A Special Message from Pastor Stephen Samec
Discipleship Meets Social Distancing:
A New Testament Case Study in Distance Discipleship
We are living in unique days, to say the least. Most local churches across the States are not gathering together in person for corporate worship and exposition and prayer and evangelism and baptism and the Lord’s Supper. We find ourselves forced to consider how we should operate as an un-gathered body of believers.
Believers are responding to this in different ways: sadness, relief (“Finally, a legitimate reason to skip church!”), confusion (“I’m not really sure what I should do), apathy (“Meh, who cares?”), and many others. I do admit that the current quarantine advisements from the White House have provided me with some much-overdue time with my family. I am, however, concerned about the destructive impact this could have on the church. What should be our perspective on the local church right now? What is our responsibility toward believers we can’t meet with face-to-face?
Have you ever considered that the New Testament letters are largely the product of separation? Think of it this way: would many of those letters exist today if nothing ever forced the 1st century Christians apart?
This is not to say that we should celebrate separation. “Absence makes the heart grow fonder” does not always hold true. Often absence exposes our hearts to danger!
One special example of this is Paul’s first letter to the believers in Thessalonica. This is arguably the most affectionate and endearing of Paul’s letters. The origin of Paul’s relationship with the Thessalonians traces back to Acts 17, which records Paul’s second missionary journey.
Into the Discipleship Orphanage
Here’s the story. After a fruitful, yet difficult ministry in Philippi (Acts 16:12-40), Paul and his missionary team traveled down to Thessalonica. Right away, Paul jumps into gospel ministry:
“And according to Paul’s custom, he went to them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures, 3 explaining and giving evidence that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and saying, ‘This Jesus whom I am proclaiming to you is the Christ’” (Acts 17:2).
The people responded in two opposite ways: persuasion and persecution. Acts 17:4 says, “And some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, along with a large number of the God-fearing Greeks and a number of the leading women.” This wasn’t a cheap persuasion or a mere intellectual acceptance of the gospel. 1 Thessalonians chapter 1 tells us they had a faith that worked, a love that labored, and a hope that didn’t waver. They practiced true repentance. They maintained endurance in trials and an eager anticipation for the return of Christ. In all this they became a shining example of Christ throughout the Greco-Roman world!
But that wasn’t the only response to the gospel in that city. Acts 17 goes on to say, “But the Jews, becoming jealous and taking along some wicked men from the market place, formed a mob and set the city in an uproar” (v. 5a). The persecution became so severe that these new believers had to send Paul and Silas away under the cover of darkness (v. 10). Here’s how Paul described this event.
“But we, brethren, having been taken away from you for a short while—in person, not in spirit—were all the more eager with great desire to see your face. 18 For we wanted to come to you—I, Paul, more than once—and yetSatan hindered us” (1 Thess 2:17-18).
The words “taken away” come from the Greek word aporphanizō, which literally means to make an orphan of someone. Paul uses this term here to illustrate the gravity of this separation and how deeply grieving it was to him.
Observe in verse 18 what was preventing Paul from getting back to these young believers. Satan, that insatiable lion and the father of all lies, was actively opposing Paul’s ministry. He was fully aware that there’s no neutrality in spiritual warfare—either we’re gaining ground or losing ground.
So here’s the big question: how did Paul handle the separation? Would he give up on these new disciples? Would he cease to care? Would he move on because they were strong enough on their own? Would he get so wrapped up in the next mission that he would forget about them? Would he despair?
How Should We Handle Our Current Separation?
We should follow the pattern of inspired Scripture and treat our time of separation the way the apostle treated his time away from the Thessalonians. There are three responsibilities we see in 1 Thessalonians that are particularly relevant for our current crisis.
1. We Must Love Each Other
I put this first because this is the most important, most foundational responsibility we have toward each other. We could buy everyone toilet paper and hand sanitizer and gift cards, but without love, we would just be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal (1 Corinthians 13:1ff.). John Owen rightly asserts, “Love is the fountain of all duties towards God and man. . . . The teaching of the Lord Jesus emphasizes no other virtue as highly as that of mutual, intense, affectionate love amongst his followers” (Duties of Christian Fellowship, pg. 34).
Radical commitment evidenced by sacrifice is at the heart God’s own definition of love. This is how He loves us: “By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him” (1 John 4:9). What about our love for each other? God’s love for us in Christ is His standard for our interpersonal love! “Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another” (1 John 4:11). Jesus instructs His disciples in John 13:34-35, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
This is the kind of love Paul had for the Thessalonians: “Having so fond an affection for you, we were well-pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives (literally, ‘souls’), because you had become very dear to us” (1 Thess 2:8). Paul’s love for them overflowed so much that, not only was he willing to deliver the gospel under difficult circumstances, he could also truly say, “I am yours!” This is biblical love on display.
Here are some questions to ask yourself: Would my church family believe me if I told them I loved them like Paul loved the Thessalonians? Do I miss my fellow believers? What should I think if I don’t miss them? I have loved them a lot already. Is this the time to take a break? How should God’s love for me in Christ convict me, encourage me, shape me, and lead me to repentance?
Here’s what Paul told them, “Now as to the love of the brethren, you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another; 10 for indeed you do practice it toward all the brethren who are in all Macedonia. But we urge you, brethren, to excel still more” (1 Thess 4:9-10).
2. We Must Pray for Each Other
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve caught myself or others saying to those in distress, “Well, I’ll at least pray for you.” “At least”?! Prayer is the most powerful thing you can do! This virus is teaching the whole world how weak we actually are! When we pray, we are going to straight to the one with all the power, all the wisdom, and all the authority.
What did Paul think about the power of prayer?
Paul knew that God deserved all the praise for the Thessalonians’ growth, so he prayed:
“We give thanks to God always for all of you, making mention of you in our prayers” (1:2)
Paul knew he wouldn’t be able to strengthen them without God’s intervention, so he prayed:
“as we night and day keep praying most earnestly that we may see your face, and may complete what is lacking in your faith?” (3:10)
Paul knew that he wouldn’t even be able to see them without God’s help, so he prayed:
“Now may our God and Father Himself and Jesus our Lord direct our way to you” (3:11)
Paul knew they wouldn’t love each other without God’s power, so he prayed:
“and may the Lord cause you to increase and abound in love for one another, and for all people, just as we also do for you” (3:12)
Paul knew he needed their prayers, too, so he exhorts:
“Brethren, pray for us” (5:23)
Never diminish the value of prayer in favor of practical help. We won’t be of any lasting help to each other if we are not praying for each other. We can’t gain any ground in our walk with Christ without the Holy Spirit’s power. The way we seek this power is through Scripture-saturated prayer. If prayer is this powerful, what better way do we have to show love for each other! John Calvin reportedly said,
Our prayer must not be self-centered. It must arise not only because we feel our own need as a burden we must lay upon God, but also because we are so bound up in love for our fellow men that we feel their need as acutely as our own. To make intercession for men is the most powerful and practical way in which we can express our love for them.
Lest we overcorrect and start thinking that prayer excuses us from hands-on service, let’s look at our final point.
3. We Must Strengthen Each Other
If we’re loving each other and praying for each other the way we just observed, then strengthening each other will come naturally (though not without resistance from the flesh and the devil). The Chief Shepherd’s goal is His people’s sanctification (John 17:17). Paul’s goal was the Thessalonians’ sanctification. Our goal for each other should be the same.
The time apart was killing Paul. He knew they had a great beginning, but he also knew that Satan was at work. He knew that they were facing serious persecution from the Jews (2:14). This is why he says, “Therefore when we could endure it no longer, we thought it best to be left behind at Athens alone, 2 and we sent Timothy, our brother and God’s fellow worker in the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you as to your faith” (3:1-2). Paul maintained an intense desire to strengthen and urge these new believers along in the faith.
What are some ways we should seek to strengthen and build each other up while we are not meeting as a body?
Gathering Information
Paul said, “For this reason, when I could endure it no longer, I also sent to find out about your faith, for fear that the tempter might have tempted you, and our labor would be in vain” (3:5). Think about those words—“when I could endure it no longer”. Paul was bursting at the seams, longing to know about their wellbeing. With our technology today, learning about each other’s condition is much easier than it would have been for Paul and his team. Are you checking in on your brothers and sisters in Christ? What’s your level of concern for their stability in the faith? Is spiritual warfare on your radar? If I have gathered information about somebody in need, how should I act on that knowledge? Is there a message to send, a prayer to offer up, an item to personally deliver, resources to mail?
Exhortation
This was one of those easy-to-find tools at the top of Paul’s ministry toolbox. Observe some of his exhortations: “For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that is, that you abstain from sexual immorality” (4:3), “Live in peace with one another” (5:13), “See that no one repays another with evil for evil” (5:15), “Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks” (5:16-18), “Abstain from every form of evil” (5:22). Are you exhorting your fellow believers in truth and love?
Comfort
The Thessalonians were grieving over their loved ones in Christ who had passed away. What hope did they have in the face of death? Paul writes to comfort them, “But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope” (4:13). After giving more details about the hope of Christ’s return and the resurrection His people will experience, Paul writes, “Therefore comfort one another with these words” (4:18). Notice that offering comfort is not just the job of the pastor. Paul commands them to comfort one another. Are you offering words of comfort to your fellow believers during this crisis? Are you reminding them of the glorious future that awaits Christ’s people? Do your comments and posts on social media and texts offer hope?
Conclusion
These are indeed unique days. I hope you’re not tempted to withdraw during this time of separation and isolation. Remember, as the hymn-writer William Cowper said, “God moves in a mysterious way His wonders to perform.” Our Lord has often been pleased to use His people to spread the gospel far and wide, not in spite of, but through persecution, scattering, and even incarceration.
My desire for GBCT is that we would have Christ-like love for each other, that we would regularly intercede for each other, and that we would strengthen each other in tangible ways. My hope is that we will see how valuable our relationships are as believers and come out of this trial as a stronger local church, with our hearts knit together in love.
Here’s my two-fold prayer that I have been praying for GBCT since the Coronavirus started knocking on our door: Father, I pray we would discover that there are many ways to love and serve each other while we’re apart; and I pray we would remember (or maybe find for the first time) why being in each other’s presence is such a valuable thing—that we would appreciate it all the more.
Soli Deo Gloria!
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