Preaching Eschatology

As I was reading through 1 and 2 Thessalonians this week, I was reminded again how eschatological the two letters are. Perhaps the first of Paul's extant letters we have, both are written against the backdrop of the 2^nd coming of Christ. Every chapter of 1 Thessalonians has references to it. 2 Thessalonians is famous for the teaching concerning the Man of Lawlessness in chapter 2.

The point I wanted to make here is how Paul uses eschatology pastorally. The section concerning the 'rapture' of the church in 1 Thess 4 was written to encourage believers in the wake of dead loved ones and friends whom they thought would miss the 2^nd coming. Just the opposite was true as Paul writes that the dead in Christ will rise first [1 Thess 4:16]. As Paul wraps up his discussion of the Man of Lawlessness and the judgment of God that will come upon those who follow him, Paul wrote, "But we should always give thanks for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation…" [2 Thess 2:13]. Then he reminds the church of the glory they will have in Christ.

And don't forget the final words of 1 Thess 4, "Therefore comfort one another with these words."

Instead of being comforted, most of the time believers leave a sermon on eschatology scared to death. That is the fault of the preacher who himself probably does not understand the primary role of eschatology in the NT. The realty of the Second Coming and the judgment that is part of it should scare the unbeliever, and Paul does not skirt that truth. Hell is real and lasts a long long time. However, eschatology should not frighten the believer, and preachers should not use the doctrine that way. Instead, eschatology should give believers hope and yes, as Paul wrote, it should comfort the heart of the Christian. Why? Among other things, eschatology reminds us that all is not lost. The present suffering, injustice, and evil will give way to healing, justice, and righteousness. When Jesus comes all wrongs will be made right individually, corporately, and cosmically. What is more comforting and praiseworthy than that?

The goals of the preacher in teaching eschatology should be the same as that of Paul: (1) For believers to hold onto the traditions they have been taught [2 Thess 2:15], and (2) for believers to encourage each other and build up one another [1 Thess 5:11]. Read 1 and 2 Thessalonians and see how Paul uses the teaching of 'last days' then decide to do the same. The church will be blessed and strengthened.

 

Completely Blessed

I was reading Ephesians 1:3-14 again the other day. The passage is packed with theology, most of it pretty heavy. In Greek it is one long sentence, and what a sentence.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ in Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.

In Him, we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace, which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to the good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, that in the dispensation of the fullness of times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth—in Him. In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will; that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory.

In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation,; in whom also having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.

I always wanted people to notice the Trinitarian emphasis that Paul makes. You are chosen by the Father. Whatever you think of election it is at the very least God's sovereign initiative in bring you to faith in Christ. You are redeemed by the Son. Redemption is a precious word in the Bible. You have been bought with a price—the blood of Jesus. You are sealed by the Holy Spirit. The Spirit is the proof that God owns you as a believer and is His down payment of a complete inheritance to come. God in His fullness totally involved in your salvation from beginning to end. The Father chose, the Son paid the price, the Spirit proves.

All of these blessings have the same purpose: "to the praise of His glory!"

 

 

 

THE WELCOME

I have had the opportunity to visit several churches in the past year, not all Baptist (that's been interesting). Most of the churches have one thing in common during their time of worship: the welcome. It's something I did too for many years in the churches I led. You know what the welcome is all about. After a song or two you're asked to turn around and greet as many people as possible in a minute or two or three. The purpose of the opening, at least from a pastor's perspective, is to give visitors the impression the church is friendly. There are two problems with the welcome that I saw as a pastor and now I see even more clearly as a visitor. First, members primarily greet one another and spend little time (if any) greeting visitors. Oh there might be a quick, "Glad to see you," but what I see mostly is people greet each other all around me and not greet me at all. That obviously gives the opposite impression of friendly. Second, visitors HATE the greeting. It makes most people even more uncomfortable than they are already. Visitors want to be as anonymous as possible. It may have taken all the courage they could muster just to show up. They need to be left alone during the service. Greet them before. Greet them after. Leave them alone during. Let God speak to them then.

There are many ways to let people know a church is people-oriented and friendly. The worship service is not one of them. That time should be devoted to a God-focus. That's likely why a visitor showed up to church in the first place. There is some spiritual need that God needs to tend to. He can and will do so if His people will stay out of the way. I would urge churches to rethink the welcome and eliminate it from the service. Work instead on how visitors are made welcome before the service and appreciated afterward.