I Thessalonians 5:12-18

I Thessalonians 5:12-18

We have often treated this passage as a string of individual behaviors that Paul has listed as a sort of “‘good deeds’ to do list.” This is misguided and misses the power of this passage. Having addressed mistaken eschatology and the busybodies that were its carriers, Paul calls for some practical church leadership to address the conflict and set those individuals to right that would cause trouble. Never doubt that correcting misguided people has the potential to cause them to turn other misguided people into clergy killers.

Paul begins by commanding support for those who are leading the church. He makes the point in v. 12 that these leaders are to give “instruction.” This word means more than simply teaching. It is about setting in order the muddled thinking of certain people. When this is done, the muddle-headed individual may become unruly. Paul says they are to be “admonished.” This word means “to keep military order.” The point of Paul’s using a word with a military origin is that this is not a matter of “want-to” or “feel like” cooperation, but rather order and submission to authority. Verse 14 is a study in the problem of the American church in the early 21st century. When faced with the unruly, church leaders are often weak and fainthearted. The weak are severely tempted to give in in order to secure peace at any price with those who are being unruly. The fainthearted (the word literally means “little soul”) lack the conviction to stand firm by their principles. We often misunderstand the role of “patience” when dealing with church discipline problems. Patience is not endlessly putting up with the nonsense of the unruly or dysfunctional person; it is, rather, sticking to doing what is right regardless of what is involved. Patience is holding faithfully to the right course of action and enduring the grief that comes from doing the right thing. But Paul also warns against an overreaction in which evil is done to the unruly or disruptive person. 

Dealing with this kind of dysfunction is not easy, but if we are faithful in the hardship, we can remain positive at our core. The advice and behavior described in vs. 16-18 will keep the leaders from despair in the difficult times. As long as a leader has some sense of hope for the future and mission of the church, he can have remarkable durability. That sense of hope is enhanced and encouraged by rejoicing, praying, and giving thanks. Ministers do not usually leave the church and the ministry because they have lost faith in God, Scripture, or the Kingdom. When they do leave, it is most often because they have lost hope in the local congregations. 

“Lord, bless Your church with leaders who have tender hearts and thick skin because they are people of hope.  AMEN”