Nathan Neighbors
Follower of Christ, Husband, Father, & Youth Pastor
Have you ever misunderstood someone? Especially when it was from a letter, email or text? This second letter to the Thessalonians was a letter to help clear up confusion from the first letter. Paul was writing them to assure them that the Day of the Lord had not yet come and that they had not missed it.
But before he talks about that (in chapter 2), he encourages them for their faithfulness in the midst of tough physical persecution. Many in the church were being persecuted – even physically – because of the cause of Christ.
Following Christ is not easy. We may never face physical violence because of our faith in Jesus, but be sure we will face persecution. Though we have freedom of religion in this country, there are many who will be ostracized for following Christ. In those moments, take heart and count it joy that you would be among those who are persecuted for following the King of Kings.
“Therefore, we ourselves boast about you among God’s churches — about your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and afflictions that you are enduring.” – 2 Thessalonians 1:4
Yesterday I wrote about 1 Thessalonians 2 & 3 and I said that both of those chapters gave a glimpse into the great relationship Paul had with this church. He loved them and they loved him. He spent most of those two chapters talking about how he missed them and how he hoped they could see each other again soon. Those two chapters certainly made clear the value Paul in church. One of love, encouragement and acceptance.
In these next two chapters (4 & 5), Paul gets down to business and talks more about accountability to living like Christ. In these two chapters Paul continues to encourage the church – but he is clear about how he wants them to act as followers of Christ. In chapter 4 Paul reminds them to be sanctified & sexually pure (4:3-8); to work hard and live a godly life (4:9-12); and grieve with hope (4:13-18). Then in chapter 5 he teaches them not to worry about when the return of Christ will be – but to be ready and to be found faithfully fulfilling the work of the church until that time comes.
What I love about these two chapters is how they pair so well with the previous two chapters. The church should be a place that loves and accepts one another as they are. But it should also be a place that calls one another to discipleship and becoming less like themselves and more like Christ. I think Paul does a beautiful job in these four chapters of doing just that. He shows his love and strong relationship with them – but also calls them to be better. We need more of that in the church today.
These two chapters are less about theology and more about ecclesiology. Meaning, these two chapters are less about studying the deep meaning of God and more about learning what the early church was like. Paul spends these two chapters sharing his love with the church at Thessolonica. He longs to be with them. He cares for them. He also shares in the letter the love they have for him. It’s wonderful to see the way Paul and other leaders cared for the churches. That’s what a church ought to be like. It should be like a healthy family. One that loves each other, longs to be together and looks out for one another. Too often the churches kill their wounded or jump ship and finds another church. May we encourage one another the way Paul does in these two chapters.
Nathan Neighbors 