Sometimes, when we approach the conclusion of a New Testament letter, we find a series of exhortations and imagine that the writer was simply concluding with a list of random expectations for the Christian life. We tend to apply these sections quite individualistically. When we do so, we forget that the writers were writing to churches, not individuals. The verses before us this morning (1 Thessalonians 5:12–22) are a case in point.
Our tendency to apply texts like this one individualistically betrays our individualistic understanding of the church. We tend to think of the church as a place I go to and of worship as something that I do. We forget that God’s church is a body and a community and that every New Testament exhortation is, first and foremost, a corporate expectation.
In 1 Thessalonians 5:12–22, Paul offers a series of closing exhortations. In doing so, he gives us a picture of what healthy church life looks like. In these verses, Paul offers us exhortations regarding church leadership (vv. 12–13a), church fellowship (vv. 13b–15), and church worship (vv. 16–22). We must remember that these exhortations were given to the church, which means that every church member has a responsibility to fulfil these expectations.
First, Paul exhorted the church concerning church leadership (vv. 12–13a). Essentially, he exhorted his readers to recognise and respect the leaders that God had given to the church. Church leaders are “those who labour among you.” That is, leadership in the church is identified primarily by activity rather than appointment.Certainly, leaders are formally appointed, but the church should only appoint those who are already doing the work of leading. And when a leader has been identified and appointed by the church, he should be respected.
Second, Paul exhorted the church concerning church fellowship (vv. 13b–15). The primary exhortation was to “be at peace among yourselves.” The New Testament places an absolute premium on peace and unity within the church. While recognising that this is not always easy (see v. 14!), it is essential. It can be difficult to walk alongside “the idle,” “the fainthearted,” and “the weak,” but the gospel-centred church makes every effort to do so. This requires admonishment, encouragement, and help, but it is worth it. While the sinful flesh wants us to respond harshly to those who wrong us, a truly Christian church will be characterised as a place in which members strive to overcome evil with good.
Third, Paul exhorted the church concerning church worship (vv. 16–22). Prayer and thanksgiving are essential aspects of Christ-honouring Christian living. Church members must be committed to prayer and thanksgiving if the church will grow in Christlikeness. The church must also guard against “quench[ing] the Spirit.”
It may be helpful to pause and consider what it means to “quench the Spirit.” According to these verses, this might happen in one of three ways. First, the Spirit is quenched as we “despise prophecies.” That is, we quench the Spirit when we reject the truth that is taught from Scripture. Second, the Spirit is quenched when we fail to “test everything.” That is, if we undiscerningly accept everything that is taught without testing whether it aligns with God’s truth, the Spirit may well be quenched, because we might attribute falsehood to the Spirit. Third, the Spirit is quenched when we neglect to “abstain from every form of evil.” The Spirit of God urges us to holiness and when we continue to embrace evil we negate the sanctifying work that the Spirit does in his church.
Clearly, Paul had a corporate concern for the church in Thessalonica. Church was not about any one individual. Church was not an event in which, on the first day of every week, the individual arrived to receive some encouragement for his or her individual life that week. A healthy church would respond rightly to its leadership, treat rightly its membership, and practice reverently its worship. Every church member was responsible for these things. The same remains true of gospel-centred churches today.
As you meditate on 1 Thessalonians 5:12–22 this morning, examine your church life. Do you respond rightly to church leadership, treat rightly church members, and practice reverently church worship? Do you help others to do the same?
