The third article on 1 Thessalonians is now in the Evangelical Magazine. It is more or less as follows,
It all happened in just three weeks. Paul came to Thessalonica,
preached, many were converted, persecution hit, Paul had to depart.
Acts 17 and 1 Thessalonians 2:14-3:5 tell the story. Maybe you know
little of persecution personally but you do not go far in the Bible
without reading about it.
Destiny
1
Thessalonians 2:14, 15 speaks of the Thessalonians becoming imitators
of God's churches in Judea, which are in Christ Jesus.
The Jews in Judea persecuted the earliest Christians. The same thing
happened to the Thessalonians. Later (3:3b, 4) Paul says they know
quite well that we were destined for this.
He
had warned them to expect it.
This
is how it has always been. The Jews persecuted their prophets, the
Judean churches, Jesus and the apostles. We believe the same things
so we can expect persecution too. John 15:20, If
they persecuted me, they will persecute you.
Paul
told the Thessalonians - if you become Christians, expect
persecution. And it turned out that way!
To this day believers experience it.
June 2013, Uzbekistan. A Christian is violently assaulted by a police
chief. When he lodges a complaint, he is himself charged. He is
stopped by the police chief, taken to a police station and a portable
data drive containing Christian materials is confiscated. The officer
beats him with a book, punches and kicks him. He is taken home and
other Christian resources and his laptop are seized.
Is
my lack of persecution today due to failing to live as I should? Not
to be persecuted, is abnormal.
Persecutors
In 2:15, 16 Paul turns to the persecutors and says
They
displease God and are hostile to all men as
they try to stop them hearing the gospel.
They displease
God
who hates such persecution and as for men, they are
hostile to all. Persecutors
in one way or another oppose God and man, keeping people from
hearing the message and being saved. Some are driven away by fear of
persecution. Others see the truth and believe, regardless.
In this way they always heap up
their sins to the limit. The wrath of God has come upon them at
last. They
will be judged for their sins and even now God's wrath is coming on
them. Sin is like liquid filling a cup, drop by drop. Eventually it
fills and God's wrath is unleashed. Paul is thinking of the Jews and
the evidence already seen of God's wrath. We should be glad that one
day all persecution will end.
2:17, 18 Paul
says when we were torn away from you for a short time (in
person, not in thought), out of our intense longing we made every
effort to see you. For we wanted to come to you - certainly I, Paul,
did, again and again - but Satan stopped us. Knowing
the Thessalonians were being persecuted Paul's sympathies went out to
them. He had to move to Berea but did all he could to see them again.
He longed to come to them but was stopped by Satan – no detail is
given but Satan always wants to separate Christians. A good question
is whether our hearts go out to the persecuted. That should be our
response.
July
2013, Turkmenistan. Police
raid a children’s summer camp. With medical personnel they swoop on
the event, organised by a church on its own premises. They question
the children, make parents collect them and take extensive video
footage of children and the meeting place. The Christians are fined
for holding an unregistered religious meeting and not complying with
sanitary norms, charges they strongly reject.
Our hearts should go out to them.
Pastor and flock
How pastors should regard their
flocks, flocks their pastors. 19, 20a what is our hope,
our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our
Lord Jesus when he comes? Is it not you? Indeed, you are our glory
and joy. The relationship
between pastor and flock should be such that the pastor sees the
people as his hope, joy and future glory and the people recognise
it. The pastor hopes the best for them; for them to truly believe
and live to God's praise is his joy. When Jesus returns the
Thessalonians will be Paul's crown. He will glory in Christ's
presence over them. As it was with Paul and the Thessalonians so it
should be today. Perhaps pastors fail to make this clear or maybe
people are slow to believe it.
Sometimes pastor and flock are
parted. Paul describes how he went alone to Athens (3:1).
Imagine him – separated from his hope and glory. That is never
easy for a pastor but it happens. Joseph Alleine, imprisoned in
1663, greatly missed his flock and wrote many letters. He says “Very
pleasant have you been unto me, and your love to me is wonderful;
and as I have formerly taken great content in that my lot was cast
among you, so I rejoice in my present lot, that I am called to prove
my love to you by suffering for you; for you, I say; for you know I
have not sought yours, but you; and that, for doing my duty to your
souls, I am here in these bonds, which I cheerfully accept through
the grace of GOD that strengtheneth me. O that your hands might be
strengthened, and your hearts encouraged in the LORD your GOD by our
sufferings!” For pastor and flock to be separated is bad. The
shepherd is struck, the sheep scatter. Yet sometimes it happens. If
it does not, be thankful.
3:2, 3a, 5 Paul confesses his fear
that in some way the tempter might have tempted them
and his efforts have proved
useless. It was not sinful fear as he did something about it, sending
Timothy to them, his brother and God's fellow worker in
spreading the gospel. Paul
wanted Timothy to strengthen and encourage their
faith, so that their
trials would not unsettle them. Good pastors
do what they can to see strengthen and encourage the flock as best
they can. Unable to stand it any longer Paul sent to find
out about their faith.
He wanted information; any true
pastor would, anyone with genuine concern.
Progress
Finally,
Paul explains how Timothy returned with good news of
their faith and love and
their pleasant memories of and longings to see him (as Paul longed
for them). How encouraging! Their progress and devotion meant a lot,
as with any pastor. Growth in faith and love is vital despite
persecution, which should drive pastor and people together. Even if
there is none, they should be united.
