Title: The Progress of the Gospel
Contents
Paul introduces the diversity of evangelists in verse 15 and below. The motives of the propagation of the preachers are contradictory. In other words, "envy" (phthonos) and "strife" (eris) are the drivers, while "good will" (eudokia) and "love" (agap s-16) are the drivers. These "envying" and "strife" are the kinds of things that Paul classifies as vices in Romans 1:29 or Galatians 5:20-21. On the other hand, "good will" is sometimes used to describe Paul's own heart in Romans 10:1, and is also used to describe God's heart in Matthew 11:26. "Love" everywhere always occupies the first place among desirable virtues. In other words, speculation, strife, and good will or love are two opposing groups of nouns.
But Paul's subsequent statements show his greatness without regret. Whether he preaches outwardly or genuinely, Paul fully embraces the difference in the way he preaches. The reason is that, after all, it is Christ that is preached. For this very reason, Paul repeatedly stresses that he "rejoices and rejoices." He complains that "even death is beneficial" (1.21), if "Christ is exalted" in his body "whether he lives or dies" (1.20). In the end, Paul unifies the opposition of black and white composition in this paragraph, and puts only Christ in the foreground.
In order to highlight today's topic here, I want to help your memories, which have already faded somewhat, by listening to some scenes from Roland Joff 's masterpiece, [The Mission]. This film, which captures the beliefs and conflicts of the Jesuit priests in a delicate and moving video, elaborates the story of priests living in missionary missions to Indian tribes in South America defending the rights of the tribes against the invasions of Spain and Portugal and eventually being martyred. draw it Representing Europe's political and military expansion, the bishop orders the natives and priests to abandon the village and the missionary church there and return to the forest. However, the natives decree that they will resist Portuguese aggression to the end without giving up their land. The bishop, not wanting to conflict with political and military forces, warns the priests that they will be expelled if they engage in this work, and warns the natives to treat the Portuguese as unrelated to the missionary work in the village. The priests, however, face the threat of expulsion, reject the bishop's instructions, and decide to stand on the side of the natives.
The film's highlight is the stark contrast between the two ways the priests help the natives while resisting the bishop's orders. Father Gabriel and Father Rodrigo (Robert de Niro) have their own ways of defending the rights of indigenous peoples. Rodrigo, who takes the sword handed over by an indigenous child, who insists on an armed struggle, represents other priests who have taken a similar position. He goes to Father Gabriel, who insists on love, and says: "I want to break the vow of obedience." Father Gabriel answers Rodrigo. "If you die with blood on your hands, you are ruining all we have done. You have pledged your life to God. God is love." The film presents a balance that makes it difficult for the viewer to easily favor either side of violence and love. In fact, who would be willing to say here that one is white and the other is black?
Numerous tragic and atrocious events in history were largely caused by black-and-white debates, the distinction between good and evil, and judgments of justice and injustice. But there is no individual or group composed solely of good, and there is no individual or group composed solely of evil. It cannot be judged that only one is an absolutely just group and the other is an absolutely unjust group. In most cases, both sides contain good and evil together. Presenting oneself as good and accusing others of evil as representing the interests of the group to which one belongs, is far from the truth.
When Jesus' company entered the village of Samaria, an incident occurred that the inhabitants did not receive Jesus (Luke 9.51 and below). James and John were angry and inquired of Jesus. "Lord, how about if we command us to send down fire from heaven and burn them up?" Soon, they aspired to annihilate the opposing group unfavorable to them, even if they were struck by a brimstone fire. But this time Jesus turned around and "rebuked them." It was about acknowledging that there could be any number of people who have a different opinion than you. It was that you and other people's thoughts and positions should be respected.
Paul emphasized that Christians who preach Christ through envy and strife should be respected just like Christians who preach Christ with good will and love. In any case, it was not that it was "Christ that was preached" through the two groups. He also insisted that ?쐔he progress of the gospel??is achieved as a result of this. "Progress of the Gospel" is not the exclusive domain of radicals, nor is it the exclusive domain of conservatives. Historically, the gospel has been preached in various forms through various channels.
We tend to ask the Lord to bless us only. However, God makes the sun shine ?쐎n the wicked and the good??evenly, and makes the rain fall evenly on ?쐔he righteous and the unrighteous??(Matthew 5.45). Are we not too easily forgetting the deep meaning of this verse, which is one of the essence of Christian thought? The Bible asks us to emulate that broad heart of God by commanding, "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect." This is because 'progression of the gospel' can be achieved only when there is such a 'width'. If only the progress of the gospel is achieved, that is, if only Christ is exalted in the honor of life or death, I think it is an era in which Paul's conviction that death is also beneficial is urgently required.