Have you ever heard someone say something like: “I’m cool with God, I’m just not into organized religion.”? When someone says that, what they usually mean is that they’ve been wounded or mistreated in a church setting. The truth is, many churches today look very little like what Jesus had in mind when He designed His Church. Paul helps us unmuddy the waters and understand what a church family should really be like in this part of his letter to this new church plant in Thessalonica. He models a deep love for the people of God that we should emulate in our community of faith. He reminds us that we should always be alert to the tactics of our enemy who seeks to divide and destroy. Finally, Paul reminds us that living out the gospel in affliction is part of Christian journey that should drive us closer to Jesus rather than cause us to pull away. The Christian life isn’t always easy, but it’s the best, most rewarding life possible on this planet!
