Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace.
We always give thanks to God for all of you and mention you in our prayers, constantly remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. For we know, brothers and sisters beloved by God, that he has chosen you, because our message of the gospel came to you not in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction; just asyou know what kind of persons we proved to be among you for your sake. And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for in spite of persecution you received the word with joy inspired by the Holy Spirit, so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia. For the word of the Lord has sounded forth from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but in every place your faith in God has become known, so that we have no need to speak about it. For the people of those regions report about us what kind of welcome we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols, to serve a living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead-Jesus, who rescues us from the wrath that is coming.
Forward Day by Day's meditation for this reading has some good points.
Christians of the twentieth century, to Paul, apostle, missionary to the world in every generation: grace be unto you, and peace.
We regret to say we do not deserve your opening remarks to our brothers who lived in Thessalonica. The gospel is received here, and in such numbers that would astonish you. But the Thessalonians received the gospel “not in word only, but in power.” Our problem is that while the word is with us, the power is missing. As a result, we are not “an example to the believers.” You may have had “no need to speak about it” to the Thessalonians, but we need you to speak. We read your letters over and over, but with results that would disappoint you. The Thessalonians imitated the Lord so well that their lives demonstrated the gospel to the world. It is sometimes said of us that no one can tell a Christian from a non-Christian on a clear day at high noon.
This is our “affliction.” After many years of established Christianity we are being smothered by our own success. (1960)
The list of 18 anti-gay hate groups profiled by the Southern Poverty Law Center many of them religious based shows how Christians have been doing. Promoting violent rhetoric and injustice towards lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning and queer people. Is this where the message of the Gospel and the power of the Holy Spirit have brought us? A place where immigrants face horrible discrimination through Arizona's law? Where those who are not white, male, heterosexual, single gender minded, able to speak and write in English, Christian, employed, are healthy, wealthy etc benefit at the expense of every person that is not? How exactly is this receiving the Gospel in such a way that it has been changing our world and the Church to make room for the reign of Christ?
The Church and society are so corrupt that the Prime Minister of Kenya has called for the imprisonment of all homosexuals. The Archdiocese of Baltimore has started a campaign to "promote marriage" but same-sex marriage should be out of the question. Many adult LGBT folks are homeless due to employment problems. What are we doing to correct the problem? This week we hope the hearings will begin to repeal Don't Ask, Don't Tell (DADT). Senator's John McCain and Lindsay Graham are determined to block it's vote in the U.S.Senate. The Senator from Arkansas Mark Pryor wants to keep DADT in place, because he feels homosexuality is a sin. The American Family Association will not confront the reasons it is considered a hate group by the SPLC.
The letters to the Thessalonians were written because a group of "End Timer's" had told the Thessalonians that the second coming of Christ had already happened and they missed it. As a result the people there had lost sight of what it means to be a Christ follower. The letters were written to help the Thessalonians know that Christ had not yet come, and that they needed to get their act together.
Today, we have all kinds of groups telling people especially LGBTQ people that if we do not change the essence of who we are, when Christ comes we will be damned. And they wonder why they are considered hate groups. God has gifted LGBTQ people with the unique gift of loving people just a little bit differently. We have been created just as we are, and when Jesus came to us in the form of a human being, he came for all of humankind. Jesus came to bring those who have been marginalized by the Church and society into the company of God's reign. Those considered outcasts, would be welcomed as among God's holy people. Diversity in the eyes of God is a wonderful and awesome thing. It is how God reaches out to all of humankind and challenges us to do the same. Yet time and again, we see those who lead or are part of the Church trying to stigmatize those who look different, talk different languages, are from different countries, of sexual and gender diversity, and so forth. Rather than work to find room for all of God's people, many who lead and worship in the Church look for reasons to keep diversity outside of God's house. LGBTQ people more than most. The work of ex-gay groups is to exterminate lesbian and gay people, by forcing us through so called "compassionate counseling" to "change" what is not meant to be changed.
As Christians we receive the message of the Gospel and show forth the power of God's Holy Spirit when we "reach forth our hands in love" to those who are homeless, poor, hungry, marginalized and oppressed. When we as a Church confess our sins and look to the Holy Spirit that she might help us realize that the Bible does not condemn homosexuality or transgender people, but calls us to embrace everyone as a daughter or son of God, we are indeed preparing a fitting and loving home for God's reign. As we recreate a world and a Church where there is equality and justice for all people with no exceptions or reasons for prejudice and violence, we will see Jesus in every person living among us.
How have we been doing? We can always do better. Advent is a time to look into our hearts and see our actions as they are. It is an opportunity to seek the grace of God in Jesus Christ to transform our hearts by God's Holy Spirit. So that when Christ comes he will find us watching and waiting, because we have been working to bring the reign of God on earth by God's will for each and every person. Accepting each other as good, diverse people all of whom have something good to offer that has been given to us by a loving and gracious God.
Almighty God, give us grace to cast away the works of darkness, and put on the armor of light, now in the time of this mortal life in which your Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the living and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (Collect for the First Sunday of Advent, page 211).
O God, who created all peoples in your image, we thank you for the wonderful diversity of races and cultures in this world. Enrich our lives by ever-widening circles of fellowship, and show us your presence in those who differ most from us, until our knowledge of yoru love is made perfect in our love for all your children; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (Thanksgiving for the Diversity of Races and Cultures, Book of Common Prayer, page 840).
O God, you made us in your own image and redeemed us through Jesus your Son: Look with compassion on the whole human family; take away the arrogance and hatred which infect our hearts; break down the walls that separate us; unite us in bonds of love; and work through our struggle and confusion to accomplish your purposes on earth; that, in your good time, all nations and races may serve you in harmony around your heavenly throne; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (Prayer for the Human Family, Book of Common Prayer, page 815).
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