about that? Paul is arrested and imprisoned, and yet that somehow makes the church more bold in their proclamation. And I think it tells us something about how the early church sees itself. You know, they believe that Jesus is the true king. They long for a better world.

They don’t sit comfortably with the status quo. And so, despite opposition and even persecution by the most powerful empire the world had ever seen, Christians were being converted, churches were springing up. And they are inspired by Paul’s faithful witness, even though it is costly. Like a sort of Nelson Mandela on Robben Island, Paul is a symbol of resistance to an oppressive and corrupt regime. Paul says in verse 16: “I have been put here for the defence of the gospel.” And the way that he is defending the gospel isn’t simply through words, but it’s by living a life which is distinct, which is different even if it is costly.

Someone once said: “Don’t pray for easy lives. Pray for the strength to be better people. Do not pray for tasks equal to your powers. Pray for power equal to your tasks.” And that’s exactly who Paul is. That’s why he is one of the most influential people in history.

What does that then say to us about some of the negative reactions that we might receive if people know that we are Christians? Well, I think we need to take them seriously and respectfully, but perhaps also we shouldn’t be surprised by them, and also don’t take them at face value, because there is more going on there than meets the eye. In some ways, I’m afraid it is inevitable. Because we are challenging the settled assumptions of our society, which believes that there is no God, that we can live largely as we choose, and we are not accountable to anyone. If we are loyal to another kingdom, if we serve another king, simply by being who we are in Christ, it is unsettling to people.

But if there is a God, that has enormous implications on how we live.

So my question for you this evening is, how are you doing with this? Where are you up to with this? Are you known as a Christian, even if that is costly? I understand the temptation to slightly just keep it under your hat because it can be difficult, but I would say, do not be ashamed to bear the name of Christian. Wear your cross with pride. Do not be ashamed of the gospel because it really is the hope of the world. And how you respond to negative responses has always been the most important thing. We are sympathetic to those who find our faith uncomfortable, because it is.

Simply being who you are is suggesting that the assumptions that others make about life are wrong, and that will often generate difficult reactions. But faced with anger or denial, we respond in love and kindness and prayer, just as Jesus, who was uncompromising about who he was and yet was able to be compassionate and the friend of sinners. Love those who are unkind to you. Respect those who are disrespectful. Return anger with patience and gentleness and love and pray for those who find your faith difficult. It would be lovely to live in a world where these essential questions about God were not difficult or controversial. But Jesus didn’t live in that world, Paul certainly didn’t live in that world, and neither do we.

And so do not let the occasional hostile response allow you or cause you to sort of hide the light that you have found under some kind of bushel. Simply be who you are in Christ, unashamed, loving, living by a different set of rules and values. And in doing so, be prepared for the fact that that might be a challenge to the status quo of this world. And who you are and how you respond to any opposition or unkindness that you face is a wonderful opportunity for the gospel, because as you return, anger with kindness, disrespect with love, as you respond as Christ would, so you are giving testimony to who God is and what he is doing in the world.

Remember that the truth about God is the most amazing news. It is the hope of a hopeless world. It is the light that shines in the darkness. It is the way, the truth, and the life. Do not be ashamed of the gospel because it is the hope of God for this world. Amen.