Seeing the big picture of Christian partnership

“It’s not about you.” Those are the first words in one of the top-selling Christian books of all time. I was reminded of that opening line recently while reading the Apostle Paul’s letter to the Philippians.

Paul said he was thankful for the Philippians’ partnership in the gospel. Not only that, he told them they were partners in grace during his imprisonment and in defending the gospel. We do not live the Christian life alone. It is not all about the individual. We are in a holy partnership.

The Greek word for partnership that Paul used was a commercial term meaning “joint business venture.” Have you ever thought of your life as a partnership with other believers? I do not just mean the people you go to church with, but believers in other countries as well.

Paul was writing from a Roman prison and thanked the Philippians for the financial gifts and other necessities they were supplying. He prayed they would “carry the mission on to completion” because there is a real temptation for believers living comfortably in one country to forget there are believers in other countries suffering persecution at the hands of unbelievers. We can fail to see the big picture and forget it is not “all about us.”

In the Apostles’ Creed, one of the affirmations is “I believe in the holy catholic (universal, global) church.” For centuries, people have looked up at the stars at night and wondered, “Is there life on other planets?” Yet the planet they live on is full of people living in desperate circumstances and waiting for help.

That is why Paul prayed our love for others would continually grow and that we would concentrate on what really matters. It also is why he said to do everything without grumbling or complaining. However, a church that sees the big picture will have an ongoing struggle from within if some are opposed to outreach. Because of the Philippians’ faithfulness in supporting the spread of the gospel outside their own country, Paul called them shining stars that gave direction to the directionless. Can you think of a better use of our time and money than that?

There are wonderful nonprofit organizations such as Open Doors USA and Voice of the Martyrs that monitor the persecuted church around the world. One report I read described Christians in Venezuela being beaten, forced to eat pages from their Bible and then having a giant “X” carved into their backs. Their crime was trusting in Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins. This kind of persecution is happening in our own hemisphere, not just in North Korea or Iran.

It is time to be like those Philippians who entered into a holy partnership with an apostle in prison who needed their prayers and material help. It is not all about us. Let us see the big picture and remember to pray for and support the persecuted church around the world.

Ken Staley is pastor of Faith Church of Pleasant Grove, which holds worship at 9:30 a.m., and Harrisville Methodist Church, which holds worship at 11 a.m. Both are Global Methodist congregations. He can be reached at PastorKenStaley@gmail.com.