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“Paul wrote his letter to the Christians at Philippi while enjoying the ‘hospitality’ of the Romans authorities. For daring to preach Christ as the true King rather than Caesar, Paul was in prison, probably in Rome, and facing the very real prospect of execution (1:13-14, 21).

How would you react if your pastor was imprisoned for preaching Christ as the only true God? Perhaps you would disown him because of embarrassment, shame, or the fear of what you might lose. If someone challenged you, you might say. “Oh, I don’t really know him very well. I’ve only actually been to his church a few times. I always thought he was a bit extreme.”

Then, again, maybe you would find the strength to stand in solidarity with him – by sending gifts, praying, accepting the persecution of the authorities, and defiantly continuing to preach the same message of Christ. Perhaps you would say, “Yes, my pastor is in prison for preaching Christ. And they can come and lock me up too if they want to, because I will not stop confessing the truth — that Jesus Christ is the risen Lord of all.”

What would you do?”