Worried About the Church?

 Somebody reported a church bulletin blooper with this announcement: “Our church will have a seminar entitled, “WINNING OVER WORRY. Don’t let worry kill you. Let the church help.” Do you ever worry about the church? My aim here is not to discuss the stuff we worry about — our health, houses, kids, the economy, politics, severe weather, war, terrorism, school shootings, money, the rapid rate of moral decline, etc., etc., etc. Rather, my worry here is about whether or not we worry about the church, and if we should. Concern is another word for worry, and concern is defined as having a worried feeling or state of anxiety about some thing or someone that is important to you. See the point? The apostle Paul suffered what he called a “deep concern for all the churches” (that is, congregations — 2 Corinthians 11:28).

 

So it is, if you find yourself at least to some degree concerned and worried about the spiritual health and faithfulness of the church in general and your local congregation in particular, you are in good company. Consider another passage from 1 Thessalonians 3:1-5 — “1 Therefore, when we could no longer endure it, we thought it good to be left in Athens alone, 2 and sent Timothy, our brother and minister of God, and our fellow laborer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you and encourage you concerning your faith, 3 that no one should be shaken by these afflictions; for you yourselves know that we are appointed to this. 4 For, in fact, we told you before when we were with you that we would suffer tribulation, just as it happened, and you know. 5 For this reason, when I could no longer endure it, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter had tempted you, and our labor might be in vain.” The apostle Paul wrote those words perhaps a few months after events we read about in Acts 17:1-10. By preaching Christ he established Christ’s church in Thessalonica where there a “great number” obeyed the Gospel. But the devil wasn’t happy about that and so he set out to do to that congregation what he seeks to do to every faithful Christian and congregation today. In Paul’s words Satan sought to “tempt” them away from Christ and so rendered Paul’s spiritual labor and work there “in vain.” Note the sobering prediction in vs 3 and 4 the apostle had issued when he preached there earlier — their spiritual gain by accepting the Gospel would bring physical pain in the form of suffering, afflictions and tribulation. And they had suffered (1:6; 2:1, 14). So it is, twice in chapter 3 (verses 1, 5), Paul confesses, “I could no longer endure it,” or as the New International Version puts it, “I could stand it no longer.” So he sent his co-missionary Timothy back to see how they fared. Turns out they were standing strong, bringing him great comfort and encouragement. I think the case can be made every New Testament writer was concerned (or “worried” if you wish) about the church. The letters Jesus sent to the seven churches of Asia in Revelation chapters 2 and 3 leave no doubt about His love and concern about the strength and faithfulness of His church. If you never “worry” about the church, maybe it’s high time you got started.

 

Dan Gulley