Every once in a while, a happening in the community will cause a stir. That topic will be the only thing that is talked about when people get together. The church family isn’t any different. There are times when things happen, perhaps happening to other Christians that we are friends with, and that is what grips our church. The talking, the prayers, the sermons are all driven by this happening. In the Sunday School, the lesson is set aside for the happening. Around the table at lunch or dinner the happening dominates the conversation. A little over a year ago, our church was captivated by the devastation that happened with the hurricane called Helene. We began praying for the victims and doing what we could for them. Why did we response in such a sobering way? We knew in Ashville there was a ministry with many people that we have come to love. Those people had been hammered by the water and winds. We ended up taking a few trailer loads of supplies, sent many thousands of dollars to help people in western North Carolina, and offered up countless thousands of prayers for them. Our church family has been gripped with other things in the recent past. The Hamas attack on Israel October 7, 2023, and the assassination of Charlie Kirk in September of this year. When these things happened, my phone began blowing up. What does this mean? What should I do? What can we do? As a preacher, people expect you to know these things. I instinctively go to the scriptures. I don’t want to only give my opinion but want my opinion to jive with the Word of God. That is the standard we are to use and most Christian people do look to their pastor for guidance.
But what is a church family to do when their pastor or spiritual leader is not around to read the tea leaves for them? There are some churches in the New Testament that found themselves in that situation to a certain degree. Ephesians, Philippians, & Colossians were letters (epistles) that Paul, their spiritual founder and leader, sent to them while he was in jail. These three letters along with Philemon, a letter written to an individual, were all penned while he is locked up. Imagine the conversations in these churches before these letters arrived. “I heard that Paul has been arrested.” “What about the men with him?” The questions and the talk would be filled with why’s and what have you heard. What will we do now? Do you know if he’s alive or dead? He was supposed to come back and teach us much more.
As these questions swirl around in their minds, one particular congregation has a man arrive. His name is Epaphroditus. He is sickly and some likely didn’t wish to hear him until he says “I have a letter from Paul. He wants you to read it this Lord’s Day.” That happened and the church family that was flush with questions about Paul and his situation would receive some answers. Today, I want to cherry pick a part of the letter. Why? Because we live in uncertain times. Pastors around the globe are being rounded up, jailed and even executed. What is a congregation to do when their preacher is in jail or dead? Look at Philippians 1:21-30. Paul lets them know whatever comes for him is fine. If he is killed it will be a personal gain but if he lives, he can still help them. He has confidence that he’ll continue to instruct them (v.25). He wants them to listen and listen intently to how they are to personally live when “happenings” come their way. They can expect certain problems and sufferings. Have a good testimony by the way you live your life (v.27). I want to hear from those that may visit me in jail that you are doing good in your faith and as you spread the gospel. Don’t be scared, “terrified”, by anything your enemies bring against you (v.28). You can expect suffering if you name the Lord’s name (v.29). The whole epistle is instruction for a church laboring under great uncertainty. Just because the preacher wasn’t around that didn’t give them an excuse to walk away from the Lord. I have observed many churches in my 50+ years of preaching and 47+ years of pastoring. Many of those churches were once thriving under the leadership of a strong, biblical pastor. But when he was taken by whatever circumstance, the church began to faulter and many of those ministries are shells of their former selves if in existence at all. It is my prayer that our church is so strong biblically that no matter the happening, the ministry continues steadfastly, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord. You can help make that a reality by growing biblically, keeping a biblical worldview and guarding your heart. I love being the pastor of Corinth Baptist Church. I think it is the best church bar none. But there will come a moment in time when that will change. No one lives forever and/or keeps his health forever. We don’t know the political climate in the next few years. It could follow the path of Canada and the United Kingdom where just reading certain passages can land you in jail. When you read Philippians, Colossians and Ephesians, remember the letter was sent to them by a man behind bars. His expectation was for them to live for Christ even if he wasn’t around.