We're working our way through 1 Thessalonians in order to learn how to break the image that Christians have today and learn how to live authentic lives as our own selves...but as Christians too.
Too much of Christianity is associated with a certain image that I've termed Cultural Christianity...You probably know the people. The ones who only listen to Christian music. They are pastors' kids or their parents work in different positions in the Church, and they've never been outside of the church and are super-Christian-y. White, middle class, Republican, dressing in the latest fashions. Their biggest sin, or the only thing they ever mention in accountability groups is "I don't pray enough" or "I don't read the Bible enough." (they would never mention that "I struggle with unChristian thoughts" or "I have an anger issue" or any real sin). They sweep stuff under the rug, which does no favors to either non-Christians (who then associate Christianity with a bunch of rules like "you can't drink or have premarital sex", which it isn't; it's not a rule-based system at all. We threw that out when Jesus fulfilled the Law. It's about grace instead, being forgiven by God for your sins) or to Christians actually struggling with real things (who then worry "am I a bad Christian because I struggle and no one else seems to?").
A Christian is anyone who's made the decision to follow Christ. I don't have a lot of good to say about Cultural Christians. Even if you grew up in a faith, or grew up in church (hey! no one can change their background or their parents, or should be made to feel ashamed of where they came from), strive to be an individual. That's what sets us apart as people, makes others like us as friends, and ultimately is what makes others interested in Christianity...because they see our lifestyle is somehow different, somehow fuller and more joyous even in hard times, and want what we have.
My thoughts: This chapter is all about us and others, and how we interact.
- When others oppose you unfairly: v. 2 - don’t let rough treatment from others (or others mistreating you, even if they’re supposed to be Christian!) turn you from the right path! If the path is given you by God, or you’re sure you’re doing God’s work, be sure of yourself in God and continue doing what you’re doing and say what needs to be said regardless of what the opposition will think or say. (reminds me of Shane CLaiborne and the sit-in for the homeless in the one story about the abandoned Catholic church that the archbishops warned not to go to - in fact, reminds me of all civil disobedience/passive resistance!) They’re just mere people just like you, just opposition players opposing God through you. There’s something I admire about the Shane Claibornes, the people who are not going to do it in an offensive way but are going to do God’s will, no matter the situation. At least that’s how I perceive them, but I’m sure in some real life situations they’d have to give in...because that’s real life.
- There’s several ways they can turn you from the right path - you could let their “no” be the final word and stop your action, or they can discourage you from then believing that the right path from God is actually the right path, so your own emotions and doubts turn you aside.
- Why don’t we go ahead and say our piece more often, regardless of who’s against us? I think it’s because we view them as an authority figure, one who we’re afraid of the consequences. We’re afraid they have the power to destroy us, either with their words, or our lives, or our friends/innocents with their power. Although I think a lot of times we’re afraid of consequences which don’t actually happen (people sometimes aren’t as brutal as we think they are, though sometimes they are).
- Like the Pharisees, a lot of times people in “authority” positions view themselves as authority figures and think they know best, and they get very upset and vicious if you don’t view them the same way, or if there’s any challenge to them. I guess you then just have to view them as “vipers” the same way Jesus did, even if they are so-called religious leaders or in positions of authority. Jesus didn’t mind butting heads with them even though it eventually led to his death - should we be prepared for sacrifice too? esp. if the Viper in question is a powerful authority figure? or should we realize Jesus spent a whole 3 years butting heads, so he backed down some? or did he not, just continue to passively resist them and continue doing what he was doing, like healing on the sabbath, but no blatant confrontations?
- How we as Christians should present the Gospel (and how many false Christians don’t - i.e. televangelists, or people who are trying to get your money): v. 4 heart-wise, we’re supposed to seek God’s approval only, not be after the approval of the crowd (fame is fickle anyway and crowd approval doesn’t last, especially in an age of social media where they just move on to the next big thing). Yet I think a lot of pastors are after crowd approval - they say stuff they think will appeal to their crowds, try to retain people and grow their numbers through things like bug music and light shows. Image is all about crowd approval. I think a lot of pastors actually are bent on crowd approval. Except when talking to non-Christians - then it’s “we need to take a hard line and say the hard truth about things like homosexuality etc.”
- v. 3 - Gospel message supposed to be free of error, and free of deceit - I don’t think either of these are true by most cultural christians. I think error comes from imparting the cultural christian “laws” along with the Gospel messages, or pseudo-Biblical bits of wisdom that aren’t actually in the Bible. And I think plenty of people are just concerned about building numbers, converting more souls, without actually caring about the person (or really caring where their soul! goes) so there is a hidden agenda. One, because then you’re kind of famous as the “person who’s converted a lot of people”. So it’s a pride thing. And those are only the well-meaning ones...the ones who are not well meaning really are after your money, or your time (and the most excessive examples of these are cults). In fact, I think any time a Christian interacts with a non-Christian, or for many cultural Christians, goes to an area of a different Christian denomination, there is the secret or not-so-secret goal of converting them. No wonder so many muslims and jews feel threatened simply being around Christians...because even if they’ve told one Christian they’re not interested, they know they’re going to hear the sales pitch again and have to refuse it again (and refusing it over and over gets tiring, even if the people are polite)...and some of the people are not polite, and in fact, they probably don’t know that the person they turned down the first time probably didn’t accept their answer but is instead plotting secretly how to convert them, and every interaction in the future will be subtly geared towards pushing them closer to Christ...How do I keep from turning into these people???? They sound so horrible when I write it from this perspective, yet it sounds like pretty much every Christian I know…
- v. 5 pretext for greed...somehow I feel like so many Christians presenting the Gospel message are greedy. Either for money or their pride is involved, so they’ll be nasty if you reject it (see above comment on Vipers)
- You, whether you feel qualified or not, are approved by God to carry his message. Powerful vote of validation! I often don’t feel qualified, either because I wasn’t Christian for long enough, or was born in the wrong faith, or even because I’m not a cultural Christian and don’t listen to Christian music or know Christian bands and a lot of the terms or concepts they throw around and take for granted.
- Don’t see yourself as above others - v. 6 The NASB says it as “nor did we seek glory from men”. The MSG says it as “we never...tried to come across as important.” SO MANY power hungry people in the church!! I feel like so many are megalomaniacs. In fact this whole paragraph in the MSG is awesome. Talks about not being aloof from people (yes, pastors try to mingle with everyone especially newcomers, but there’s certainly in-group and out-group cliques in the church. Some churches are worse than others in terms of people being aloof. And shy newcomers...you have a whole book on this, about how they’re only approached awkwardly but left out of a lot).
- I think v. 8 really nails it - we’re not just supposed to pass on the Gospel Message, but share our lives with these people. How many Christians, if we inquired into their private lives, would hesitate or hide some? The whole accountability “the only sin I do is I don’t pray enough” thing. Definitely goes against street preachers too. Even in Acts, when the apostles had to leave quickly after only giving a crowd the message, I think they were sorrowful and regretful of that, that circumstances had them leave before they could share their lives, but they would have otherwise.
- v. 9-10 against support raising - the early Christians really worked hard to be blameless in others’ eyes, so others couldn’t accuse them of anything. These days Christians shrug it off as “well of course I’m sinning or my life doesn’t look wonderful but we all sin”. Christians definitely don’t care about appearing blameless before others! In fact, they really don’t care what non-Christians think of them, or almost take pride in the fact that non-Christians think badly of them! Kind of “well that’s just the world attacking Christ” rather than it being their own image or words or actions. After all, some of the meanest people I’ve known have been devout Christians, and I know many people have been hurt by Christians.
- Guide and encourage others (not sure if this was before the Thessalonians came to Christ or afterwards as new Christians). Still, that’s what this passage advises towards others - gentleness (like a parent), guiding, encouraging. If more people were like this, Christianity would have a lot more reception!
- Other people, esp. once you become Christians, will make you suffer. Your own countrymen (and sometimes, by extension, other Christians) - people who are supposed to be on your side. Yet, even the Jews persecuted Jesus and the prophets, so the holiest of God even had that happen. Moral: people suck. It is human nature to be mean and shut down what we don’t understand, to mock or ridicule, or want to destroy it when we see it flourishing against our efforts or against our pride. See Vipers bit above. It really comes down to the idea that that’s not a new thing, that happened all throughout the Bible, it happened 2000 yrs ago, and it happens today. People in authority especially have to be careful that they don’t fall in love with their authority. And know that they will get what’s coming to them from God - and put your purposes aligned with God’s, and not with theirs, and take care that you’re not misled by them (because that is their true purpose, to shake you off your path any way they can)
- Last few verses: obviously they really built a relationship with these people! You miss a relationship with friends (even new friends), not some people you preached a message at. More evidence we’re supposed to be building on a deeper relational level.
My takeaway:
- No deception or smoke screens. You’re not selling anything. Just live your life as an example, and people will want it. It doesn’t depend on the words you say, though if people ask, be willing to tell them.
- How do I present the Gospel and still respect a person’s “no”? I think just by trying to live as an honest example and provide (by example) something they desire and are interested in, rather than trying to push on people. So once an overt rejection, then give up trying to push them closer to Christ unless asked...instead, try to make Christianity in your own life so appealing that they want what you have, and want to draw closer to it. So hard to put into practice though, especially because my tendency is to push/lecture when I believe something’s right!
- Make sure my faith is grounded squarely in the Bible and not in pseudo-Bible cultural Christianity or feel-good sentiments (working on this)
- Be after God approval, not crowd approval. Yes it will cause some anxiety to go against the crowd, but aggressively pursue God. Say what needs to be said, regardless. You can handle the consequences (with God’s help). Even if the person opposing you is an authority figure or organization [scary!]
- People suck. Human nature sucks. People, because of their pride, get offended and work to shut you down. If it happens to you, remember that it happened to the apostles in Jerusalem, to Jesus, and the prophets too.
- I have been qualified by God to be entrusted with this message. So don’t think I’m not qualified! even if sometimes I feel it. God has trusted me - what other approval do I need? Not from Christians (though it’s hard, because I know what cultural Christianity approves of and what they don’t). So try to ignore other people’s opinions of you or your actions - who cares what they think?
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