Dr. Ben Stubblefield
Visiting Assistant Professor of Christian Studies, University of Mobile
WAITING
2 Thessalonians 3:6–15
When I was a child, I never really understood why we called the preacher “Brother Darrell,” but that was his name so that’s what we called him. As it turns out, the moniker was more meaningful than I knew.
Baptists historically have referred not just to their preachers, but also to all their fellow church members, with the familial prefixes “Brother” and “Sister” in order to demarcate those in the world with whom they’re going to heaven.
And … I like it. In fact, I use these terms so much my kids have had to ask me a number of times why I refer to my wife, their mother, as “Sister Carrie.”
The practice was so common in Baptist life that, according to church historian Greg Wills, a sign of disciplinary measures taken against a church member involved changing his or her title from “Brother/Sister” to “Mr./Mrs.”
That may seem benign to us today, but roughly 1 million Baptists were so disciplined between 1760 and 1900, roughly 3%–4% of Baptist church membership per year!
In our present church context the concept of church discipline is almost a relic. But as we’ll see in today’s passage, correction, even as uncomfortable and difficult as it is to give, is essential for the repentance of the sinner and the integrity of the church’s witness.
Establish standards (6–9)
As an apostle and spiritual father to the church, it would have been normal and even expected for Paul to receive remuneration from the Thessalonian congregation.
Paul wanted to distinguish his ministry from swindlers. He deeply inconvenienced himself by working a side job, making less money and working longer hours to prevent any kind of comparison.
The curse of sin upon the earth was not work but the noncooperation of the earth in our labor (Gen. 3:18–19). In a world where it’s easy to refuse, avoid and neglect hard work, the church must recognize the Lord gifted us to cultivate this world through our labor, and we ought to do that to the glory of God (Col. 3:17).
Provide (10–12)
Instead of living with idle hands, Paul reminds them they should “work in quiet fashion and eat their own bread.”
Paul says if these folks can’t find time to work for themselves, then you shouldn’t make it possible for them to sponge off of you. If you’re able to work and choose instead to pilfer, you’re going to have to miss some meals. The church is not going to subsidize your sin.
We do have an obligation to care for those in need (Gal. 6:10), but the church must also recognize the difference between Christian generosity and encouraging transgression.
Discipline (13–15)
“Well, Paul, what if they don’t change their ways?” You can sense Paul’s heart in his response. Be kind, be brotherly, do good, admonish but “put them to shame.”
In 1817, a Brother Lancaster of Powelton Baptist Church in Georgia was accused of permitting fiddling and dancing at his daughter’s wedding. He was summarily brought before a church conference for discipline.
Pastor Jesse Mercer, future president of the Georgia Baptist Convention, presided over the meeting. Lancaster half-heartedly admitted his guilt at the trial, then shockingly turned to accuse the church of gossip, breaking the Sabbath and prejudice against poor and rural members.
Miraculously what happened next was revival. Lancaster repented. The church repented. The pastor wept. And the church grew in number and in holiness.
Perhaps we can imagine that for our church growth strategies and round table discussions — to heed Paul’s words and the example of our forebears that repentance might bring revival.
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