1 Thessalonians 5:23-28

1 Thessalonians 5:23-28

The benediction at the end of this epistle is not a throwaway passage of personal conversation. These are general applications that are vital to our faith, and we need to apply them correctly.

Having addressed the priority of dealing with the unruly person in a loving and disciplined way, Paul says the result of that resolution is peace. More than a mere absence of overt hostility, the genuine and real peace of God settles on the totality of God's people: spirit, soul, and body. Too often, church conflict is not dealt with; it is only placated. We see the cycle: when a minister arrives at the church, the church grows, and then there develops some ridiculous conflict, which boils up but is not properly resolved; the conflict deepens and the minister leaves, and the church shrinks back, at which point the cycle is repeated. When we see the cycle repeated over and over, we can be certain that the following are true. First, the peace of God is absent. Second, we see that the “revolving door” kind of church would be better if it were closed. Third, because they have rejected the Lord's will concerning church discipline and are not experiencing His peace, such a church will not be complete at Christ's return. The good works prepared in advance by the Lord for them to do will be left undone.

The matter of church discipline is no little thing. Churches that are bullied from within by evil or dysfunctional people who intimidate weak leaders (who act as if their primary objective is to avoid conflict) face a judgment having failed to do the will of their Master. Many of the parables of Jesus address this issue.

At some moment a serious conflict will come to every church. One conflict or another prompted all the letters of the New Testament. The idea of a conflict-free church or ministry is pure folly. What we need to understand is that conflict is a crossroads for a church. It is a moment of great opportunity. Of course, ‘little soul leaders’ can take the easy way out and move down a path toward its next compromise, which will likely have the same result until the church dies. This death is a certainty.

“Lord, give us the grace and wisdom to take advantage of the opportunity that exists in conflict.  AMEN?