You've Got to Love the Church

New Christians quickly realize that even though their sins are forgiven, their problems seldom go away. Far from living a life free from problems, followers of Jesus Christ experience a whole new set of problems. Added to the struggles of living in a fallen world is the ever-present reality of persecution. New believers must prepare for the inevitable casualties of war. Peter knew this well when he warned,

Peter was no stranger to persecution. He had a front row seat to the persecution directed at his Lord. He saw how Jesus responded, and he remembered what Jesus said about persecution:

Persecution, hardship, and difficulty are expectations for the Christian; they were never meant to be exceptions for the Christian. So the real question is not, Will I face trouble? But, How will I respond when I face trouble? In one of the very first letters written to the church, James gave us some helpful advice: "Consider it a great joy, my brothers, whenever you experience various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance" (Jas 1:2-3). We should respond to trial and hardship like the sage who lived on a tiny island in the Pacific. When asked by the residents how they should prepare for a rapidly approaching tidal wave, he replied, "We would all do well to learn how to live underwater." We can't expect to avoid it; we should prepare to endure it. Paul gives us two valuable ways that the church can endure persecution: we hold one another up, and we pick one another up.

64Paul never pulled his punches. He was not like the false teachers who promised much and delivered little. He wanted the Thessalonians to know what Christianity was and what Christianity was not. He never promised them that it would be easy. In fact, he reminds them that he delivered his message with no "intent to deceive" (2:3). During his short stay in Thessalonica, his teaching about the reality of persecution was straightforward and direct. "For you yourselves know," he reminded them (3:3). And, "When we were with you we told you" that persecution would come (3:4). As Ray Comfort puts it, Jesus is not a something that we put on to make our journey more comfortable. He's not a "life enhancer." He is a "life rescuer" ("Tips for a Biblical Altar Call"). He definitely makes our lives richer, better, and more meaningful. But far greater than all of these temporary benefits, He gives us eternal benefits like forgiveness of sin and an eternal dwelling place with God. Although life is indeed better with Jesus, that life will not necessarily be easier with Jesus. If church leaders love those whom they lead, then they will prepare them for every eventuality of the faith, including persecution, suffering, and pain. In his insightful book on the subject of God and pain, Phillip Yancey makes a startling statement about how some Christians view pain: "Christians would probably admit that pain was God's mistake. He should have worked a little harder and invented a better way of coping with the world's dangers" (Yancey, Where Is God?, 23). By contrast, Paul wanted the Thessalonians to know that pain was not their enemy. As we know, he was speaking from personal experience. Countless Christians have found solace in these comforting words:

The more that you grow in your relationship with Christ, the more you grow to appreciate the depth of these words.

Paul knew that following Christ meant something. He also knew that following Christ would not be easy. A formidable foe stood ready to oppose God's work in Thessalonica. The real foe, however, was not an angry mob. The real foe was "the tempter," or Satan (3:5). Paul did his 65best to prepare this infant congregation for Satan's attack. His instruction clearly echoed what he taught the Ephesians (Eph 6:10-17). In his later instruction to the Thessalonians he will encourage them to "Put the armor of faith and love on [your] chests, and put on a helmet of the hope of salvation" (1 Thess 5:8). A prepared soldier is never surprised when the enemy attacks. Paul sought to prepare them the best he could, but it was now up to the Thessalonians to stand their ground. Although he desperately wanted to be there to strengthen and encourage them in this fight, Satan "hindered" his attempts to return to Thessalonica (2:18). They were now on their own until Timothy could return to strengthen and encourage them.

A vibrant church posed a significant threat to Satan's stronghold in Thessalonica. Paul knew this before he arrived. Satan's strategy was "to steal and to kill and to destroy" (John 10:10). If he could steal the Thessalonians' joy he could also destroy their work. But his ultimate goal was to steer people away from God's saving gospel. Death is his ultimate goal. Today, Satan's strategy may manifest itself in many ways, but its purpose is always the same. If he can't render the church inoperative, he will work tirelessly to make the church ineffective. If an attack from without proves futile, he will attempt to destroy it from within. It is no coincidence that petty church disagreements often grow into giant church problems. Unwittingly, church members zealous for their particular cause may think that they are defending their church when in reality they are destroying it. To quote the esteemed philosopher Pogo Possum, "We have met the enemy, and he is us!" When internal wars distract the church, it never advances in its external mission. Think about a church that is experiencing internal conflict. Are lives being changed, or are lives being destroyed? Are people on the outside talking more about the conflict in the church, or are they marveling at the gospel message that is coming out of the church? "The tempter" is going to work tirelessly to destroy God's work. Paul never underestimated his enemy. He warned the Thessalonians in advance that Satan was looking for any opening to destroy this infant congregation. The church needed to be prepared (1 Pet 5:8).

No Christian is immune from discouragement. Even when prepared for the reality of Satan's attack, we still have moments when our fears and doubts get the best of us. Paul also experienced moments of doubt. He 66never attempted to hide his feelings from the church. In fact, throughout his letter he openly shares his doubts with them. At least three are implicit within the letter:

We may be saved by grace alone through faith alone, but God never intended for us to live life alone. Nowhere is this truth more important than when dealing with doubts and discouragement. If you recall the seasons of your life when you were the most discouraged, more than likely these were times when you were alone. It may not be that you were isolated from the presence of people, but you may have been insulated from sharing your heart with them. Human beings are quite adept at keeping things inside. When you and I learn to be real with one another we often discover that we are not alone in our discouragement. This may sound strange, but sometimes it is simply encouraging to know that you are not the only one who is discouraged. Try to name one great biblical saint who did not struggle with some type of pain, disappointment, doubt, or discouragement. You might have a difficult time naming one. Don't believe the lie that life will be easy. Also, don't lose hope when you struggle with life's ambiguities. Nowhere does the Bible teach that to be used by God you have to have life figured out. In reality, for God to use you, you first must admit that you don't have life figured out.

A classic illustration from Peter's life is helpful. Peter had been fishing all night with little to show for his efforts. While Peter was putting his gear away for the day, Jesus gets into his boat and begins to teach the crowd. Perhaps sensing Peter's frustration at his lackluster night of fishing, Jesus gave Peter a tip as to where to find the fish. Peter let down his nets into the water just as Jesus suggested, and he landed the biggest catch of his life. While he was filling the boat with fish, conviction filled Peter's heart. In a moment that changed his life forever, Peter fell on his knees in the pile of fish and called out to Jesus, "Go away from me, because I am a sinful man, Lord!" Jesus' response to Peter came as a result of Peter's response to Jesus. "From now on," Jesus exclaimed, "you will be catching people!" (Luke 5:1-10). Peter saw God in his boat that 67day. When you see God for who He is, you will see yourself for who you really are. But when you confess to God who you really are, God makes you into the person He wants you to be.

We are encouraged when we read in Scripture that even Peter struggled with his self-confidence. After he admitted his weakness and submitted to Jesus, God was able to use him in a mighty way. It is heartening to learn that we are not the only people who don't have life totally figured out and that God has not given up on us. Using the same approach to encourage the Thessalonians, Paul admitted to them that he was struggling with questions and apprehensions.

Paul was willing to be vulnerable by sharing his fears and doubts with this infant church. And just as he proved to be an encouragement to them through the message that he sent with Timothy, they proved to be an encouragement to Paul by the report that Timothy brought back to him. Timothy's news was most encouraging. Paul no longer had any reason to doubt. Timothy's report provided the answers Paul was seeking. The report dispelled his doubts in three ways: First, far from dismissing Paul and his companions as just another bunch of false teachers, the Thessalonians had "good memories" of them (3:6). Paul could rest assured that his name and his reputation were intact. Second, Paul learned that they wanted to see him as much as he wanted to see them (3:6). This is hardly the response of a church that has lost confidence in its founder and leader. Finally, neither distress, persecution, nor the craftiness of "the tempter" could dissuade this church from keeping the faith (3:7). Paul had prepared them for the battle and they were advancing. The sunshine of certainty had broken the clouds of doubt that obscured Paul's vision.

In this give-and-take between Paul and the Thessalonians, both were encouraged. This models how fellowship and vulnerability work in the church: we share our doubts and discouragement, and we pick one another up.

1 Thessalonians 3:10-13

The apostle Paul was one of the most transparent men who ever lived. To read his letters is to see into his life. He willingly shares his doubts, hopes, concerns, joys, sorrows, and weaknesses. But of all the things that Paul shares about himself, perhaps the most profound is his prayer life. 68Through reading his prayers, you can see Paul in a light that reveals his heart for God and his heart for people. In these closing verses of chapter 3 Paul shows how you and I ought to pray for one another, what our petitions ought to be when we pray for one another, and the reason we pray for one another.

Paul last saw Timothy in Athens. From Athens he sent Timothy back to Thessalonica. After an extended time apart, Timothy has now rejoined Paul in Corinth. With the fresh news of Timothy's report, Paul pens 1 Thessalonians. The Thessalonians were more than just another church to Paul. He loved them dearly. This is most evident in how he prayed for them. "We pray very earnestly night and day," Paul wrote. The emphasis here is not so much on what time of the day he prayed but on how fervently he prayed. E. M. Bounds speaks of this kind of passionate praying:

Paul's fervency in prayer was much different from that of many Christians. When we end our prayers with the generic phrase, "Bless our church," what are we really asking God? Are we asking with a sense of desire or fervency for God to give us the specific thing for which we pray? When children want something from a parent, you will hear no ambiguity in their request. They let their parents know what they want and how badly they want it. Given the lack of fervency and specificity in some prayers, no wonder many of them go unanswered.

Paul not only prayed fervently (night and day), he also prayed "earnestly." The use of the adverb earnestly points to the intensity or focus of his prayers. His specific choice of the Greek word for "pray" emphasizes the need or wish behind the request. In this case the persistence of Paul's prayer revolved around his desire for God to "direct" his way to them 69(3:11; see also 2:18). He did not rattle off a perfunctory list of people for God to "bless" or a vague list of things for God to do. As we will see in 3:11-13, Paul's prayers were specific, persistent, and focused. Jesus taught that healthy prayer life is to be marked by how persistently we pray (Luke 11:8-10; 18:1-8) and how specifically we pray (Matt 6:9-13; Luke 11:11-13).

The first three chapters of 1 Thessalonians form Paul's lengthy and purposeful introduction. The heart or meat of the letter does not begin until chapters 4 and 5. Up to this point, Paul has rejoiced in the Thessalonians' spiritual growth (1:2-10), defended his motives in ministry (2:1-12), thanked God for the faithfulness of this infant congregation (2:13-16), and reassured them of his love (2:17-3:9). He now is ready to tackle some of the most significant theological themes of the Christian life. But before diving in (and he does so quickly in chapter 4), Paul pauses to pray for them. In the simplest of prayers, he offers four profound requests.

Spiritual growth. Paul wanted desperately "to complete" what was lacking in their faith (3:10b). As he saw it, his work in Thessalonica was incomplete. This was not to suggest that Paul somehow thought that the church was spiritually anemic. He knew that love for Christ was evident and their faith was vibrant and growing. However, they were still an infant church with much to learn. He desired for them to be spiritually strong. His prayer expresses a fervent request that God would enable them to mature. Paul knew that their faith must be grounded on God's truth. Questions still remained about the Lord's return (4:13-5:11), spiritual leadership (5:12-13), interpersonal relationships (5:14-15), and spiritual disciplines (5:16-22). He will address these themes as the letter progresses. But Paul knew that they were "lacking in [their] faith" and needed God's wisdom to face the many challenges confronting them. He was a pastor who yearned for the spiritual growth of his people (cf. Col 1:9-10). However, Paul was not content merely to pray for them, he wanted to see them, to teach them, and to encourage them.

Open doors. We can plan and prepare for ministry but ultimately we are dependent on God to open and close doors. Paul knew that if he were going to return to Thessalonica, God would have to make it happen (3:11). Only God Himself could make the impossible possible. Though Satan placed roadblocks in Paul's path (2:18), it did not deter him from repeatedly asking God to make a way. An important lesson 70here must not be overlooked. We must trust God implicitly to do what is in His best interest and not ours. We are not architects for our kingdom; we are ambassadors for His kingdom. Kicking in doors that God is unwilling to open will only lead to disaster. Ask Moses what it cost him to kick in a door at Meribah (Num 20:2-13). When God puts a pathway in front of us, His expectation is that we stay on it no matter how enticing the other pathways may appear (Josh 1:7-8). Our journeys are all different. Let God's plan be your plan. Don't let that keep you from praying for Him to open doors, but make a commitment that you will stay behind the doors that He keeps closed and walk confidently through the doors that He opens (2 Cor 10:12-13).

Increasing love. Jesus said to His disciples, "By this all people will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another" (John 13:35). The Thessalonians were working hard at loving one another (1:3). However, you never reach a point in your spiritual journey where your love stops growing (1 Cor 13:8, 13). As you grow in your relationship with Christ, you will also be growing in your love for one another. Paul emphasizes this by praying, "May the Lord cause you to increase and overflow with love for one another and for everyone, just as we also do for you" (1 Thess 3:12; emphasis added).

Charles Swindoll identifies at least four ways that we can express love to others:

A worthy walk. The challenges of living out the faith in a city like Thessalonica were great. Much as in the world today, the Thessalonians were faced with constant pressure to conform to the culture around them. However, Christians must view their world in a different way. The culture says if you want to get along, then you must go along, but God has a much different perspective. Paul told the Romans not to be "conformed" to this world (Rom 12:2). John put it this way: "Do not love the world or the things that belong to the world. If anyone loves the world, 71love for the Father is not in him" (1 John 2:15). If the Thessalonians were going to "walk worthy of the Lord" (Col 1:10), then they were going to need help. To this end, Paul prayed that God would establish their "hearts blameless in holiness before our God" (1 Thess 3:13). What he has in mind here is not the process of becoming holy, but a standing because they were holy (Morris, Epistles of Paul, 71). In other words, he prayed that they would live in the light of their holiness. Thus, this assurance of their standing before God at the "coming of our Lord Jesus" was to be their motivation for faithful living. Instead of fearing His coming, they could look expectantly for it. Paul will have much more to say about this in chapters 4 and 5. By recognizing their standing in Christ and by anticipating His coming, Paul desired that they would excel still more in their walk with Christ.

To be in Jesus Christ is to be a part of His church. Indeed, the concept of a believer not affiliating with God's people is foreign to the New Testament (cf. 1 Cor 12:13-16). A genuine love for Jesus produces a profound love for the church, and you cannot love God's church if you do not love God's people. That's why Paul could speak so affectionately about the Thessalonian believers. They genuinely loved one another. This love was evident in several ways.

They recognized that they were on the journey together. The mutual love between Paul and the Thessalonians should serve as a reminder to us that you and I genuinely need one another. Imagine what would happen if Christians spent as much time praying for one another as they did posturing to see who will control the church. God has called His people to be partners, not competitors.

They saw a greater purpose in their suffering. Most of us would view suffering as a bad thing. Paul, however, found much encouragement by the Thessalonians' endurance and perseverance in the face of their suffering. As in 2 Thessalonians 1:5, God often uses the sufferings of His people to prepare them for their future glory. Thus, despite his affliction, Paul speaks of being comforted by the faithful endurance of the Thessalonians. And there is little doubt that the feeling was mutual for the Thessalonians.

They prayed for one another's continued spiritual growth. Far from the superficial prayer "God bless them," Paul instead prayed for the Thessalonians to grow in love for one another and in holiness 72before God. He further prayed that their faith would persevere until the coming of Christ. As Fee notes,

What would happen in churches if God's people would pray for one another according to this pattern?