A Week in 2 Thessalonians: Day Seven – Discipline, peace and love
The Introduction
Well, this has been a fun ride, hasn’t it? Plenty of food for thought there. We have Tom Wright and his thoughts on 2 Thessalonians in his ‘Paul for Everyone’ series to thank for that.
Tom Wright reminds us that these letters to the Thessalonians are some of the ‘earliest documents we possess from the beginning of the church’s existence’ – how exciting is that? These letters are bursting with enthusiasm and excitement for this new thing that is happening among them, but also with questions and confusion and disagreement. This is a completely new way of life, challenging everything these people have ever believed before.
So let’s have a look at the concluding words of this letter.
The Passage: 2 Thessalonians 3:14-18
It may be that some there will not obey the message we send you in this letter. If so, take note of them and have nothing to do with them, so that they will be ashamed. But do not treat them as enemies; instead, warn them as believers.
May the Lord himself, who is our source of peace, give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with you all.
With my own hand I write this: Greetings from Paul This is the way I sign every letter; this is how I write.
May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.
Reflections:
Discipline – There is such a fine line to be walked here in any community, isn’t there? Yes, we should each have the freedom to walk our own path, but we should also each be accountable to one another. Yes, we should be able to be ourselves, but not if that means treating others badly in any way. We can probably all think of situations which have failed to find a balance – either there’s an ‘anything goes’ attitude with no boundaries which ends up with no one feeling safe or there is an over-controlling leadership which ends up with no one able to function in their role without fear. I struggle with authority, because I’ve seen too many misuses of it over the years, but there is a need for a clear system of authority in any group, I get that.
Paul makes it clear here that discipline is important and necessary at times. People need to be held accountable for their words and actions. It’s how it’s done that matters. It’s not about making enemies, but about moving people on in the right direction as fellow believers.
Peace – It’s natural that the next thing Paul talks about here is peace. Not a warm fuzzy feeling but a practical peace, which I see as finding ways to live in love and peace with the community of believers. This means concentrating on the things that unite us rather than the things that separate us; seeing the good in others and criticising less; learning to be slow to take offence; building each other up rather than dragging each other down; controlling our own response; allowing others to follow God in their own way…you can probably think of a whole load more examples.
Peace is about knowing when to speak and when to hold back. It’s about holding loosely to your own opinions and interpretations and allowing others to have theirs. It’s about never judging. Never.
Grace – And then there’s grace. The work of grace is what makes room for peace.
We have no need to prove ourselves. We don’t need everyone else to agree with us. Or even like us.
God loves you and me and everyone else just as we are. Just as God has shown us immeasurable grace, so we should find it in ourselves to show grace to others.
‘This same Jesus (as Paul was writing about), this King, this Lord, is ready to pour that same grace on you, your community, your world. All he requires is that you should respond to his love and faithfulness with an answering love and faithfulness of your own.’ Tom Wright, Page 161
