MPC 13th March 2005.March 13 - 2 Thessalonians 3:6-18 "A Healthy Christian Family"
Garnet Swann MPC 13th March 2005.
One of the great things about families is that they're 'warts and all'. In families all the quirks are laid bare. All the oddities come out. One of my favorite families of all times is the Kerrigans, from, The Castle.
In this family everyone has their quirks:
Now maybe we want to say - our family is not like that! But don't we all have our eccentricities? Don't we all have our strange quirks?
Families are great. In families the masks come off. In our families, we can be who we are.
But something not brought out in that comedy movie is the hard side of families. Because in families there's love, there's inevitably hurt. Because of the connectedness of each other's lives - there's frustration and tension.
Even with a loving, stable family, nothing is ever perfect - there are always those issues involving tears, and hard words. And I reckon healthy families are those that can deal with these times and come out the other end even stronger and better for it.
Paul also had a family. But I'm not talking about his biological brothers and sisters - I'm talking about the Thessalonian Christians. Seven times in the letter of 2 Thessalonians, he calls them 'brothers'. Seven times in such a short letter! His affectionate love for them just spills out - he says, "We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers..."
Well, today's passage, our last passage is a bit different to what we've looked at so far. What we see here - is again the open love and affection; but we also see the hard stuff. In this passage we see some of the problems. In all families, tough issues need to be confronted and worked through, but this is a sign of a healthy, strong, fit family.
Today we're going to look at three issues all to do with what it means to have a fit Christian family. And they are:
Not slothing, but serving. This really is the practical issue that Paul is writing about. Paul has heard that there are idlers in the church. That's a bit of an old fashioned word, but it basically means - 'lazy people'. It's there in v6 - keep away from every brother who is idle. Paul speaks of his own way of life in v7 - We were not idle when we were with you. It's there in v10 - If a man will not work, he shall not eat, and in v11 We hear that some among you are idle.
This is the central issue that Paul is wanting to deal with here. Now we need to be clear - Paul is not talking about people who would like to work but can't - that's completely different. And it's not about people who because of age are not working. That's different. No, this is about laziness.
This is talking about laziness that involves having to depend upon others in order to get by in life. These Christian people are in their whole way of living, however you put it - sloths, loafers, bludgers, lazy, idle.
Now as well-to-do, middle class folk - it's easy to criticize laziness just because we don't like it. It's easy to criticize laziness because while you're stressing 5 days a week, others are having fun at the beach. We think of those pot smoking, dole bludging, Byron Bay ferals: "Ahhh, get a haircut and get a job ya hippy!"
But for Paul this isn't about middle class folk with a work ethic who don't like dole bludgers. This is a matter of family. This is a matter of Christian community. Look at v8 - pointing to his own example - we worked night and day, laboring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you. Here's the reason this idleness is a problem. These lazy Christians are sponging off their Christian brothers and making life difficult. And look at v11 - they are not busy; they are busybodies. Here's the reason this idleness is a problem. They're lack of work means that they're messing around in their fellow Christians lives and having a bad impact on Christian family relations.
Earlier this year a book was released titled, The Joy of Laziness: How to Slow Down and Live Longer. Interesting title, but for Paul this sort of true laziness brings no joy for the Christian family. This is harmful for the family.
But what does this all mean for us now? How do we apply this? For a lot of you - idleness I'm sure is not a problem - perhaps the opposite, workaholism - is more the godliness issue that you need to pray about and work on. And the issue of idleness and the Christian family is complicated because today we have things like 'CentreLink' and 'NewStart' - so that nobody has to directly rely on their Christian family - we've got the government for that!
But one thing here - you and I need to see that in this passage we're forced to think differently about work. See, it's easy to think that work is about satisfying me. Work is about actualizing my potential and fulfilling my desires. "Why are you going for that job?" - Because it's a pay rise for me, because I think I would be good at it.
But there is very little of that reasoning in the bible. From this passage - we see that work is about not being a burden, in other words serving others, and working keeps you from being an interfering busybody in other people's lives. That's a family focussed reason to be working.
You know, I used to be a Commonwealth public servant in Canberra. You can throw rotten tomatoes at me now! And you might say to yourself - I'm not one of those public servants - I'm in the private sector. But as follower of Jesus, you're work isn't private - you are a public servant - you serve the community. In fact you're a servant to the community here at Mitchelton.
Through your work you can serve your Christian family in giving money to the work of the church and in not being a burden to others. And you serve your Christian family indirectly through your taxes that you give, to help those who are unable to work.
Not slothing, but serving. Be Christians who are active at work. But not for your own sake - for the benefit of others.
Well, families need Dads and Mums. Good families need good leadership. And our next point is all about this. It's about the leadership that comes through both instruction and example.
Paul's authority to instruct is very clear in this passage. It starts in last week's passage, there in v4 - We have confidence in the Lord that you are doing and will continue to do the things we command. Then in v6 - In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command you, brothers. V12, Such people we command and urge. And lastly v14 - If anyone does not obey our instruction in this letter, take special note of him.
Paul uses his authority to command and direct these people. But we need to see that Paul isn't standing on his own authority trying to get people to do his own bidding. No, he is a messenger - commanding people to live according to the will of our Lord Jesus. See verse 6 - In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ we command you. Or v12 - we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ. See, Paul isn't some power freak - trying to make followers of Paul. He commands for the sake of Jesus, encouraging people to be followers of Him.
For us here at Mitchelton this is such a relevant message for us to hear. See, for us, leadership is not found in the 'powerful personality'. Leadership should never be because of the 'captivating charisma'. If it does - we'll turn into the MPC cult. No, let leadership come as the authority of Jesus is presented. Leadership needs to come as people are urged to follow Jesus as we teach his word. That's why working through the bible needs to stay at the centre of everything we do.
And we've got to be careful - it's easy to come away from church and say to each other - "What did you think of Garnet today?" "Oh, bit of a lemon today." Now we've got to be careful with this. With bible teaching - ultimately we come not to hear speakers give their commandments, but to hear Jesus speak - so we need to be ready to listen and obey to what he says, rather than always being in the mode of commenting on the messenger.
OK - so, families require leadership and that is expressed in commandments and instruction. But there's the other side - it should also be expressed in example. We see in this passage where Paul backs up his instruction with personal modeling. It's there in verses 7-9. In those verses he talks about the example he sets of not being idle. But a key verse is v9, We did this, not because we do not have the right to such help, but in order to make ourselves a model for you to follow.
In Paul's case as a teacher of the word - he doesn't have to have other work - he should expect to be able to gain a living from teaching about Jesus. But he gives up his right and labours day and night so that he can set an example to others.
Paul's commands against idleness are not hollow. He's does not instruct them to do one thing but he does another.
At school you might have read the book Animal Farm. The whole story is an illustration of totalitarian rule. In the story the animals take over a farm in a revolution and they write up their manifesto on the side of the barn, including the line - "All animals are created equal". At the start it all looks fantastic - all the animals are happy. But over time the pigs take over and they manipulate things so that they live in the lap of luxury while the other farm animals do all the work. And the pigs eventually change the line to read, "All animals are created equal but some animals are more equal than others".
But Paul is not a pig. There's no sense that power has corrupted him. He's not some leader who speaks down from the balcony. Paul backs up his teaching by setting the example.
And we need to hold onto this model of leadership here at church. Leadership is exercised in teaching, but it's also about godliness and integrity of life. It's about humble living. It's about being a person that others think - He talks about living the Christian life and yeah - he's striving to do it as well. Please be praying for all those who are leading - that as they teach the word, they would be living it as well.
Families are great. With families that function properly, there's lots of opportunity for good times and fun together. But if a family is fit, on occasion hard steps are taken. Sometimes problems need to be confronted head-on. Tough action may be required, but it's actually the sign of a fit family.
We now come to our third and last point. Caring enough to confront.
On this issue of there being lazy Christians, in v6, Paul says, keep away from every brother who is idle and does not live according to the teaching you received from us. And in v14, referring to any disobedience to what Paul has said in this letter, he says, If anyone does not obey our instruction in this letter, take special note of him. Do not associate with him, in order that he may feel ashamed.
Paul is telling the church - there a times when you need to take strong action for the sake of a Christian brothers or sisters. In this case - you need to stop relationship in order that the person become conscious of their wrong doing, become ashamed - and so come back to right living.
Now as I talk about this I can hear the cringes out there. This is a hard word, isn't it?! But we all know sometimes confrontation is needed.
I heard the story of a woman in the US who was sitting in her car in a shopping center car park with her 13 year old daughter. The daughter began begging if she could have a go at driving. The woman said, "No, you can't". But the girl started chucking a tantrum and in the end the mum gave in and let her have a go. Well, not unsurprisingly this 13 year old smashed into two other cars. When the police came they asked the woman - "What's going on here?". And the mum said, "Well, what could I do - my daughter was so demanding!" How silly is that! But it shows the point - we all know that sometimes discipline is needed. Sometimes we need to say - stop that.
But as soon as I talk about taking action in the church we find it tougher, don't we? But I reckon this passage can work to guide our thinking on this. What do we learn?
Firstly - discipline is a family affair. V15 makes this clear. We're not about taking action against people who don't follow Jesus. This is for our Christian brothers and sister who we specially care for.
Secondly - urge first. Taking some sort of action is not the first step. Firstly we need to urge and instruct people to be godly - to stop what their doing and to do what is right. That seems to be the point of v12 where it says we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the bread they eat.
And thirdly - the purpose is always change. It's there in v14. Action is taken to shame the person, to expose their sin. But this is not about getting someone back. This isn't about breaking ties and saying good riddance to bad rubbish. No, this is loving - the purpose is so that they become aware of the seriousness of their sin, turn away from it and be changed for the better.
You know in high school classes they have various exams in their last year of school. Some of them are called 'summative' exams - that is, they go towards your final exit score. But there's also the 'formative' exams that are there for the purpose of shaping you and helping you to be ready.
Well, the Christian family is about helping to form and shape each other. It's not about giving you some final score and seeing whether you pass or fail. But together we all want to grow and be shaped to be more like Jesus who we follow.
Well, this needs to be our attitude if we do the caring thing of confronting our Christian brothers and sisters. It can be painful, but it's the way we can be shaped and grow.
v13 says - brothers never tire of doing what is right. I wonder if that is recognition that loving each other in this way can be hard. Stepping out to confront can be hard work and tiring. But as it says here it is the right thing to do.
You know, as a 19yr old, a two year old Christian - I was into some wrong things. I wasn't living the way God would want me to. And many of my Chrisitian friends new about it - but they never said a thing. I don't blame them though. Speaking up is always hard. But if they did, it might have saved me so much grief.
Let's be people who love our family here at Mitchelton. Let's have the courage to speak about the things that matter - urging each other onto good living and when it's needed raising the issue to steer people away from what is wrong. And when someone speaks to you - remember it's because they love you.
Let's not balk at doing what's the caring thing to do. Don't tire at it. Let's have a fit family.
Well, we've worked our way through this letter of 2 Thessalonians over the last 5 weeks. We've covered lots of territory. We've seen how as Christian people we need to keep looking to the end. If we keep focused on the end when Christ returns it will shape our priorities. It will strengthen us in our Christian lives, and it will give us comfort and hope in tough times.
But today's passage takes us into the family life of the Thessalonian Christians. We've seen the warts and all picture of family that involves the good things but also the problem issues.
At the start of the year Kirsty and I went to my grandmother's 90th birthday party. And for me it was amazing to see the size of the family. My grandmother was one of 13 and she had her remaining siblings there - with all their children. Then there were my grandmother's children, then their children and then their children. There were so many people I had to keep asking - Now what's her name again? To see all those people reminded me of the importance of family. It reminded me of the importance of relating properly as a family. As I looked around - there were those families that were doing well. But also those families who were not doing so well.
We in our Christian family - let's aim to be fit and healthy. To be fit means:
Working to serve your family. It means leadership that presents the authority of Jesus and calls people to follow him. It means leadership backing up what you say with how you live. And a fit family means doing the caring thing of confronting each other when it's needed.