2 Thessalonians 2:13-17

2 Thessalonians 2:13-17

With the rise of the seeker-driven church in the last quarter of the twentieth century, few words took on such negative connotations as the word “tradition.” If you wanted to put something in a negative box, all you have to do is label it as a tradition or traditional. So the bathwater was thrown out, and with it the baby. 

In contrast, Paul says, “Stand firm and hold to the traditions that you were taught.” To be fair, many church growth efforts, seeker-driven styles, and the contemporary church movement were protesting not the traditions Paul was talking about but the cultural expressions of mid-twentieth-century Christianity. The methodology of one generation was not appealing to the next, and changes needed to be made, but the wholesale rejection of everything labeled ‘tradition’ left the seeker-driven church with little more than fad and emotion on which to build their ministry. The seeker-driven model has cut churches off from their roots and created shallow, empty-headed believers.

In contrast to this, in verse 13 we are called to "salvation”, part of God's new order, through “sanctification,” holy living by the power of the Spirit, and “faith in the truth,” an engagement of the mind into the doctrines of the faith. This life in the community of holy living and faith results in glory only the gospel can bring. This is the tradition of the Christian faith. The tradition of the church is not the style of worship, or the way we dress, or, most tragically of late, the worship wars over music? This life of community (salvation is not strictly individual nor strictly communal), holy living, and well-thought-through faith gives us comfort and strength in every good work and word. For many, under the influence of well-intentioned but misguided church growth leaders, the Christian life is limited to attending a service anonymously, being pleased with what is seen and heard, and living life the way they might want. The biblical model is the community of faith, living holy, thinking deeply, and serving in word and action. That is the picture of the church. That is our tradition. 

“Lord, make me strong in the tradition of the church. AMEN”

2 Thessalonians 2:1-12

2 Thessalonians 2:1-12

The more we obsess about the future, the less useful we are in the present. In the first letter, Paul addresses certain issues concerning the Second Coming and the disruptions caused by muddle-headed teachers on that subject. That correction had apparently gone unheeded, and he once again addresses the issue. In this passage Paul is not attempting to provide detailed clues about the future time and identity of the end-time actors. Rather, he is addressing a few major themes.

First, you will not miss the second coming. The return of Christ is not the kind of thing that happens unnoticed. 

Second, the moral wretchedness of those who oppose Christ. Eschatology is always primarily ethical; typically it focuses on the proper behavior as Christians. But here Paul looks at the immorality and lawlessness of the enemies of Christ. 

Third, there is only one way to avoid the mental, intellectual, and moral rot of a godless world, and that is “…love of the truth as to be saved.” Rejecting the gospel not only means rejecting eternal life but also rejecting that which would keep us from being completely decadent and destroyed intellectually and morally.

Fourth, and related to the above, there are forces of darkness that operate with the intent of confusing, deceiving, and befuddling even God's people for the purpose of preventing them from being effective.

So how do we respond to what Paul tells the Thessalonians? Clearly Paul doesn’t reject teaching about the end times. When he was with them, he taught them these matters. But neither does he want them distressed, overwrought, and obsessing about the second coming. The point of end times teaching is to call believers to holy lives as the way to prepare for the Lord’s return. Second, he wants to infuse the believers with hope so that they can stand strong and faithful in hardships and under pressure. Third, he wants them to never forget that the Lord has won the victory and His coming is the ultimate expression of that victory. Obsession about dates and times is never a part of the agenda.

“Lord, help me be prepared for the return of Jesus my Savior. AMEN”