The Healthy Church, Part 2-Caring for the Spiritually Needy

The Healthy Church, Part 2-Caring for the Spiritually Needy Spring Valley Mennonite; May 15, 2022; 1 Thessalonians 5:14-16 We've begun to look at various aspects of a healthy church. Some would say that a healthy church is a problem-free church, in which case I have never seen one. I have most likely been associated with more churches than most of you-I counted fourteen different ones from Pennsylvania to California and all points between-and I have never been part of a church without problems. The healthy church is well illustrated by the example of a hospital: people go there to have problems diagnosed and cures prescribed. People go to hospitals to get well and to have issues corrected. There are specialists in the hospitals which are trained to diagnose and treat health issues, and the goal of every doctor is to help people regain health. The church is called to help those who are spiritually unhealthy, as we all are to some extent. As we examine the Thessalonian church, we find that it is a growing and vibrant church, with much to commend them although faced with persecution and opposition from both Jews and Gentiles. But through their witness and outreach people are coming to Christ, turning from idols and being transformed. Word of this transformation from paganism to being Christ followers has spread far and wide. But, as we know by experience, problems do not magically go away when one becomes a believer in Jesus Christ. Spiritual maturity, like physical maturity takes time to develop; many times maturity comes from learning God's perspective and strength as we go through trials. We carry with us into our relationship with Christ the consequences of past sins. Although forgiven, we now must learn to deal biblically with such consequences. One of God's resources in helping us deal with past and present problems is the church. How does a healthy church deal with people with problems? In chapter 5 of 1 Thessalonians, verses 14-16, we find instructions dealing with people with problems. The first class of needy people is: I. THE UNRULY AND UNDISCIPLINED The church and its leaders are to "admonish" the unruly sheep. To admonish is to advise someone concerning the dangerous consequences of their actions. It is to warn them. We find in the Thessalonian church that some were not "pulling their weight." Perhaps because of Paul's teaching of the imminence of the Rapture, some were idly sitting around, failing to go to work and creating a financial strain on those who were working. In Paul's second letter, he addresses these with the words, "For we hear that some among you are leading an undisciplined life, doing no work at all, but acting like busybodies. Now such persons we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ to work in quiet fashion and eat their own bread." (2 Thessalonians 3:11-12) One of the wonderful ministries of churches is the spirit of generosity to meet needs. Spiritual people are generous people. Apparently, some were taking advantage of this generosity. These ones were sort of like leeches, lazy, sponging off those who did work. The contemporary use of the word "unruly" described a soldier "not at his post" with the implication of insubordination. Applying this to today, such ones might be those who fail to serve, depriving the church of their spiritual giftedness, content in just receiving without serving. They might be ones who fail to give significantly to the church financially, or to support the goals of the church. Such ones are to be admonished at the spiritual danger of such behavior. What is the spiritual danger? This disobedient lifestyle of selfishness opens one up to increased attacks by the enemies of the soul, the enemies of the world, the flesh and the devil. The blessings that come from close fellowship and service in the church will be missing. And this undisciplined behavior toward the church most likely leads to struggles in other aspects of life. In his second letter, Paul instructs believers are to "Keep aloof from every brother who leads an unruly life" who fails to work and support himself. So relationships within the church suffer. The second spiritually unhealthy and needy people are: II. THE FAINTHEARTED These are the "worried sheep", those who are discouraged and downhearted, overcome by the challenges, afflictions and temptations of life. They are ones who are frozen in place, unsure of themselves, unable to accept new challenges, fearing change. They prefer calmness and risk-free ministry. The meaning of the word encourage is to speak to someone coming close alongside. It speaks of the necessity of close relationships within the church. In Second Corinthian chapter 1, we read of how God is the "Father of mercies and God of all comfort." But it explains how God comforts us through the experience of others: "(the) God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God." We encourage the fainthearted with our own experience of how God has helped us. This encouragement might be reminding them of how God hears and answers prayer, or how He never leaves us or forsakes us. It might be through reminding them that all pain and suffering and affliction is temporary, and of our eternal home in heaven which awaits. It might be sharing why God allows trials and suffering, and that the root cause of sin will someday be eradicated. It might be involving them in helping someone else and restoring their perspective of being God's beloved child. Another class of needy people in the church are: III. THE WEAK The weak may be of several classes: they may be those immature and susceptible to sin. They also may be those who are spiritually beset by doubts and unable to enjoy the freedom we enjoy in Christ. Romans 14:1-3 speaks of the "weaker brother." (Turn and Read ) We are not to condemn or judge them but demonstrate non-judgmental love. 1 Corinthians 8:9-13 also addresses the weak: (Read ). The law of love says we make sacrifices of our freedom so not to present a stumbling block and cause someone to violate their conscience. "Weak" also may refer to physical weakness also, and in a situation of turmoil and opposition such as experienced by the Thessalonians, this reminder to support and meet needs of those most affected by hardship. "To help" is rather imprecise, but the meaning from the original language is "to hold firmly, to cling to, to support or to hold up." This also speaks of close personal relationships which will enable correct doctrine to be accepted. The healthy church is also to: IV. BE PATIENT WITH THE "SLOW MOVERS" I spoke last week of the difficulty of measuring spiritual progress in others. Such spiritual progress can only be measured over a longer span of time. It takes patience to work successfully with those who are unruly, fainthearted or week. It takes faithful instruction over time, as well as faithful examples of strong believers. It takes faithful prayer that each of these unhealthy responses to truth would yield to the ministry of the Word. It is very profitable to consider the patience of God, of which Peter speaks in 2 Peter 3:9 "The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance." In the "Love chapter, 1 Corinthians 13, we find that "love is patient." Spiritual growth cannot be programmed. God's program for maturity is unique for each person. While there are set elements like discipleship and mentoring, study of the Bible, prayer, fellowship, witnessing, service, and church attendance, there are many other factors of personality and opportunity which affect spiritual growth. The healthy church is to provide an environment where these things are available. We must be patient with one another. There is one final class of sheep with which the church must deal, that is with: V. THE WICKED SHEEP It has been said that the church is the only army which shoots its own wounded! Sadly, there are sheep who harm other sheep and attack them with words such as gossip or slander. James warns of the power of the tongue which is like a spark which begins a devastating fire. Sinful behavior toward others might involve holding grudges or being unforgiving. Some "sheep" can be very aggressive; they even could be considered "bullying" in their quest for dominance and to be in leadership. In the church in which I was raised, there was an older woman named Allie Cox. I was too young to know what exactly she was doing, but I remember my parents speaking of her. Mrs. Cox was a discontented, negative, spiteful woman who made life miserable for the Pastor and other leaders. Perhaps someone did try to counsel her, but she continued to be a troublemaker for years. There were few who mourned when she died. I also had the experience with a woman who hated her son-in-law and although she wasn't in my church, her daughter and son were. She would call and criticize her son-in-law for long extended periods. She also was negative and critical and I finally had to tell her I could not help her and not to call, visit or write again. I concluded that she was just an evil person who wanted to make everyone as miserable as she was! In a culture like the first century, the church consisted of rich and poor, masters and slaves, aristocrats and commoners who all were equal in God's sight. Such social distinctions would have created opportunity for misunderstandings and sinful behavior. While this passage is speaking primarily of offensive people within the church, we understand that there are those outside the church which seek to take advantage of us, or even to harm us. There are evil people in the world, both "respectable" and criminal. We sometimes fall victim to their evil deeds. There are scammers everywhere. Our fleshly nature does not easily absorb such personal wounds. Our flesh desires to retaliate or "get even" when offended! But we are never to return evil for evil, to seek personal vengeance or retaliation, no matter what the offence. We are rather to seek what is peaceful and good for all. The healthy church is never to be a place of conflict. Jesus Himself taught us to leave vengeance to God. Peter, who learned firsthand these principles from our Lord wrote in his first epistle, "To sum up, let all be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, and humble in spirit; not returning evil for evil or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead; for you were called for the very purpose that you might inherit a blessing. For let him who means to love life and see good days refrain his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking guile and let him turn away for evil and do good; Let him seek peace and pursue it, for the eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and His ears attend to their prayer but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil." (1 Peter 3:8-12) We can leave those who do evil in God's very capable hands. 2