Chosen

 

“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 give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly mentioning you in our prayers, 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 loved by God, that he has chosen you, because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction. You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake. And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you received the word in much affliction, with the joy of the Holy Spirit, so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia.”

1 Thessalonians 1:1-7 ESV

 

I’ve often heard that adoptees struggle with feelings of being less than. They feel that, because they aren’t the natural child of their parents, they are less important or less loved. They feel that, because they aren’t natural siblings of their brothers and sisters, they are less accepted.

 

I love the response of their adoptive parents to these feelings. They tell their adopted children that, although they aren’t natural children, they were chosen. I love this because the word “chosen” elevates them. It tells them that their parents, indeed, love them. It tells them that their parents desire them. And it tells them that their parents love and accept them not because they have to, but because they want to.

 

The same is true, I believe, when it comes to marriage. I don’t believe in the whole soul-mates philosophy that permeates society. And some believe that eliminating this belief lessens a person’s value in the relationship.

 

I, however, beg to differ. I believe that being chosen is what elevates our value in the relationship. It tells us that we are loved not because it was ordained. It tells us that we are loved by choice. It tells us that our spouse, it tells us that our romantic partner, desires us above everyone else.

 

However, that being said, many of us struggle with the word “chosen” when it comes to our relationship with God. We struggle with it because it seems to imply that others were not chosen. It seems to imply that, while God loves some and has chosen them to be his own, he has rejected others. It seems to imply that he has destined them to eternal judgment.

 

And this idea contradicts the plain teaching of Scripture. It does so because, according to God’s Word, God wants all to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. God does not want any to perish, but all to reach repentance. And Jesus served as the propitiation, or as the atoning sacrifice, for the sin of all people (not only for some).

 

Yet, as we look at the above passage, Paul says that the believers in Thessalonica were chosen by God. This was plain to him because they not only heard the Word as it was brought to them. It came to them in power and the Holy Spirit with full conviction. They also became imitators of both Paul and of the Lord, as they suffered affliction because of their faith. And, in this way, they’d become an example to other believers. In other words, as the Word was preached to them, they had received it. And, as they received it, it had transformed their lives.

 

This gives us a clue regarding what Paul means when he says they were chosen. Although God knows fully who will trust in him and who will not, and although he knows fully who will be saved and who will not, he does not decide this for them. He doesn’t prevent some from coming to faith while he allows it for others. Nor does he prevent some from being saved while he causes it for others.

 

God has ordained that those who believe in him will be saved. He has predestined those who believe to be conformed to the image of Christ. In other words, he has chosen people of faith to be his own. He has chosen those who believe in Jesus to be his own.

The Cooperation of Congregations

 

“And when this letter has been read among you, have it also read in the church of the Laodiceans; and see that you also read the letter from Laodicea. And say to Archippus, “See that you fulfill the ministry that you have received in the Lord.” I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. Remember my chains. Grace be with you.”

Colossians 4:16-18 ESV

 

We’re often taught, in the church, about the spiritual gifts. We learn how the Spirit of God has given to each believer his grace, or his gifts, that are to be used in his service and for the blessing of the body of Christ. And we’re encouraged, in this way, that no matter how significant or insignificant our gifts may seem, we all have an essential role to play in the body of Christ.

 

It's only infrequently taught, however, that this same principle applies to congregations. We are all, after all, part of the Church. We are all part of the body of Christ. And, in this way, one congregation can be a blessing to another.

 

As I read the above passage, three of the Fundamental Principles of the AFLC (the Association of Free Lutheran Congregations) come to mind:

 

The seventh principle says: “A free congregation gladly accepts the mutual assistance which congregations can give one another in the work for the advancement of the Kingdom of God.”

 

The eighth principle reads: “Such assistance consists partly in the mutual sharing of spiritual gifts among the congregations through conferences, exchange visits, lay activities, etc., whereby congregations are mutually edified, and partly in the voluntary and Spirit-prompted cooperation of congregations for the accomplishing of such tasks as exceed the ability of the individual congregation.”

 

And, finally, the ninth principle tells us: “Among such tasks may be mentioned specifically the training of pastors, distribution of Bibles and other Christian literature, home missions, foreign missions, Jewish missions, deaconess homes, children’s homes and other work of mercy.”

 

We see this at work in the words of Paul above, as he calls the Colossian church to share Paul’s letter with the Laodiceans. We see it as he encourages them to read his words that he sent to the Laodiceans. And we see it again as he instructs the believers in Colossae to encourage a certain individual, named Archippus, to fulfill the ministry that he’d received in the Lord.

 

In this way, each congregation was able to serve as a blessing to the other. In this way, an individual believer was encouraged to be a blessing to others. And in this way, not only was one individual congregation edified. The Church as a whole was built up and strengthened.

 

It’s essential, as individual believers, to consider the role we can play in building up our own congregation. However, it’s equally essential for us to consider how our congregation can be a blessing to another. It’s equally essential to consider not only how we (as an individual or a congregation) might be built up, but also how the Church might be strengthened.

Genuine Concern

 

“Aristarchus my fellow prisoner greets you, and Mark the cousin of Barnabas (concerning whom you have received instructions—if he comes to you, welcome him), and Jesus who is called Justus. These are the only men of the circumcision among my fellow workers for the kingdom of God, and they have been a comfort to me. Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, greets you, always struggling on your behalf in his prayers, that you may stand mature and fully assured in all the will of God. For I bear him witness that he has worked hard for you and for those in Laodicea and in Hierapolis. Luke the beloved physician greets you, as does Demas. Give my greetings to the brothers at Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church in her house.”

Colossians 4:10-15 ESV

 

I grew up in an area with a good-sized population. And, in such an area, we didn’t acknowledge everyone. We did so only with those we knew.

 

When I went to college, I became good friends with a guy from rural South Dakota. And I, along with my other friends, would tease him relentlessly. We did so because he would greet and wave to everyone that he passed.

 

The past ten years, I’ve lived in smaller communities, and I now do the same thing. As I drive down the road, I wave at everyone I see. And when I walk down the street, I greet each person who passes.

 

In smaller communities, you tend to know most of those who surround you. And, in the same way, you tend to have greater concern for those who surround you. This, then, leads you to acknowledge them.

 

This is what came to mind as I read the above passage. In these verses, that we largely tend to ignore, we see greetings being sent. We see them being sent between those who served alongside Paul and the church at Colossae.

 

And this was no mere acknowledgement. It was an expression of concern for the people of this congregation. It was an expression of love for these brothers and sisters in Christ.

 

We see this especially when it comes to Epaphras. He was one of them. In other words, he originated in the church at Colossae and had gone to serve alongside Paul. And he always struggled on their behalf in his prayers. He labored earnestly for them, as he prayed for them. He wrestled in prayer for them.

 

This indicates something more than a fleeting thought or a passing prayer. It indicates a strong interest in their well-being. It indicates a great longing for their blessing.

 

As a pastor, I try to interact with my church members as much as I can. And, while some of these interactions are planned, others are not. I may simply bump into them at the hardware store or at the school.

 

I also pray regularly for the members of my congregation. I do so corporately, in worship services, times devoted to prayer, and as we gather for Bible study. However, I also do so personally.

 

The sense I get is that this isn’t very common among believers. It’s not common for congregation members. We don’t regularly show concern for our fellow church members by interacting with them. We don’t take the time out of our day to visit, even briefly, with those we encounter. And it’s also relatively uncommon for us to pray for our fellow church members.

 

It’s even more rare that we do so with members of other congregations. It’s even more rare to do so with our fellow believers who live in another community. More often than not, we fail to even think of them.

 

May God give to each one of us such a love for the brethren that we will not only acknowledge them. May he give us such a love for them that we pray for them. And, more than that, may he give us such a love for them that we struggle, that we wrestle, for them.

Encouraging News

“Tychicus will tell you all about my activities. He is a beloved brother and faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord. I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are and that he may encourage your hearts, and with him Onesimus, our faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They will tell you of everything that has taken place here.”

Colossians 4:7-9

 

Encouragement comes in many forms. And this is true not only when it comes to our personal life. It’s true not only when it comes to our emotional well-being. This is true also when it comes to our faith.

 

Speaking for myself, I’m often encouraged in my faith as I read Scripture. I’m encouraged as I take part in a Bible study. I’m encouraged as I read devotionals written by others, or as I listen to someone preaching or teaching the Word of God.  And I’m encouraged through fellowship with other believers.

 

However, I’m also encouraged in my faith as I hear how the Lord is working in other congregations. I love reading up on the new church plants in our Association, and hearing about new ministries that are being undertaken by congregations. I also love receiving updates from the mission field. I love hearing about people being brought to faith in Christ, baptisms that have taken place, and new congregations that have been established in the remotest of locations.  And I love hearing about the work of God in the life of another believer. I love to hear the ways in which the Word of God is impacting them, and seeing the ways in which God is using them.

 

This is why I love hosting missionaries when they’re in the area. This is why I subscribe to various prayer lists in our body of churches as well as in our community. This is why I love gathering to pray with other pastors in our community each week. And this is why I love reading the Ambassador, the monthly magazine of the AFLC.

 

It was for this reason that Paul had sent Tychicus and Onesimus to the church at Colossae. He wanted them to be updated regarding his well-being. And he wanted them to be encouraged as they heard about the work God was doing through the ministry entrusted to him.

 

As I consider this, it seems like a great deal of effort was taken to merely encourage another congregation. It seems that a great deal of effort was taken to inform another congregation. And this gives us some insight as to how important this is.

 

For this reason, I encourage everyone to keep from ignoring this information as it’s released. Follow our missionaries on Facebook. Sign up for prayer updates. Attend mission presentations. Subscribe to the Ambassador. And do so with the knowledge that, as you learn of the Lord’s work, you will be encouraged in your faith and in the ministry God has entrusted to you.

And, in the same way, don't hesitate to share with others what God is doing in your life and in that of your congregation. It may be exactly what they need to hear. It may encourage them in their life of faith as well as in their ministry.