In the Fourth Sunday before Advent in Year C, we are starting a short series reading through 2 Thessalonians, and this week’s reading is the whole of Chapter 1.
It is a challenging reading, talking of the suffering of the Thessalonians Christians, and their steadfastness as a sign of God’s favour. But it also speaks of the judgement facing those who afflict them, and Jesus as the agent of that judgement.
The Grove booklet on what happens when we die is here.
My discussion on the meaning of ‘tribulation’ in the New Testament is here.
The gospel reading this week is Jesus’ encounter with Zacchaeus in Luke 19. The video discussion can be found here.
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I would urge anyone preaching on this subject not to simply assume that it is only others abroad who suffer persecution and injustice and cruelty and rejection for their faith in Christ Jesus.
Because there walks amongst us those who suffer these tribulations because of their faith for some of or their whole lives. And they know every day what it is to suffer at the hands of those humans and spirits who are sent to cause them afflictions.
They may even appear to have a good life. But appearances can decieve.
And if you are not suffering tribulation in your own life, could it be that you are not enough of a threat or a disrupter to the Gates of Hell for dark forces to bother with?
(ouch! I know)
Jesus told his followers some of the ways they would suffer if they followed him. How do we support and bear one anothers’ burdens as we suffer these things if we aren’t even noticing that others around us are actually enduring these things? Also, how do we make sure we don’t victim blame?!
If you think you have a good, quiet, cosy life without any spiritual angst then perhaps its time to step out a bit. Here is a tiny experiment for you…..go onto a local facebook community group and explain to them about halloween occultic celebrations for children and how these are dangerous etc….just go all out making it clear. Tell a potted version of the gospel too. Then see how you will be insulted, jumped upon, abused, etc.
You will have been the only person in your local community to stand up against darkness, and for the gospel.
Now watch….not one Christian will back you up. Not one.
Now do this regularly online locally….mediums, spiritists, halloween, encourage churches to hold light parties (none will respond)…call out yoga classes (worship of the sun god) being allowed in Church buildings….
Just do a bit of online stuff…and you will be hated for it and locally people will treat you differently as a result.
Talk to local vicars face to face about sinful activities they are allowing and promoting in their churches. Nothing like that to cause a sense you aren’t welcome.
That’s an experiment that may give you a tiny taste of how ‘othered’ you will start to be when you stand up for Jesus. It’s just a start.
Being ‘othered’ and verbally abused isn’t persecution of course, but that will come along shortly!
And then you pray for your enemies and bless them and do them good. In between asking God to punish your enemies and destroy them. Then blessing them and praying for their names to be written in The Lamb’s Book of Life. on repeat.
Interesting that idea of hoping to be worthy of the calling / worthy of the suffering. It’s a funny thing that the closer you get to God the more you know you’ll never be worthy of any of it. The more holy you are the more you can spot the sinfulness within. You can’t win any reassurance of worthiness. But it isn’t about us. Jesus is the only worthy one. So just hide in him and all will be fine.
Fascination video discussion. Thanks.
I hope Ian and James read your comment Jeannie because I think that like me, they may have missed the point you make, and it is a crucial point for us here. In fact, in thinking about what you wrote, I wonder if in some way we are in more tribulation here than Christians elsewhere. Our comfort makes it easier to stay in our shell. Put another way, which is faithfully harder, living in a land where others come to persecute you without your asking, or living comfortably in a nominally Christian land full of sin and having to rouse yourself to publicly keep the faith and thereby lose much of the comfort one would otherwise enjoy from anonymity?
I suppose it depends how you define ‘tribulation’, but id rather live here than say, Pakistan or N Korea.
It’s hard to be a genuine martyr in the UK. Though some have a martyr complex.
Indeed and the Supreme Governor of the Church of England, King Charles III only yesterday laid flowers at the first UK national memorial for commemorating LGBT members of the armed forces. No chance of that from leaders in Pakistan or N Korea. While members of all faiths are free to worship as they please in the UK as long as they do not break UK law, which would not be the case in those 2 nations either
Halloween originates from a Christian festival.
‘And then you pray for your enemies and bless them and do them good. In between asking God to punish your enemies and destroy them. Then blessing them and praying for their names to be written in The Lamb’s Book of Life.’
I dont remember Jesus telling his followers to ask God to destroy one’s enemies. As for names being written in the Book of Life, hasnt that already happened? I dont think you have much influence.
You’re right of course…but how do you always bless your enemies and do them good and pray for their salvation and never ever even for a second wish The Lord would destroy them, Peter? That impresses me. How do you achieve that?
You wrote it as if that is what you should do.
Ah silly me
Indeed Jeannie.
Jesus warned His disciples that they would suffer persecution in
His presentation of His Gospel to them. Sadly an aspect of the Gospel rarely mentioned these days when preachers fail to make known the Whole Counsel of God about the battle in the Heavenlies.
Haven’t time to view the vidio yet so am wondering how they
address this issue. Shalom.
Sadly the lads only have 33 minutes for the whole chapter overview on this one, and I was just picking up on the Tribulations theme.
Obviously some of the Church in the middle east and Africa are undergoing some terrible times we would naturally focus on them.
I just didn’t want anyone who was sermon-writing on this theme to forget there will always be the odd one or two who are suffering directly for their faith even amongst us here in comfy-land.
Don’t forget Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Vietnam, China and, of course, North Korea.
Which reminds me of the Operation World book we used to pray through daily back in the day….really useful for focussing prayer on each place and learning about their circumstances
https://www.eden.co.uk/christian-books/prayer-books/prayer-compilations/operation-world-7th-edition/
(or £3 on ebay 2nd hand)
These letters to the Thessalonians are Rich with the
Prophetic ministry of Paul/Christ, an essential part
of what constitutes a true ministry.
Paul spent half of his time revisiting and writing
to his people “strengthening/comforting the saints”.
Like Job making sacrifices for his children,
being “broken bread and poured out wine”[O.Chambers]
L iving out The sermon on the Mount Matt.5 v12. Acts 5:41
This is not just “putting up”with tribulations this is about
Triumphing/Overcoming/Resting
with The OT saints, they quenched the flames
and shut the mouths of lions aka Daniel and his friends,
such was their rest, in Christ and Christ in them
that “there wasn’t even the smell of burning upon them
,there certainly was no smell of burning on Paul.
What thankfulness that the Thessalonians were standing srong in all the will of God
What earnest prayers that they might continue to so endure, not taking anything for granted.
The word study on tribulation is useful,
it is also useful to understand The prophetic, like the ancient prophets
they saw the local situation and the future far reaching applications
though they scarcely understood the latter days tribulations they could rest in hope.
Jesus Matt.24 and Paul saw the local and future event that should not trouble the saints.
Tribulations only produced a greater weight of Glory
,and the clouds are but the dust of God’s feet Nah 1:3
Mark the perfect man for the end/issue
of that man is peace. Ps 7:37
Alas in many cases of trials and tribulations more heat than light is generated through unbelief,discord and party spirit, waring after the flesh and thus little of resolutions of an endless battle.
. “Rest[overcome,triumph] with us says Paul”
Shalom.
I’d like to add a note about something entirely different.
I’ve noticed an increase in the amount of images at Psephizo that seem to come from AI. I’d like to encourage you all to avoid using AI images where possible. I realize they are easy to make, but they also suggest to your audience that you are relying on AI, even though this may not be the case.
Aesthetically, they look like someone didn’t take the time to find a REAL picture, taken or painted by a REAL person. We see these kinds of images everywhere on the internet. So much so, that many of us are repulsed by websites that rely on them.
Thank you for all the quality, Biblical content! I read this every week as I prepare to preach at my church plant in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
Thanks Will—that is a really interesting reflection! Ironically, the image here was from the internet—created using AI by someone else! So I did go looking. (It has been very difficult finding pictures for these epistle readings, in contrast to the gospels. Artists were not that interested in 2 Timothy or 2 Thessalonians!)
So glad to be able to support and encourage you in Cambodia. May God bless you richly in your ministry there.
Hello Will,
Please find a link to a picture I made from scrap wood :
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/ofijnthdktd3ccy8hffsc/GATES-big-compressed.jpg?rlkey=9j7h97olplymanra6aolncuz6&dl=0
Thessalonians features across the top.
That is truly amazing Steve!
Thanks Ian.
Just for interest, the books of the Bible are displayed in sets of thirteen with revelation in thew middle. This makes a break between 1 Thes. and 2 Thes. There are interesting things happening between each set. Everything has symbolic meaning…
One thinks of personal tribulations
Gideon, visited by an angel
The restored blind man, found again by Jesus
Paul alone, the Lord stood with him
Jesus, ministered unto by angels
“I will not leave you comfortless [unstrengthened]
“in quietness and confidence shall be your strength”.
“Stand still and see the Salvation of the Lord”.
Shalom.
Martin Luther had a good word on the purifying effects of afflictions writing that “Whatever virtues tribulation finds us in, it develops more fully. If anyone is carnal, weak, blind, wicked, irascible, haughty, and so forth, tribulation will make him more carnal, weak, blind, wicked and irritable. On the other hand, if one is spiritual, strong, wise, pious, gentle and humble, he will become more spiritual, powerful, wise, pious, gentle and humble.”
There is a saying by Goethe, the German poet, that “talent is formed in solitude, but character in the storms of life.”
The seventeenth-century minister, Jeremy Taylor was persecuted for his faith. His house was plundered, his family driven out, and his estate confiscated. He wrote: “I am fallen into the hands of
publicans and they have taken all from me. What now? They have not taken away my merry countenance, my cheerful spirit, and a good conscience; they have still left me with the providence of God, and all His promises … my hopes of Heaven, and my charity to them, too; and still I sleep and digest, I eat and drink, I read and meditate. And he that hath so many causes of joy, and so great … [should never choose] to sit down upon his little handful of thorns.”
Shalom.
One is impressed by Rev.21
The city of God adorned as a Bride.
The founations of it are precious stones [formed under pressure]
The gates [entrance ] there to are of pearl formed by an iritation
covered by a lusterous armour of comfort.
It’s streets of Gold [tried/purified in the fires”.]
Shalom.