Deeper Reflection
PAUL’S MINISTRY IS UTTERLY CHRISTOCENTRIC, EVEN AS his ministry is an outflow of his Christ-centred life. Paul expresses his Christ-centred life in diverse ways: “my ways in Christ” (1 Cor 4:17), “Christ who lives in me” (Gal 2:20) and “to live is Christ” (Phil 1:21). So then, for Paul, the emphasis in ministry is the lordship of Christ: “For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord” (2 Cor 4:5). The object of our proclamation of the Gospel – to both believers and non-believers – is not just “Jesus Christ”, but “Jesus Christ as Lord”. The goal then is for our own lives and the lives of others whom we minister to are to be marked by “Christ Jesus my Lord” (Phil 3:8). But take heed, that what we proclaim is not “ourselves”.For Paul, the sphere of ministry is, “we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus” (v.1). Now, this implies the possibility of our ministry being done not “in the Lord Jesus”. Yes, we can “preach Christ” in the flesh, out of selfish ambition, in competition with others and for personal gains and glory (Phil 1:15-17). Note Paul’s emphasis on Christ’s lordship: “Lord Jesus”.And for Paul, the resource for ministry is, “what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus” (v.2). We see here again Paul’s emphasis on Christ’s lordship. A Christian’s faith-response to Christian ministry can rest “on God’s power” or “on human wisdom” (1 Cor 2:4-5, NIV). Paul tells us that such faith-response is determined by the resource of Christian ministry. In this regard, we will reap what we sow (cf. Gal 6:7-8).