Before you cite Philippians 1:18 it might be a good idea to read it!

From time to time you see it or hear it.  Someone makes a proposal and others come back with questions and challenges.  Some disagree and think that the idea shouldn’t go ahead.  Then the response comes

“Even if this is not for you, perhaps you could take a Philippians 1:18 approach.”

What does that mean.  Well, there are two parts to the answer. There is what people seem to think that Philippians 1:18 is saying and then there is what it actually says.  The implication of the response is that we shouldn’t challenge, dissent or object to proposals, at least publicly because the intent of those ideas is to further the Gospel and we don’t want to be against it.

However, that’s not what Paul says in Philippians 1.  What he actually says is:

¹⁵ It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. ¹⁶ The latter do so out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. ¹⁷ The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. ¹⁸ 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.

Now, that is significantly different.  If I disagree with your idea, it doesn’t mean that I am questioning your motives.  I may of course have reservations about them but that’s a different matter. I’m simply saying that I disagree with or have questions about the wisdom of a course of action. 

Furthermore, Paul is not saying that we cannot challenge, question, correct, rebuke even when Christians get it wrong.  He frequently does so and even in this paragraph his criticism of those preaching “out of envy and rivalry” is pretty obvious. 

What he is saying is that he can rejoice in the Gospel fruit that might come from such questionable endeavours.  He is encouraging the believers concerning his own circumstances and telling them that they don’t need to worry.  It is similar to his comments elsewhere that God works all things together for good.