The Conduct Of Church Life
THE CONDUCT OF CHURCH LIFE
1 THESSALONIANS 5:12-22
Paul urges his readers to encourage one another—what do you need to do to put that appeal into practice?
The call for mutual encouragement and upbuilding in 5:11 prompts the apostle to set out some guidelines for regulating the conduct of church life. He expresses them in the form of appeals addressed to the congregation as a whole: 5:12-13 concern the leadership of the congregation, 5:14-18 the relationships between members of the fellowship as a whole, and 5:19-22 the response to prophecy and other charismatic manifestations in the public gatherings of the believers.
The church is charged to respect those who were appointed elders in the congregation (see Acts 14:23). In view are men like Jason (Acts 17:5), Secundus (Acts 20:4) and Demas (2 Timothy 4:10). It was their task to work diligently among the membership of the church, preside over its meetings and maintain discipline. Paul’s language implies an appreciation of those who exercise the gifts of leadership based on close observation of the quality of their personal lives and work. A consideration of their Christian service should dissolve any resentment toward their taking of authority and move the congregation to hold them in special regard and affection. It is the responsibility of the fellowship to provide a climate that will enable the elders to do their work. Conflict is always distracting. Paul, therefore, appeals, “Be at peace among yourselves” (5:12-13).
The appeals to the brothers and sisters which follow clarify the responsibility of the entire congregation to engage in the tasks of ministry. The warning to the idle, the encouragement of the fainthearted, the assistance of the weak (5:14) are precisely the ministries Paul has fulfilled among the Thessalonians. Now they are assigned to all with the added appeal to be patient in dealing with weakness of any kind. Christian love will refuse to keep a record of injuries received but will find its fulfillment in services which may be rendered to all—without discrimination (5:15). Unbroken joy, prayer and thanksgiving offer sufficient proof of the outworking of God’s will in the fellowship (5:16-18).
The concluding appeals consist of five crisp sentences which recognize the legitimacy of the exercise of spiritual gifts in the congregation as well as the necessity of testing their origin (5:19-22). The test is simple: what is good is to be received, while every form of evil must be rejected. Paul finds in the presence of the Spirit the promise of the discernment required from all believers.