( Sermon 1. Thessalonians 5: 14-24 ) [ Predigt ] [ Abkündigungen657.35 KB ]
What a introduction to the text. It feels like fourteen exclamation marks, like a musical fanfare.
Often the most important thing comes at the end. Shortly before you part, you still want to tell your counterpart something important: "What I really wanted to say to you."
Perhaps Paul just wants to remind the congregation so that they don't forget what makes Christian life so special and rich and what serves the church.
When Paul wrote to the Christians in Thessaloniki, the church was founded only a year ago, around 50 AD. He was on his second missionary trip. Thessaloniki, the capital of the province of Macedonia, was a vibrant port city with a mixture of many people and religions.
Soon after the church was founded, there were disputes; Paul had to leave the city quickly. The church was very close to his heart. He was concerned about messages he received from Thessaloniki.
There was hostility from pagan compatriots. Of course, this puts the young congregation to a serious test. Paul is far away. So he sends his companion Timothy to Thessaloniki to look after the congregation. What he says calms and delights Paul. The young and small congregation is alive.
He is relieved to write the 1st Letter to the Thessalonians.
He gives thanks for the church. “We must always thank God for you brothers and sisters”. And then he almost draws an ideal image of a congregation, imagining what coexistence in the community should look like. Also answers questions that the young congregation has posed.
The expectation of the first Christian communities was very strong. You
should be prepared for it. Not so easy. What do you do in the meantime? What really matters?
The imminent expectation is no longer an issue for us today. It is still true that no one knows the day and the hour, except the Lord God. Therefore: “Be watchful and pray” (Mk 14.38).
And yet: the question: what is important? Occurs again and again in crisis and waiting times of all kinds. What is it that encourages you and makes sense?
Paul finds clear words, but he neither pressures nor threatens them. At the end he sums it all up gently: "He who calls you is loyal, he will do it too." That is what we must do.
The church should be able to rely firmly on the God who revealed himself in Jesus Christ. In this way he can calmly list what makes living together in the congregation easier.
"Be happy at all times, pray incessantly, be grateful in all things ..." Is Paul drawing an ideal image of a Christian here? That wouldn't suit him. He is experienced in life and has suffered a number of strokes of fate in his life. He does not expect Christians to cheerfully whistle through severe suffering in difficult situations. Paul means a basic joy in life.
Because the solid ground is God on whom one can rely.
Everything can be discussed with him.
Rejoice, pray, be grateful. And “being grateful” means a positive attitude towards life. There are always reasons to be grateful. I just have to look carefully. My life is an undeserved gift; my thanks are in response to his grace.
Do not quench the mind and keep prophetic speech. God is close to us. His spirit is among you. Right among us, dear congregation.
What effect does this have? It is God's Spirit alone who kindles faith and gives gifts and powers. One is never a Christian for oneself alone, but always at the same time and even more so for others. None of that should be erased. For example, by saying: I can't do any of this anyway. I am happy when the church makes me offers, I can sit back and consume, but actively help shape it, get involved, I don't want that.
Dear Congregation, we need you. Then in Thessaloniki and now in Pretoria.
We want to build a church, continue to walk together and overcome this time of crisis. And stand by each other. Building each other up with words, being clear in what we say and thinking together: what does God want from us today? And now?
This is always something to consider together over time and even more so at a time like this when all planning is uncertain and of course has an impact on a community.
Prove all things.
For me, this sentence is to be treasured. Here I breathe a sigh of relief, freedom flows through me. Here I want to shout out loud: Yes.
“Christ set us free to be free” Gal 5: 1
I don't want to go back after this sentence, because this sentence trusts me to be competent to make decisions for myself. And hold me responsible.
I should keep, preserve, cultivate and practice “the good”.
But what is this? The Bible is not a recipe book. Luther's hint is: whether they practice Christianity or not. According to that one should search and examine the books of the Bible.
So what is in harmony with Jesus Christ and can be identified. So: how Jesus himself dealt with people. How he looked at them. His hope, his trust in a loving, life-promoting God. This childlike, almost foolish courage in spite of everything. Also his fear and distress when the time came and he had to die.
To see the world not as rosy or as black.
Be merciful.
And avoid evil. No vengeance, no retribution, no destruction. Avoid evil and make new beginnings yourself and hope for their creative power.
Dear Congregation, that is difficult and yet so important: what would the world look like if everyone could only stick to it.
Paul knew this too, which is why he prays for the congregation in Thessaloniki. His prayer is still relevant for us today. Not only the Thessalonians, we also pray for one another and ask God for guidance and strength. Not because we should be perfect, but because we should turn towards people. In and out of the congregation.
And he gives them this wonderful blessing at the end: “But he, the God of peace, sanctify yourselves through and through and keep your spirit, soul and body unharmed, blameless for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is He that calls you, who also will do it.
A blessing from the bottom of my heart, it embraces the whole person in all his life-relationships of body, mind and soul.
Paul wishes his congregation to have inner and outer peace.
And us too.
Amen