The Church of Thessalonica
1. Popular Theologies
There are some popular theologies that teach things like the following. “If God calls us to do something, everything will go easily and smoothly.” “This must be God’s will, just look at how everything fell into place.” “If you obey God’s commands you will be blessed, prosperous, and successful.” “When things go badly and you experience suffering, sickness, or trials, it’s because you have sinned and God is punishing you. Or you don’t have enough faith.” Some people become angry with God. “If He is a God of Love, how could He allow these horrible things to happen? If He is all-powerful, why didn’t He stop it?”
We know that this if-God-is-in-it-life-will-be-easy theology does not agree with what the Bible teaches. Suffering, trials, and tribulations are the training ground for perseverance in the kingdom life and the testing ground for our faith. Throughout God’s Word, we read: “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything” (James 1:2-4). “And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us” (Rom 5:3-5). Perseverance is integral to our spiritual growth. Through perseverance, we grow into Christlikeness and into Christian maturity. The church of Thessalonica was a church marked by suffering. Paul’s letters of encouragement to them, give us perspective and encouragement in our own trials.
2. A Church Marked by Suffering
Paul departed on his second missionary journey to visit and strengthen the churches. In Lystra, Timothy joined his team, and in Troas, the Holy Spirit gave Paul the vision of the Macedonian man calling them to come over to Macedonia. They obeyed the Spirit, crossed the sea, and came to Philippi. There they planted a vibrant church which became a primary supporter of Paul’s ministry. Then they traveled down the highway and came to Thessalonica. We read about this in Acts 15-17.
Arriving in Thessalonica, Paul had some significant resources in place. He has a team—Timothy and Silas. He has a clear calling and direction to minister in Macedonia. He has the financial backing of the Philippian church. This newborn church has already become a contributing and missions-supporting church. In Philippians 4:16, Paul writes: “for even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid more than once when I was in need.” And most importantly, The Holy Spirit anointed them to powerfully proclaim the gospel — “… our gospel came to you not simply with words but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction” (1 Thess 1:5).
They have a ministry team and a clear calling from God. They have the money and the Holy Spirit. The team had every reason to believe that their mission will go well. However, even with all these resources in place, the task was not easy. The Thessalonian church was planted in the midst of hardship and suffering. “You became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you welcomed the message in the midst of severe suffering with the joy given by the Holy Spirit. … with the help of our God we dared to tell you his gospel in the face of strong opposition” (1 Thess 1:6; 2:2). “Therefore, among God’s churches we boast about your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and trials you are enduring” (2 Thess 1:4).
3. Somebody's Not Going to Like It
When Jesus is proclaimed as Lord somebody is not going to like it. The problems began for the team already in Philippi. When the gospel threatened their hope of making money, and their greed, the business owners seized Paul and Silas and brought them before the authorities saying, “These men are Jews, and are throwing our city into an uproar by advocating customs unlawful for us Romans to accept or practice” (Acts 16:20). They were thrown into prison and beaten. In Thessalonica, Paul preached “from the Scriptures, explaining and proving that the Messiah had to suffer and rise from the dead. ‘This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Messiah’” (Acts 17:2-3). As in Galatia, jealousy arose. Looking for Paul and Silas they dragged Jason, the host of the missions team, and some other believers before the city officials and accused them: “These men who have caused trouble all over the world have now come here, and Jason has welcomed them into his house. They are all defying Caesar’s decrees, saying that there is another king, one called Jesus” (Acts 17:6-7).
Jesus is proclaimed and upheld as Lord of all and Savior of the world. Somebody is not going to like it when we get serious about Jesus Christ. The gospel is viewed by the world as foolishness—“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing …” (1 Cor 1:18). Somebody is going to feel threatened when we choose Jesus as our King. “For Jesus to be enthroned in a life, something or someone must be dethroned. For commitments to His church to be made, other commitments often must be adjusted or abandoned. Priorities realign. Values shifts. Trajectories change. Idols topple. Kingdoms crumble. Someone complains or resists.” (Stumbo, 104) Sometimes we ourselves resist, struggle, and complain as we have to die to self and get rid of our dearly beloved idols, especially those that are close to our hearts and identities.
When we choose Jesus as our King, it is especially hard when the opposition, rejection, and persecution come from those who are close to us. Paul wrote to the Thessalonians, “For you suffered the same things from your own countrymen (your own people) …” (1 Thess 2:14-16). These are friends, family, neighbors, and coworkers — people with whom they had grown up, done business, and shared life. They oppose their new faith and new way of life. They mock and abuse them seeing them as fools or traitors or both. Those of us who have experienced the same for the sake of following Jesus share in the pain of the Thessalonians.
In the darkness of the night, Paul and Silas departed for Berea. Their work is done in Thessalonica, but the seeds they planted continued to grow although it remained a suffering church haunted by opposition and persecution. And so, Paul wrote two very encouraging letters to this suffering church. These should encourage those who are currently suffering trials and persecutions. They should prepare and encourage us for the trials and tribulations that are coming our way.
4. Encouragements for a Suffering Church
First, those enduring hardship and suffering need to know that they are deeply loved. “Instead, we were like young children among you. Just as a nursing mother cares for her children, so we cared for you. Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well … For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory” (1 Thess 2:7-8, 11-12). Paul’s love for them is a reflection of the Father’s eternal love. He wants them to know and experience the truth that they are God’s chosen people and beloved children. “For we know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that he has chosen you” (1 Thess 1:4). “But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters loved by the Lord, because God chose you as firstfruits to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth” (2 Thess 2:13). It is hard to embrace God’s love during suffering, but it is possible and powerful. “There are ‘love languages’ of God available to us that we can only learn in loss and grief. There are lessons of love only taught in the school of suffering. There are encounters with God only experienced when the soul is stretched.” (Stumbo, 108). God’s steadfast and enduring love is always with us.
Second, those enduring hardships need to be reminded of how the story ends. Jesus’ promised return is especially meaningful and powerful to those who are experiencing hardships in this world. “For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever” (1 Thess 4:16-17). “All this is evidence that God’s judgment is right, and as a result, you will be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are suffering. God is just: He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you and give relief to you who are troubled, and to us as well. This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels” (2 Thess 1:5-7).
When we have no hope and believe Satan’s lie that this is the only life we will live, then our hardships hit us especially hard. We work hard to make enough money so that we can experience some of the joys and toys of this world, but then suddenly in one moment, they are taken away from us. We are enjoying good health when that stroke hits, that accident happens, or a terminal illness stuns us. Without hope in Christ, we fall into despair.
However, as Christians, we know that “God’s not done writing a good story in our lives even as life’s crises hit. … We may not like every chapter of our own stories, but God’s not going to abandon us in the dark. He is the Author who has been known to do some of His best writing in the dimmest of places.” (Stumbo, 110) We can trust that He is able to do so for us. We have the greatest hope — Jesus our Lord is coming back. Justice will be served. The Righteous King will reign. A new heaven and earth will be created. All will be new. All will be well. It is true. It is real. It is coming. Our story is not finished and the final chapter is really, really good.
Third, those enduring hardship must be hard-working. Paul tells the suffering church to be industrious, fully engaged in life, work, and ministry. “In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command you, brothers and sisters, to keep away from every believer who is idle and disruptive and does not live according to the teaching you received from us. For you, yourselves know how you ought to follow our example. We were not idle when we were with you, nor did we eat anyone’s food without paying for it. On the contrary, we worked night and day, laboring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you. We did this, not because we do not have the right to such help, but in order to offer ourselves as a model for you to imitate. For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: ‘The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat’” (2 Thess 3:6-10).
When in a crisis it’s easy to see ourselves as victims. We blame others. We withdraw. We develop an “I have nothing to offer any more” attitude or an “everyone owes me something” mentality. We use our hardship as justification for why we can’t contribute or be active in ministry anymore. We feel sorry for ourselves and give in to self-pity. This is not the kingdom way. Paul calls us in the midst of our hardships to still fully engage in life to the capacity with which we are able.
Finally, to the suffering church, extra blessings are pronounced. In these letters, Paul does not only end his letters with benedictions (blessings), but he goes on a blessing binge. I will end our service with all his blessings. Benedictions are part prayers, part blessings, part prophecy, and encouragement. Yes, it is not always easy to believe and receive blessings when we are suffering and feel cursed. However, blessings are real. They are God’s good words for us and they become alive and true when pronounced.
Stumbo summarizes Paul’s encouragement for a suffering people and church like this — “We are loved, short timers on earth for whom Jesus is returning, called to be wholly engaged while we know that we are fully and frequently blessed.” (Stumbo, 114) Trials, pain, loss, hardships, and suffering challenge everything we know and believe. But these also provide us with the opportunity to go deeper into our faith and walk with God. Let us hold tight to these truths that the Holy Spirit has given us through Paul.
Suffering churches can be strong churches. Suffering believers can be steadfast and persevere. Such was Paul’s testimony of the Thessalonians — “We always thank God for all of you and continually mention you in our prayers. We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thess 1:2-3). This can be also our testimony as Jesus builds his church through us.