Misguided Efforts

Scripture: For you, brothers, became imitators of God’s churches in Christ Jesus that are in Judea, since you have also suffered the same things from people of your own country, just as they did from the Jews who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets and persecuted us; they displease God and are hostile to everyone, hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles so that they may be saved. As a result, they are always completing the number of their sins, and wrath has overtaken them at last. 1 Thessalonians 2:14-16

Observation: In writing to the church in Thessalonica, Paul addresses the fact they are persecuted and troubled, even equating that to the way the church in Jerusalem and Judea is persecuted. Paul goes a step further in discussing the Jews, explaining the motivation of the persecution of the church by the Jewish leaders. That motivation is a desire to be "saved" by God based on their nationality.

This is a recurring issue for the Jews - their desire to be rewarded simply as the "chosen people" and not for their faith in God. They repeatedly look down on neighboring nations that honor God, and they them themselves adopt pagan practices in conflict with God's instructions. They view the love of God as birthright, not a relationship of faith. For over a thousand years, God tried to correct this view ... he destroyed their towns, killed them methodically, removed them from the land, and scolded them repeatedly through the prophets. None of it worked.

The Jews persecuted the faith that claimed the love of God involved an obedient relationship with God. This then extended to the church that believes in the Messiah ... a Messiah they even hope for themselves but refuse to accept because the Messiah must exist only to aid the Jews, not save the world.

Application: I feel terrible for modern churches that exist in order to care for the infirmities of its own members. This has bothered me for years. It is the Christian version of Jewish nationalism ... the belief that our inclusion in the body of Christ exists in order to care for our "kind" and make ourselves feel good.

I see no evidence to support the goal of an inward-facing church in the new testament, just as I see strong evidence of the wayward failings of the inward-facing nation of Israel in the old testament.

I absolutely seek to be outward facing in my thoughts and deeds. I hope I care at least equally about non-believers than I do believers. I hope my work and resources go toward that outreach, and that the needs of the body of believers is addressed through faith that produces kindness, joy, and peace of mind.

Prayer: Lord, please order my steps daily. May I server you by serving others. May I serve angels by serving strangers. May I always care about the one lost sheep far more than the 99. Amen.