Joy in Prison

Philippians 1:12-30

In the last two weeks of our study of Paul’s letter to the church in Philippi, we have gotten all the way through the introduction and prayer. Today we will dive into the body of the letter. As we do, remember that Paul didn’t write this letter to right some kind of wrong; he is writing to thank them for their gift and to encourage them during a time of struggle.

When you’re struggling, you’ll find that there are several kinds of people. The first kind really doesn’t care. They are simply self-absorbed. They say, “How are you doing?” and when you start to answer, they wait until you take a breath and interrupt to tell you their own story of woe.

There are the well-meaning people who just don’t have the words to say to encourage you, but they feel like they need to say something anyway. They are the ones who you thought were your friends and then they say something so insensitive that you can’t believe anyone would say it, let alone a Christian friend. You’re suffering from depression and they tell you that your faith just isn’t strong enough. You’ve lost a child and they tell you that God must have needed a little angel more than you did. Your husband died and they tell you, “at least he didn’t suffer” yet you know he did, and now you’re the one who has been suffering and for so long.

The third kind of person obviously cares. This person sits with you and hugs you when words won’t suffice. One thing that sets this person apart is that he or she has been there. Maybe not the exact situation you’re in, but in the midst of struggle nonetheless. Paul is one of this third kind, writing from prison to encourage the church in Philippi.

Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel. (Philippians 1:12) When he says this, Paul isn’t just sugar-coating his experience or downplaying the seriousness of what the Philippian church was struggling with. There is a huge difference in a flippant answer and bringing Godly perspective to a situation.

But what do we make of Paul’s joy in the face of suffering? How does he deal with the pain?* There are at least five ways we can explain his joy.

The first explanation is Optimism/Power of Positive Thinking. You probably know someone who is always giving you some kind of pithy one-liner (usually not helpful). They always preach that “things will only get better” but things don’t always. Positive thinking hasn’t yet eradicated cancer or any other illness. While the power of optimism and positive thinking aren’t bad in themselves, in the face of suffering, it’s not really a possible solution, because it involves a heavy dose of denial. Paul really is suffering. The church in Philippi really is suffering. To deny it is unhelpful, to say the least.

A second solution is Hedonism.  Hedonism is the philosophy that argues that pleasure is the only intrinsic good.  The hedonist accepts that pain is bad and thus seeks to maximize pleasure, doing everything possible to stop the pain. Though this seems to be a natural solution, it isn’t what Paul is doing here whatsoever. Otherwise, he could never say, “For me, to live is Christ and to die is gain,” and “I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body.” (Philippians 1:21, 23-24)

A third option is Stoicism, which is basically “numbing out.” This isn’t exactly denial, but detachment or bravado – I can take whatever they give me. I use this philosophy during the last couple miles of a long run; I tell myself, “I can do anything for two miles.” Again, Paul is anything but detached from the reality of his situation, and this philosophy doesn’t deal with the situation itself.

A fourth option is Fideism, which is very pervasive in our Christian culture. It is expressed this way: “if you are suffering, there must be a lack of faith on your part.” I’ve heard this too many times, and it always makes me sick when I hear someone claim that someone’s illness is just a lack of faith. Especially when the one saying it is wearing glasses or taking medicine for their diabetes. Just because you believe something does not make it reality!

But there is another option, and that is Christian Realism. As a Christian realist, Paul does not deny reality (as he tells the church in Philippi, “I am in prison”), but even in the midst of his unfortunate reality, he acknowledges that there are profound, spiritual lessons to be learned in suffering. While he suffers, he vigilantly prays for deliverance, meaning he doesn’t seek suffering. He thus releases self to joy in suffering.

Paul knows that what has happened to him has only served to advance the Gospel. Francis Chan tells a story of Chinese pastors who were persecuted for pastoring illegal Christian churches. These pastors were ripped from their jobs and families and forced to work for the Chinese government as garbage collectors. That’s a disgusting job, dealing with other people’s trash. But these Chinese pastors had a different point of view; here they were, now being required by the government to go door-to-door! And so the Gospel spread – just like with Paul, who witnessed to the palace guard and everyone else that he was in chains for Christ. (Philippians 1:13-14).

Paul goes on to acknowledge that there are preachers out there with different motivations. It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill.  The latter do so out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice.

There is something to be said for a competitive nature. With all of his sports analogies, especially the one about running in such a way as to get the prize, I know Paul was intense as anyone and competitive as well. Yet when it comes to the Gospel, even dealing with other preachers who were simply trying to one-up him, Paul was ready to rejoice! One thing that makes me sick is rivalries between churches, where a pastor targets people who already attend elsewhere and tries to get them to come to his church. We call that “sheep stealing” and it’s ridiculous. If we would spend our energy and efforts to make new disciples of Jesus Christ instead of stealing old ones, we might make a difference for the Kingdom. There is no reason we should ever have had any kind of rivalry between us and Trinity. In fact, it’s silly that we never merged back in 1968. I never understand towns that have three or four United Methodist Churches within sight distance of one another.

Here’s the thing: there may be different motives, but God is bigger than that. He can use all kinds of things for his glory. I have found myself looking down my nose at some people’s tactics, and honestly, when I do that, I am wrong. If someone is using tracts, unless they are leaving a tract instead of a tip at a restaurant, that’s not what appeals to me, but if God wants to use that, great! And God does! So a few years back I realized that I was picking at certain other preachers or pastors, because I didn’t care for their motives or their methods, but who am I to say that God isn’t in it? And God will use whoever God wants to! And because Christ is being preached, Paul rejoices.

And Paul continues to rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, for I know that through your prayers and God’s provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance.

Paul rejoices because knows he can count on their prayers. You know what encourages me? I know that Charles Dozer is praying for me. Probably right now. I know there are people from my last church who are praying for me as well. Paul knows that he can count on the prayers of the church in Philippi, but even more, he knows he can count on God’s provision and the Spirit of Jesus Christ –that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28)

This brings Paul joy. Many of us want to be in control and to have some say in our lives; we want to control what goes on in our lives, especially our circumstances, but the reality is that God has a plan and God uses a whole lot of stuff that we don’t have any clue about in order to complete his plan. I’m going to repeat myself here and leave this one for you to chew on. God has a plan and God uses a whole lot of stuff that we don’t have any clue about in order to complete his plan.

So Paul expects God to complete his plan, no matter what. He knows he won’t be ashamed (verse 20) because Jesus will complete his plan through Paul, no matter what. Would you believe that Paul would even accept his own death as part of God’s plan? We are so fixated on this life that we will do everything we can to extend it. Not just that, but to extend the illusion of youth. If you don’t believe that, ask a middle aged woman her age. No, don’t really. You don’t want to get the beat down. We go to every length to keep people alive forever, but Paul says, “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” (Philippians 1:21) He recognizes that the better option is to depart and be with Christ (Philippians 1:23). We hold on to this life as if it is all there is. And when we talk about the afterlife, we’re often stuck talking about a miserable boring existence of sitting on a cloud and playing a harp – but Paul understands that being with Christ is better by far – not just better than sitting in a prison cell, not just better than suffering with cancer, not just better than living without your loved one who has already died, not just better than unemployment or underemployment, not just better than fighting with your spouse or ex-spouse or parent, but to be with Christ, face-to-face is better than the best parts of this life.

Because Paul understands this, he eagerly desires it. Understand that he is not depressed or suicidal – he knows that his reward is coming, but not today. Right now, he notes, it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. (Philippians 1:24). Why would he say this? It’s the lead-in for chapter 2, and we’ll get there eventually. But for now, know that Paul isn’t just looking out for himself. He isn’t just thinking about what would be best for Paul. He knows that while he desires to be with Christ, there is still something left for him to do, and others need him.

One of the most depressing things I ever hear from Christians is the sentiment of “I used to (do all these things for the church or for God), but now I let someone else do it. Now, I realize that there are times or seasons of life when you are called to a certain ministry only for a time, and that sometimes volunteering for a ministry in a church can seem like a life sentence – I had a friend who told me that he and his wife actually left their church because they were required to work in the nursery and they couldn’t get out of it. They weren’t opposed to doing their part or to working in their areas of giftedness and passion; they just didn’t feel like the nursery was their area. But they felt stuck and the only way out was to quit the church altogether.

That said, Paul’s example is that as long as he is alive, he has ministry to do. In fact, he believed that the very reason he wasn’t dead was that someone needed him. He is still alive precisely for the purpose of continu[ing] with all of [them] for [their] progress and joy in the faith (Philippians 1:25).  He might say that his purpose in life is to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. Paul recognized that his goal of getting back to Philippi was so that they would boast in Jesus Christ because of him. Because there are still people who needed him, he was still alive. Turn to someone around you and tell them: “You’re still alive because someone needs you.”  

Hopefully you’re all still alive – if so, you have a job to do.

*The possibilities for dealing joyfully with pain came from a lecture from Dr. Joseph Dongell at Asbury Theological Seminary in his class on Pauline Epistles.