The Apostle Paul told the Thessalonian Church it was a model church,
an example, not just in Thessaloniki, but all across their region.
What does it take to get on a list like that? What would be your idea of
a model church? A church that is up to date, hip, comprised of the
finest the community has to offer. As one pastor was known to say of
his church: “Anybody who is somebody in this town is a member of
this church.”
Well, we have just narrowed the field substantially, suggesting to
most, no need to apply.
But let’s move on with our view of who’s in and who’s out. Now that
we know there is such a thing as a “split entry” or a “split-level
church,” are there measures we would want, you know — the appeal
factor. Would it need to be a cool church, up to date, with a faith that
fits, a look that attracts, a building that impresses, a place that makes
you “feel” at home where you can come and go at your convenience,
casual, comfortable with no fear of being to religious or serious about
this “God business”? A faith with all the accessories to give the
appearance of religion, but with no substance?
Some churches are like some politicians: They seem to have a few
pages missing from their Bibles. If so, you might become a member —
maybe.
There are other qualifiers for sure. The measure we must consider
calls for none of these.
How does God size up a church? Let’s look at the Thessalonians I: 1-10
more closely and see. Paul’s mention and thoughts of a model church
is not exhaustive, nor meant to be, but it is non-negotiable.
First, I would suggest to you that a model church is a church that is
clear-minded about who God is and who they are. God has not left us
in a blur of spiritual pollution so thick and heavy we lose our way.
The church has at least three qualities that we need reminded of from
time to time. First, she is discernable. God’s word and his church are
not filled or shrouded with the smoke of Satan; instead, we are
clearing the air. We know who we are, what we are and what we are
doing. We are a people who embody the message we believe and
preach.
Many churches can find themselves in a fog, the Christ of the gospels
stands clear in time and eternity as does his Word, and his church is
the custodian of that word.
God has placed the church in the center of the world to keep the world
centered. We are a discernable conscience to our community. You can
see the church, you can sense the church, you can hear the church, she
speaks, and has been spoken to by God himself. She is discernable. She
is God’s new society. Not only is the church discernable, she is
definable. It is not a perspective; it is a divine revelation.
The church is a people with a message from God; it is known as the
gospel. The practices of the church make her not only discernable, but
definable. Again, the church must embody the message she is given; it
is her identity.
“No church can spread the gospel with any degree of integrity, let
alone credibility, unless it has been visibly changed by the gospel it
preaches,” John Stott said. “We need to look like what we are talking
about. It is not enough to receive the gospel and pass it on; we must
embody it in our common life of faith, love, joy, peace, righteousness
and hope. We do not need to be perfect to preach the gospel, but we
cannot preach the gospel if we give into our imperfections.”
Another mark of a model or healthy church is that she has spiritual
activity. Some churches can barely move; others are fidgety and the
pastor is actually nothing more than an activity director trying to get
them to move. Again, activity is like numbers: There is no guarantee
things are well or healthy, just that something is going on. It can be
either good or bad.
The Thessalonian church had spiritual activity, not just church
business or religion. God gives commands and demands surrender
and obedience. Faith and repentance are not options.
Paul mentions that he, Silas and Timothy were prayerfully mindful of
the Thessalonians’ faith, hope and love, but more importantly these
were evidences of God at work in them.
When Paul combines these three elements of Christian spirituality, as
in this context, “it is usually to provide a basic, and sufficient,
description of the genuine Christian,” R.C. Lucas said. “These three
qualities are the hallmarks, and proper evidences, of a work of God in
the soul of man.”
Their faith was productive, their love more than just warm wishes and
nostalgic feelings, as we say it was a “labor of love.” They put
affection in their love. Their hope was enduring, they crashed through
the quitting points. The Lord’s return, leads to endurance, which is
patient fortitude in the face of opposition.
In addition to such authenticity came a contagious conviction. Verse 3
says, “The Lord’s message rang out from you.”
The Greek word is execheo, which occurs nowhere else in the New
Testament. It is derived from echos, an echo or noise, a boom. The
power of the mass media is great we know and should be used, but
there is still the old tried and true that is power beyond measure and
often more effective and is spontaneous.
Have you heard of holy gossip? A transformed life speaks loudly and
convincingly and still works today. Christian conversion involves (1) a
decisive break with idols, (2) an active service of God, and (3) a patient
waiting for Christ. These three steps are summed up in the verbs “you
turned ... to serve ... and to wait.” The church is not only discernible
and definable but she is deliberate.
We see from this text that we are not a people sitting on the sidelines
with a passive, private and personal faith, but we are a people who are
on the front lines. We are in a war and the converted know this and act
and live accordingly. When a church becomes diluted with the
nominal you end up with mixed signals and a loss of message,
meaning and mission. They lose their first love and can get in God’s
way.
With this comes a believable life. People usually won’t suffer for that
which they do not believe. They smashed their idols and suffered
greatly, but convincingly. There are many marks of a healthy church,
both here and elsewhere in Scripture that can be looked to as a model.
In closing I would note that they were waiting patiently for the return
of Christ, which says to me this: A church is a place where the coming
of Christ is evident, seen and felt by the way the believers lived out
their lives to the end.
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