We live in a perilous time today where, as Paul told Timothy, people are lovers of themselves, proud, unloving, brutal and lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, among other things. Watching these elements play out in the news isn’t very uplifting – it is stressful. And being touched by these selfish negatives in our own lives either directly or indirectly is even worse.
Given the stress, one would naturally have to ask, “How is it that the core values in the world – anywhere you want to look – have gotten so distorted and ugly?” “Why is it that life in the last days has become so perilous?” In 2 Timothy 3, after describing the self-exalted behaviors of men, Paul warned that they would have, “a form of godliness but denying it’s power. And from such people turn away!” Those whom Paul is referring to aren’t what we would classify as atheists. An atheist might have these same characteristics but he or she wouldn’t have “a form of godliness” because God would be meaningless to them. So he is referring to those who do have a knowledge — to whatever degree — of God and who like to think they are godly people. But they deny God’s power – they reject the lead of the Holy Spirit. They instead follow their own selfish will. And these are the ones that Paul singles out as being most dangerous to the Church. The reason being that there were some of this sort within the Church, setting their self-willed example to the others. So, Paul had to say, “And from such people turn away!”
Their example and our personal example is a powerful thing. It can motivate others to do either good or evil. And an example is something that we all project. No one in Christ’s body is immune to the influence of others’ examples. Our children, our mates, our siblings and our brothers and sisters in the faith will all feel the impact of our personal example. The logical question for us then would be, “Is what others see of me healthy for them?” It can be as we see here, “And you became followers of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit, so that you became examples to all in Macedonia and Achaia who believe. For from you the word of the Lord has sounded forth, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place. Your faith toward God has gone out, so that we do not need to say anything. For they themselves declare concerning us what manner of entry we had to you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.” (1 Thessalonians 1:6-10)
The Thessalonian’s example of faithfulness to God – their obvious willingness to seek His will over their own was powerful. Their personal examples influenced believers not just in Thessalonica, which was just one city in Macedonia, but in all the region as well as in Achaia. So one congregation’s example had a healthy effect on many.
This is what we each must strive for in or own lives individually and as congregations locally. Even though we do live in perilous times, by God’s power being visible in us, we can through our example, stimulate good spiritual health within God’s Church.
Marshall Stiver
