You’re Mad at the Vessel. Paul Was Glad About the Gospel

Christians are obsessed with the wrong stuff.

Who said it.

How they said it.

What they wore.

Who they offended.

Who they follow.

Who they’re canceling this week.

Paul would be shaking his head.

Paul didn’t sit around policing motives.

He didn’t run background checks on vessels.

He didn’t stop the message because the messenger was messy.

He had one question:

Is Jesus being preached?

If yes—he rejoiced. Period.

Read Philippians 1.

Some were preaching Christ out of envy.

Some out of ego.

Some out of selfish ambition.

And Paul basically said, “Cool. As long as Jesus is being preached.”

Philippians 1:15–18 (NKJV)

“Some indeed preach Christ even from envy and strife, and some also from goodwill: The former preach Christ from selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my chains; but the latter out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel. What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is preached; and in this I rejoice, yes, and will rejoice.”

Meanwhile, we’re over here more offended by the vessel than excited about the Gospel.

We’d rather argue about the preacher than celebrate the proclamation.

We act like God can’t use crooked sticks to draw straight lines.

Newsflash:

God has always used flawed people.

If He waited for perfect messengers, nothing would ever get preached—including by you.

So maybe we should stop acting like the Holy Spirit needs our approval.

Stop gatekeeping grace.

Stop confusing discernment with superiority.

Jesus being preached is still a win—even when the delivery is imperfect.

Paul got that.

Do we?

Maybe, just maybe, Paul was a prisoner of the Gospel and maybe we've become prisoners to our self righteousness....