1 Thessalonians 5:1-11
This section continues on from the last part of chapter 4: talking about the return of Christ and the end times. Here, Paul exposits (I don't know if that's actually the right word but as long as no one else does, I think it makes me sound smart!) on another statement of Jesus about the end times: the return of Christ will be like a thief who comes in the night - no one is expecting him, otherwise people would have been ready. He also references another statement that Jesus made that the signs of the end will be like labour pains. I don't know how far to take the comparison. At the very least Jesus and Paul are saying that out of the pain, something great will come (a baby for the woman, the return of Christ for the Christian). However, he could also be saying that the pains and trials will increase in frequency and intensity until the end.
Paul indicates that as children of light we who follow Jesus should not be as surprised by the return of Christ as the rest of the world. I don't think he's saying that we will know exactly when Jesus is coming back but that we won't be as surprised because we should not be asleep and unexpectant. We are awake, alert and watching. We live our lives in faith, love and the hope of salvation as if Christ could actually return at any moment. This doesn't mean that we won't be surprised. It's sort of like playing "peek-a-boo" with Zach - he knows I'm going to stick my head around the corner but he's not sure exactly when so he waits with a huge grin on his face and light dancing in his eyes and if I delay my peek he calls for me. When I finally do poke my head around the corner it is a delightful surprise to him. That's how I should be waiting for Jesus - eager anticipation, light dancing in my eyes. Someday I am going to see Jesus - it doesn't matter if I die (am asleep in verse 10) or am still alive (awake in verse 10)! No wonder Paul tells us to encourage each other with these words.
Friday, June 27, 2008
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Paul's take on the end times
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
Paul's concern here is that the Thessalonian church had some wrong beliefs about what would happen to those who were disciples of Christ but died before Christ's return. It is not indicated exactly what they believed but from the fact that they were grieving like everyone else, they probably believed that the dead ceased to exist and only those who were alive at Christ's return would live with him forever.
The key phrase in this passage is "according to the Lord's word." This means that Paul is taking his teaching on the return of Christ from Christ's teaching on his return. The place we find this teaching is in Matthew 24 and it is easy to see the parallels: there are clouds, there are angels and there are trumpets. Paul, through the inspiration of the Spirit, has passed on some further insight: the dead in Christ will rise first and we will go up to meet Jesus in the air, joining his army as he returns to take his rightful place as king.
The point of Paul's teaching isn't so much to explain everything that's going to happen when Jesus returns but to comfort and encourage the Thessalonians who believed that they would never see their dead relatives again (and that once they died, they would never see the fulfillment of the kingdom). The end of the paragraph is the key: encourage one another with these words. What an encouragement these words are: someday Jesus will return but if I should die before then, not even death can prevent me from seeing the fulfillment of Christ's kingdom. Lord, come!
Paul's concern here is that the Thessalonian church had some wrong beliefs about what would happen to those who were disciples of Christ but died before Christ's return. It is not indicated exactly what they believed but from the fact that they were grieving like everyone else, they probably believed that the dead ceased to exist and only those who were alive at Christ's return would live with him forever.
The key phrase in this passage is "according to the Lord's word." This means that Paul is taking his teaching on the return of Christ from Christ's teaching on his return. The place we find this teaching is in Matthew 24 and it is easy to see the parallels: there are clouds, there are angels and there are trumpets. Paul, through the inspiration of the Spirit, has passed on some further insight: the dead in Christ will rise first and we will go up to meet Jesus in the air, joining his army as he returns to take his rightful place as king.
The point of Paul's teaching isn't so much to explain everything that's going to happen when Jesus returns but to comfort and encourage the Thessalonians who believed that they would never see their dead relatives again (and that once they died, they would never see the fulfillment of the kingdom). The end of the paragraph is the key: encourage one another with these words. What an encouragement these words are: someday Jesus will return but if I should die before then, not even death can prevent me from seeing the fulfillment of Christ's kingdom. Lord, come!
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
mind your own business
1 Thessalonians 4:9-12
Love is a key word in this passage - particularly love for fellow believers. Paul is encouraged by the love the Thessalonian Christians are demonstrating for each other and for all their brothers and sisters in the region. Paul is concerned that they are getting a bit lazy and are starting to be busybodies. He reminds them that their love for their brothers and sisters and their work ethic will be two things that will win the respect of the general population.
I agree with Paul very strongly. People may not understand what we believe or the reasons why we meet together. They might not understand our traditions and our worship but they should be able to say that we love each other and that we are honest, hard working people. I am concerned when I look at the state of Christian's lives in my sphere of influence. There is a definite increase in selfishness and self-centerdness. There is an increased feeling of entitlement and the job market has made it very easy to demand much from the employer and give very little back. Friendships have always been a bit egocentric (what can this person do for me and my reputation?) but I see a greater willingness to walk away from people if the relationship is not of some benefit. I also need this reminder - especially during the summer. It's easier for me to slack off a bit because there aren't any urgent programming needs. However, I owe a decent day's work. The church deserves my best efforts and my honest efforts. I also must remember that my work is about people and not about programs and projects. Am I loving my brother and sister well?
Love is a key word in this passage - particularly love for fellow believers. Paul is encouraged by the love the Thessalonian Christians are demonstrating for each other and for all their brothers and sisters in the region. Paul is concerned that they are getting a bit lazy and are starting to be busybodies. He reminds them that their love for their brothers and sisters and their work ethic will be two things that will win the respect of the general population.
I agree with Paul very strongly. People may not understand what we believe or the reasons why we meet together. They might not understand our traditions and our worship but they should be able to say that we love each other and that we are honest, hard working people. I am concerned when I look at the state of Christian's lives in my sphere of influence. There is a definite increase in selfishness and self-centerdness. There is an increased feeling of entitlement and the job market has made it very easy to demand much from the employer and give very little back. Friendships have always been a bit egocentric (what can this person do for me and my reputation?) but I see a greater willingness to walk away from people if the relationship is not of some benefit. I also need this reminder - especially during the summer. It's easier for me to slack off a bit because there aren't any urgent programming needs. However, I owe a decent day's work. The church deserves my best efforts and my honest efforts. I also must remember that my work is about people and not about programs and projects. Am I loving my brother and sister well?
Monday, June 23, 2008
in order to please God
1 Thessalonians 4:1-8
The key phrase in this section is: "how to live in order to please God." Paul isn't overly concerned by the behaviour of the Thessalonians; in fact, he commends them for living in a way that is pleasing to God. However, he does include some reminders - in this section he reminds them about getting rid of lust.
Paul reminds the Thessalonians that God's will is their sanctification and that part of that process is sexual purity. He also reminds them that sexual immorality is not just an offense against another person but also against God and a rejection of this instruction is a rejection of God. This is consistent through the whole Bible: lust is a sin because it is an affront to God's purity, holiness and faithfulness. In other words, one way to live in order to please God is to turn from lust or flee sexual immorality. However, I must emphasize that the Bible does not teach that sexual desire is a sin - God created us as sexual beings - but that lust is.
So when does sexual desire become lust? I think the passage gives us some answers. First, desire becomes lusts when there is a lack of self-control. Paul talks in another letter about not letting his body or his desires control him but working to make sure that he is always in control of his desires. Secondly, desire becomes lust when I no longer regard the holiness of God. In other words, if my desire causes me to think or act in a way that does not reflect the character of God, then it has become lust. Thirdly, desire becomes lust when I have no regard for the honour of the other person. Each person has been created in the image of God but when I strip them of dignity in order to use that person, in my fantasies or in reality, to fulfill my own desires, I have robbed them of the honour they are due as a human.
The key phrase in this section is: "how to live in order to please God." Paul isn't overly concerned by the behaviour of the Thessalonians; in fact, he commends them for living in a way that is pleasing to God. However, he does include some reminders - in this section he reminds them about getting rid of lust.
Paul reminds the Thessalonians that God's will is their sanctification and that part of that process is sexual purity. He also reminds them that sexual immorality is not just an offense against another person but also against God and a rejection of this instruction is a rejection of God. This is consistent through the whole Bible: lust is a sin because it is an affront to God's purity, holiness and faithfulness. In other words, one way to live in order to please God is to turn from lust or flee sexual immorality. However, I must emphasize that the Bible does not teach that sexual desire is a sin - God created us as sexual beings - but that lust is.
So when does sexual desire become lust? I think the passage gives us some answers. First, desire becomes lusts when there is a lack of self-control. Paul talks in another letter about not letting his body or his desires control him but working to make sure that he is always in control of his desires. Secondly, desire becomes lust when I no longer regard the holiness of God. In other words, if my desire causes me to think or act in a way that does not reflect the character of God, then it has become lust. Thirdly, desire becomes lust when I have no regard for the honour of the other person. Each person has been created in the image of God but when I strip them of dignity in order to use that person, in my fantasies or in reality, to fulfill my own desires, I have robbed them of the honour they are due as a human.
Friday, June 20, 2008
3 requests
1 Thessalonians 3:11-13
Here we have Paul's prayer - which is a continuation of the previous paragraph. He indicates that they have been praying night and day that Paul and his crew would be able to return to the Thessalonica to encourage the church and continue their instruction in the faith. Here, he prays the actual prayer. His concern is that the the Thessalonian church is not complete in their faith - that there is something lacking that Paul needs to teach them about in person (see verse 10). Based on what Paul prays about, it could be that they are lacking in love and are not as strong as they should be.
Paul asks for three things in his prayer: that God would allow him to return to them, that God would increase their love for each other so that it overflows out of them and that God would strengthen them so that they would not fall into impurity. This indicates Paul's deep love and concern for the Thessalonian church. He longs for them and for their "success" and wants to do anything to help them.
If I could boil my requests down to three for my students, I'm not sure what I would pray. Probably that they would not be selfish and learn to see and love others with eyes and heart of Christ, that they would be strong in their faith - not just in knowing what they believe and how to defend it but in living it out, in staying faithful to the call of Christ - and that they would discover the incredible joy of knowing and following Jesus. Without putting a lot of thought into it, I think that's what I would ask for.
Here we have Paul's prayer - which is a continuation of the previous paragraph. He indicates that they have been praying night and day that Paul and his crew would be able to return to the Thessalonica to encourage the church and continue their instruction in the faith. Here, he prays the actual prayer. His concern is that the the Thessalonian church is not complete in their faith - that there is something lacking that Paul needs to teach them about in person (see verse 10). Based on what Paul prays about, it could be that they are lacking in love and are not as strong as they should be.
Paul asks for three things in his prayer: that God would allow him to return to them, that God would increase their love for each other so that it overflows out of them and that God would strengthen them so that they would not fall into impurity. This indicates Paul's deep love and concern for the Thessalonian church. He longs for them and for their "success" and wants to do anything to help them.
If I could boil my requests down to three for my students, I'm not sure what I would pray. Probably that they would not be selfish and learn to see and love others with eyes and heart of Christ, that they would be strong in their faith - not just in knowing what they believe and how to defend it but in living it out, in staying faithful to the call of Christ - and that they would discover the incredible joy of knowing and following Jesus. Without putting a lot of thought into it, I think that's what I would ask for.
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
really living
1 Thessalonians 3:6-10
Paul's concerns about the Thessalonians have been put to rest by the great report that Timothy has brought back. There is a strong theme of joy and encouragement in this section of the letter. There is also a theme of endurance or standing firm in the face of persecution. Paul is encouraged to stand firm in his persecution because of the report he has received that the Thessalonians are also standing firm in the face of persectuion. The concern that he had for them was constricting him but now that he has heard that they are persevering in their faith, he can "really live."
I resonate with the joy that Paul has for this church. There is nothing that I enjoy more than hearing of my students continuing on in their faith, even in the face of hardship. Maybe what I enjoy even more than that is seeing them living out their faith. Just over the course of a couple of weeks I have been so encouraged and filled with joy by a conversation I had on the bus up to Edmonton, by seeing a desire for some of my students to be baptized (and hearing a bit of their faith story as I met with them), by a lunch meeting I had with another student who is wondering what it is that God wants to do through him to make a difference in his world and by observing some of my leaders at our DV8 year end really invest their time into students. When I see this stuff, I feel like not even gravity can hold me down!
Paul's concerns about the Thessalonians have been put to rest by the great report that Timothy has brought back. There is a strong theme of joy and encouragement in this section of the letter. There is also a theme of endurance or standing firm in the face of persecution. Paul is encouraged to stand firm in his persecution because of the report he has received that the Thessalonians are also standing firm in the face of persectuion. The concern that he had for them was constricting him but now that he has heard that they are persevering in their faith, he can "really live."
I resonate with the joy that Paul has for this church. There is nothing that I enjoy more than hearing of my students continuing on in their faith, even in the face of hardship. Maybe what I enjoy even more than that is seeing them living out their faith. Just over the course of a couple of weeks I have been so encouraged and filled with joy by a conversation I had on the bus up to Edmonton, by seeing a desire for some of my students to be baptized (and hearing a bit of their faith story as I met with them), by a lunch meeting I had with another student who is wondering what it is that God wants to do through him to make a difference in his world and by observing some of my leaders at our DV8 year end really invest their time into students. When I see this stuff, I feel like not even gravity can hold me down!
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
my crown of glory
1 Thessalonians 2:17-3:5
Paul is concerned that the the church in Thessalonica may have drifted from their faith due to the intense persecution that they were suffering. The events that Paul is talking about occurred while he was in Athens - shortly after he left Thessalonica. Satan plays a prominent role in this passage: blocking Paul's team from returning to Thessalonica and tempting the Thessalonians to abandon their faith. Paul also uses some family language again (previously saying he was like a child among them, a mother who cares for them, a father who is concerned for them, their brothers and sisters and now he is orphaned from them).
Paul is basically just recounting the history of the church at this point. He reminds them of the persecution that they suffered (persecution that Paul forewarned them about and came just as he said it would), of his deep concern for them and his efforts to reach them that were thwarted which eventually compelled him to send Timothy to check on what was happening and to bring a report (which is in the next section of this letter).
Paul says that the church in Thessalonica will be his joy and his crown in which he glories. This is a great reminder for me: I am very task oriented. I really enjoy people and thrive on relationships but I default to task - as long as there is something that needs to be done, it has most of my attention. My crown will not be how many tasks that I accomplished but how I have invested myself into people and how I have impacted their lives for the kingdom of heaven. In my role, this means that I have to invest myself in people who will then invest in others. It also means that I need to create the environment conducive to my leaders investing into others but I can't forget that it is all so people can connect with and experience Christ.
Paul also brings up the idea of destiny but this time it is that we are destined for trials. I have not really experienced much in the way of trials or persecution because of my faith in Jesus. I have a good job with decent pay and a house and two cars - even if one of them is a Ford (grin! I am actually very grateful for my Ford - thanks!!). I have not been threatened with jail or torture or death. My family is safe and I don't need to worry about mobs attacking them while I am away because we follow Jesus. I don't think that I should go out looking for trials - I think my focus is supposed to be staying faithful to what God has called me to do. But Paul's words make me wonder... When so many of my brothers and sisters around the world live under the threat of persecution, why have I escaped?
Paul is concerned that the the church in Thessalonica may have drifted from their faith due to the intense persecution that they were suffering. The events that Paul is talking about occurred while he was in Athens - shortly after he left Thessalonica. Satan plays a prominent role in this passage: blocking Paul's team from returning to Thessalonica and tempting the Thessalonians to abandon their faith. Paul also uses some family language again (previously saying he was like a child among them, a mother who cares for them, a father who is concerned for them, their brothers and sisters and now he is orphaned from them).
Paul is basically just recounting the history of the church at this point. He reminds them of the persecution that they suffered (persecution that Paul forewarned them about and came just as he said it would), of his deep concern for them and his efforts to reach them that were thwarted which eventually compelled him to send Timothy to check on what was happening and to bring a report (which is in the next section of this letter).
Paul says that the church in Thessalonica will be his joy and his crown in which he glories. This is a great reminder for me: I am very task oriented. I really enjoy people and thrive on relationships but I default to task - as long as there is something that needs to be done, it has most of my attention. My crown will not be how many tasks that I accomplished but how I have invested myself into people and how I have impacted their lives for the kingdom of heaven. In my role, this means that I have to invest myself in people who will then invest in others. It also means that I need to create the environment conducive to my leaders investing into others but I can't forget that it is all so people can connect with and experience Christ.
Paul also brings up the idea of destiny but this time it is that we are destined for trials. I have not really experienced much in the way of trials or persecution because of my faith in Jesus. I have a good job with decent pay and a house and two cars - even if one of them is a Ford (grin! I am actually very grateful for my Ford - thanks!!). I have not been threatened with jail or torture or death. My family is safe and I don't need to worry about mobs attacking them while I am away because we follow Jesus. I don't think that I should go out looking for trials - I think my focus is supposed to be staying faithful to what God has called me to do. But Paul's words make me wonder... When so many of my brothers and sisters around the world live under the threat of persecution, why have I escaped?
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