Scripture Text (NRSV)
2 Thessalonians 3:6-13
3:6 Now we command you, beloved, in the name of our Lord Jesus
Christ, to keep away from believers who are living in idleness and not
according to the tradition that they received from us.
3:7 For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us; we were
not idle when we were with you,
3:8 and we did not eat anyone's bread without paying for it; but
with toil and labor we worked night and day, so that we might not
burden any of you.
3:9 This was not because we do not have that right, but in order to
give you an example to imitate.
3:10 For even when we were with you, we gave you this command:
Anyone unwilling to work should not eat.
3:11 For we hear that some of you are living in idleness, mere
busybodies, not doing any work.
3:12 Now such persons we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus
Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living.
3:13 Brothers and sisters, do not be weary in doing what is
right.
Comments:
I've heard 3:10 interpreted as an excuse for not feeding the poor so
many times I could scream. I contend that Paul is talking about
"spiritual" work, whatever that is. People can be so BUSY while not
really doing much of anything at all. Is it that
I'm going to have a bit of difficulty preaching this with grace,
should I decide to preach it. #1) I tend to be a workaholic, and #2) I
have little patience for those who stay so busy around the church and
don't lift a finger in Christ's name to help another soul.
So, any suggestions???
Sally in GA
Sally, The psalm looks friendly enough. Hard to beat up anyone with
that. If you can't say something nice about somebody.....
Anyone unwilling to work should not eat. For we hear that some of you
are living in idleness, mere busybodies, not doing any work. Now such
persons we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their
work quietly and to earn their own living. Brothers and sisters, do
not be weary in doing what is right.
I wonder how many people in the church pew think of themselves as
earning a spiritual living? Do they ask themselves are they doing the
spiritual work? If a person is not working in the body of Christ to do
God's will in the here and now should they have the right to feed of
the word of God? If they do not obey Christ command of the
GreatvCommission are they bringing condemnation on themselves?
Brothers and sisters, do not be weary in DOING what is RIGHT. Look for
the fields are ready for the harvest. Just beginning thoughts. LPinPA
To Sally in Ga Paul is not speaking about the poor but lazy healthy
and ablebodied believers who do nothing but gossip all the time and
won't lift a finger to help themselves or anybody else. You may notice
he is talking about believers not the unchurched those who are so
heavenly minded that they are no earthly good.There is a beautiflu
Gospel song that would go along well with this text. "My house is full
but my fields are empty" Harold in Alabama
I have started challenging my congregation about their mission and
discipleship. This is a great passage for that.
So often, we hear that worship is where we come to get charged up for
the week. But shouldn't worship also be about glorifying God? If we
come only for ourselves, should we come at all? If we come only for
ourselves and aren't in church to do God's work, we have no right to
be here.
Yes, this is harsh, and I won't put it exactly like that, but most of
our churches are filled with people who only want to protect their own
(asses)ts. They don't want to have a lunch program for seniors in
their fellowship hall because the insurance costs are high, someone
might sue us, and people might wander into the sanctuary (direct
quotes from my people). They grumble and moan about working and having
enough money to keep up the building (which is falling apart from
neglect), but they don't think about doing ministry. They're tired of
working, but not of doing what is right, because that is what they are
running away from right now.
Yes, I'm ranting. I need to get all that tactfully said in a sermon,
except the time for tactfulness is gone. Evidently, Paul thought that,
too! If you don't want to do the work, don't come around to get fed.
Find some other church where they aren't interested in doing ministry,
either, and leave the church to those who do want to do ministry!
Sally, I don't know if this helps you, but I think it helps me!!!!!
Sybil in KS
Harold -
YOU know that and I know that, but I've heard people tell me otherwise
so often that I confess to feeling a nag to correcting this common
misconception.
Sally in GA
Harold - How about for a sermon title a twist on the song you
mentioned "My schedules full but my life is empty!" So many of us fill
our schedules with busyness (preaching to myself here!) that we think
we are too busy to do God's work and we feel so empty. Kind of like
eating a homecooked Thanksgiving Dinner or eating take out chinese. As
a church we need to do ministry and take a good look at our
committees, etc. ARe they fulfilling the purposes of God? Are they
filling our needs and what God needs from us? Just one opinion. Jenn
Jenn
Thank you so much. But my problem is not business but idleness. These
churches are so small that there aren't meetings at the church with
three members and our other church only meets once every two montha
and everything is handled at the board meeting. We have all kinds of
officers and committes but none of them function. I can visit all my
members in two days. I'm afraid I'm getting lazy. Last week I
challenged them to challenge me and keep me busy. We are having a
visioning session to nite. Our house is half full because no one wants
to work in the fields. Pray for us.
I hear what you are saying about committees not functioning properly.
I have the same thing at the smaller of my two churches. Where I was
coming from on that idea is that people tell me they are too busy to
serve. The idlesness Paul is writing about may be about our idelness
in church work, but it definately is not about not doing things. Our
people's schedules are chock full of sports, lessons, watching our
favorite television preograms, community meetings, baking bread for
husbands that won't eat store bought bread, etc. The issue for our
people is not that they are idle, because they are not. But what are
they spending their time doing? Is it to the Glory of God and is it
what God wants us to be doing or is it more what we want to do? People
in our area seem to be running in 20 different directions and not
going anywhere in their spiritual life, they are in a sense idle.
Perhaps this is just a bunch of babble. Thank you for letting me voice
my ideas and the feedback! Jenn
Sally,
Paul doesn't here say that those who do not work shouldn't eat; he
says those _unwilling_ to work shouldn't eat. (It was mistranslated in
the KJV, which has lead to many of our problems.) None of the folk who
have come to my church for a handout have been unwilling to work. In
fact, most have asked if they could cut the lawn or clean up the
church to earn some money.
Heather in Sharon
Previous:
Welfare reform according to Paul?
I'm downtown during my lunch hour once a week delivering meals as part
of the local meals on wheels program. I see a tremendous amount of
loitering and idleness. Not many seem to be earning there own living.
Part of the problem is that it 'pays' better to remain un-employed.
We've abandoned the notion of one having to work to eat and replaced
it with the idea that the government works so one can eat. Many of
these people are caught in a terrible catch-22 where eployment means
less money than un-employment. So they're idle, an idleness that leads
to trouble.
I know it's simplistic but it seems that the abandonment of biblical
pronciples has led to our welfare state. And abandoning the solution
to a government program tightens the death spiral.
Where's the church?
Rick in Va
Paul is addressing the problem of a group within the church who were
hindering others because of their over-realized eschatology. Thinking
that Jesus was coming soon, they just sort of stood around waiting for
His return...too heavenly minded to be any earthly good. I'd choose to
keep this in-house. What kind of witness to the world is the idle
Christian? Is not idleness a fruit of selfishness? I think Paul is
telling the folks in the church at Thessalonica to pull their own
weight.
If the Kingdom of God is already but not yet...present but not yet
consumated wouldn't it make sense for the Christian to make it a
little bit more like heaven on earth?
Perhaps an address that cuts to a Christian's motives for being
unmotivated might be in order. JAL
As a source criticism, 2Thess. was most likely not written by Paul.
1Thess certainly was, but 2Thess was not. Refer to Craddock, Furnish,
and other respected NT scholars. On this point there is essentially a
consensus.
I liked JAL's notes about the overly realizzed eschataology and
especially that we keep this in-house. It's good advice, although the
work/eat ethic while appealing to Protestants would not have been well
received by the mendicant monks of Francis and Dominic... Just wanted
to stir the pot before bed.
PW in PA
NO, I don't think Paul has anything to say about the present U.S.
welfare reform. In First Thessalonians, Paul is addressing the fear
and anxiety of a faithful people who worry that Aunt Nona and Uncle
Jack have passed away and Jesus has not yet returned. In Second
Thessalonians (which is not clearly a work of Paul) the writer is
giving a corrective to those who heard the message of First
Thessalonians too well. They've stopped working, stopping making
plans, and fallen into idleness because they think Jesus is about to
return and the end is at hand. In essence, he's telling them to pick
up their slack jaws hanging open while they look to the sky for Jesus'
return, and get back to the business of life. This is not at all about
welfare reform. It's about people feeling paralyzed in the face of an
indefinite future. Welfare reform is about justice and caring for the
poor. These are not the same issues at all. Jesus never condemned the
poor (don't you remember the Beatitudes just a few days ago?) and
never rejected the mentally ill, dispossessed, and ostracized. A
little apocryphal story about Martin Luther tells that once he was
asked what he would do if the world were to come to an end tomorow.
"Plant an apple tree." he replied. Of course. For those who live by
faith, the coming of the end is no different than tomorrow. We
continue to plant trees, even if we will never live in the shade of
them or enjoy the fruit of them. I don't think you can use this text
to beat up on the US Welfare system without dishonoring the original
intent of the text--unless of course, you want to talk specifically
about that miniscule handful of welfare recipients who have decided to
sign up for welfare and quit their jobs because they aren't worried
about what tomorrow brings because Jesus is coming anyway. Betsy in OH
Betsy in Ohio,
I apologize to you. It's obvious that I've offended in some way and am
giving you some theological heart burn.
Let me try to be understood, although I may fail in the attempt.
I don't assume that the poor are outside the Church. I've been in
downtown churches in my local area and they're very well attended.
I am not condemning anyone when I attempt to practically apply the
Scriptures. I do not adopt the mindset that those who disagree with me
theologically are in the condemner camp. I'm simply attempting to
learn, digest, understand and apply Scripture. And I do believe that
at the heart of many of today's societal ills is a separation from the
God who longs for reconciliation, through Jesus Christ.
So I take the practical lesson being taught here in 2 Thess. and
believe that the principle is one that would work well in and out of
the Church. It's really that simple.
I also took the time to reveal (but maybe not as clearly), that I
believe the government has become the idol of 20th Century America.
Far too many of us have unhealthy attachments to the government for
solutions, whether it be provision of food and medicine, or the
establishment of morality.
For too many the government has become their church, where they seek
solace, provision, and guidance.
That's why I ended the post with the question "Where is the Church?"
Hope this helps in some small way...
If you knew me, you'd know that I don't condemn the poor, just as I'm
sure that if I knew you, I'd know that you don't hate/condemn the
theologically conservative.
Thanks.
PW in PA,
The idea that Paul did not write 2 Thess. is a more recent one and not
widely held with conviction. I believe it to be terribly flawed, as I
believe much of higher criticism is today.
Rick in Va
I agree, Betsy, with your approach to this passage. I am planning to
use a Jim Strathdee hymn to play off of. His "Waiting for the Kingdom"
repeats the refrain "What we do while we wait, depends on what we're
waiting for...we're waiting for the Kingdom of God". I wonder if the
idle in this passage were "feeling paralyzed in the face of an
indefinite future", or if they were idle because they figured with
Jesus coming again immediately that they didn't have to work - they
would just slide by until the Kindgom arrived. In some sense, "what we
do while we wait" is determined by our own vision of the Kingdom. Are
we just waiting, or are we working for the Kingdom?
Anyway, this is my second sermon...I'm in a field ed placement.
skm in ca
I agree that this passage isn't really applicable to the poor. These
folks may well have been teachers and traveling prophets who claimed
the rights of apostles to be supported by the local fellowship. It
also has to do with Christians who are Idled by a misplaced hope that
the return of Christ meant they had no obligation to care for their
own. By the by a question for those insisting on t 2 Thess as
nonPauline... What difference will this make on Sunday morning. Also,
it overstates the case to claim unanimity on this issue. That
disregards the entire conservative wing of scholarship. I am not sure
who wrote it but it ain't unanimous!:) Lewis
Not sure where I'm going with this sermon, but the passage seems to
touch on a number of issues: honest work, tough love, dealing with
problems in the community rather than ignoring them, the necessity for
everyone's contribution (what if everyone contributed as they were
able in our churches?), etc.
Were those who would not work simply giving a "Spiritual Excuse" for
idleness? I have had folks preface their views with "the Lord told me"
or more commonly, "I really don't feel led..." (can you tell it's
Nominating Committee time?) It is tough to disagree when another is
speaking "for the Lord."
I liked the Luther quote...
Still in "early in the week" muddling, Dave in IL
I guess the passage deals with the question, "How do Christians live
among each other?" Verse 13 stands out for me...do not be weary in
doing what is right.
In the churches where I've served there have always been the faithful
few who do most of the work. Their complaint is for others to help
share the load. Perhaps the word is don't become discouraged or weary
from doing what is right. Complaining can be counter-productive and
sap the enthusiasm. The focus perhaps ought to be on the fact that the
person is doing what God wants that person to do. I guess it's like
the "Men love your wives as Christ loves the Church and wives obey
your husbands as unto the Lord" passage. We tend to read each others
imperative and not worry about our own responsibility.
To those not pulling their share...Paul says get with it. To those
laboring to do what is right, perhaps he's saying, don't worry about
it.
-JAL
After the first epistle to this Church in which Paul spoke so fully of
the Lord's return there were those who were certain that they should
stop everything and wait for him. In so doing they ignored the
injuction given in the parable in Luke 19 "Occupy til I come." These
people constituted an unruly group of folk. Paul is candid in his
opposition to these people. The believers were to watch out for all
unruly people calling themselves brothers and have nothing to do with
them. The specifics had to do with : 1) Being unruly with regard to
the "Traditions" received from the apostles. (vs.6) 2) Being unruly
with regard to work habits (vs7-10) 3) Being unruly as regards
intermeddling with other people's business. (vs.11-12) While the
entire passage has the emphasis on the work ethic of the Christian one
can see it reaching further especially with regard to the Traditions.
Application of this is wide and far reaching. Consider the popular
Television speakers. It is not fair to say that they have no toil.
They do work in preparation for what they do on television. Yet many a
person sitting in the pew who supports those programs in a big way and
neglects the local Church forgets that whey they are in the hospital
the fellow on TV is not called to visit them. When there is a crisis
in a marriage it is not the man on television who sits and counsels
with them. When there is a death it is not that fellow who is asked to
come and preach the funeral sermon and minister to the grieving
hearts. There are those on televsion who are true shepherds and simply
brodcast services. Others however act as "unruly brethren" and if the
flock paid attention to the Scripture they would know that it is not
from them that they should be getting their spiritual direction nor to
them that they should be sending their money. They are dealing with
unruly men.
Yet again there are those who in an overzealous effort to make sure
that they are living separated lives pronounce anathema on all who
have not joined them in the last detail of their stand. From whether a
person should be immersed once or thrice to whether someone shakes
hands with someone who is less than orthodox these folk are going to
make a fight. They enjoy a good scrap and show little concern for the
testimony it gives to a watching world. These too are unruly. They
would have a fit if they knew someone said that about them. (I have
said it to them and know the fits they can have)
The call that Paul makes to us is to live our own lives in a
disciplined manner and that includes our following his guidelines here
to make certain that things are the way the should be with regard to
those with whom we fellowship.
Glen-Pa.
What about connecting this to Isaiah - they shall not labour in vain
etc. I got up this morning thinking that my flock need to hear more
preaching about the spirituality of work. Looks like there is lots of
stuff in both these passages to grasp onto. Mary
I guess I can add my two cents! I think this passage can be dangerous
if we think in terms of "if you don't work you don't eat" ethic.
Hebrew Scriptures and New Testament Scriptures are very clear about
our responsibility to the alien, the widow, the hungry, you know the
drill! I do believe that the writer of 2 Thess. is telling us that we
have a responsibility to Christ to be active disciples. In the midst
of chaos in our congregations (not unlike what Paul or other writers
encountered) it is sometimes difficult to keep going. I know I feel
like giving up ministry at this point in my life because I'm tired of
the petty hassles and unhealthy congregations. But Christ tells me not
to give up but to "keep on keeping on (my sermon title)." Rev.D
Instead of focusing on physical idleness, I thought I'd broach the
subject of spiritual idleness. I like the idea of the spirituality of
work. Can't we as children of God see all that we do as a form of
worship? If we do, then nothing is in vain.
Keep 'em coming... it's Friday already.
Nancy
One can always tell the harder passages to preach by the number of
contributions! The writer (whether he is Paul or not) is bold enough
to say that the Thessalonians "ought to imitate us." Are we brave
enough to say that to our congregations today? Idleness (physical or
spiritual) is so easy to slip into, and they both leave us with too
much time on our hands to get into mischief! We need to be examples of
the richness of life in Christ Jesus to a world that so desperately
needs to see genuine faith at work. "The world" not only needs to see
that kind of faith; so do those of us who are in the Church. I pray
that none of us will "be weary in doing what is right", whether it
seems to be appreciated or not. Ultimately, it is God who appreciates
our service and our devotion.
Ed in SC
What are the factors that cause weariness while doing right? Burn-out
seems to be prevalent among clergy.
In the Harry Chapin Golden Collection there's a track where Harry
describes something his grandfather had said to him. His grandfather
told him about a good tired and a bad tired. Basically bad tired was
fighting someone else's battles, fullfilling someone else's dreams. He
described good tired as fighting your own battles, building your own
dreams. He said, Harry I'm good tired.
Perhaps focusing on the good and not the weariness might help.
Especially when we understand the Lord's battles and dreams are out
dreams...that is hopefully we come to that point in our lives where we
indeed have the mind of Christ.
-JAL (still wrestling with this one with only one day to go!)
I find it all too easy to focus on the bad stuff when I'm tired and
discouraged. It is always a better use of energy to focus on what is
going right. I have decided to name some of those who in my
congregation that are not idle, who quietly go about their
discipleship and ones that we ought to imitate.... youth workers, SS
teachers, etc. Then I am going to open it up to the congregation to
name some of those that do not grow weary of doing what is right,
whether in the community or in the community of faith. It will help me
to keep my eyes on the positive, as well give encouragement to those
who work so hard with so little recognition. RevD
