Psalm 96:10-13, Matthew 22:15-22, and 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10
The Apostle Paul wrote a letter to the church in Thessalonica. Thessalonika is now in the Thessaloniki region of northern Greece. Although North Macedonia and Greece are currently separated, 2,000 years ago Thessaloniki was the capital of Macedonia and a large city with over 200,000 inhabitants. Thessaloniki was an important transit point for travel from the Roman Empire to eastern Turkey and Asia. As a result, it became a center of trade and an administrative capital. Paul established a church here after Philippi. Many people accepted the gospel through Paul’s preaching. However, the majority of the existing Jews persecuted him, and he could not stay here for long and left. The Jews were so aggressive at the time that Paul and his companions had to flee to Athens, 500 km away. Ultimately, Paul saw the beginning of the church community, but he did not see it grow or become stable. I can imagine how worried he must have been. He must have been anxious. He was very curious about the church in Thessalonica. However, despite the hardships, there was also good news about the Thessalonian church. So, Paul sent Timothy to Thessalonica to encourage the church members and promote their spiritual growth. He then moved to the Corinthian region and preached the gospel. Later, Timothy came to Paul and brought news about the Thessalonian church. Paul was deeply moved upon hearing the news from Timothy. So he wrote this letter to encourage the members of the Thessalonian church. If you look at the content, it praises various excellent aspects. Unlike Paul’s concerns, they worked by faith, laboured in love, and endured in hope. Faith and love were abundant, and they spent a difficult day in hope while waiting for Jesus to come again. Their steadfast faith grew amid the tribulation.
Beloved, as I read the letters, many passages challenge me and bring me joy. The members of the Thessalonian church received the gospel powerfully through the Holy Spirit, with deep conviction. Meditating on the situation of many churches in North America today challenges me. Rural areas no longer require a large workforce. Many places in the Prairie now cultivate and harvest several times more crops than previous generations did, using a small workforce with combine harvesters, tractors, and trucks. As a result, it is no longer easy for many churches in rural areas to operate. With major shifts in labour, population migration, and culture, the acceptance of the Gospel has changed. The younger generation acknowledges God’s existence, but the intensity of their faith in the Creator has weakened. A generation has emerged that asks AI search engines like ChatGPT or Gemini rather than God, and trusts them even more. Although the environment is not easy, I am grateful that our church continues to try new things. If various requests arise in the Sunday School and Youth Group, the elders and teachers respond accordingly. The board manager, who oversees the church building, wisely plans and completes financial matters. The Cardmaking Group and the Pastoral Care Team visit church members and continue to show love and care. The Mission Committee supports local and global needs through cooperation within the church. The Worship and Music Support Team organizes bell choirs and musicians, including our pianist, to deliver abundant grace. Most church members actively participate in various church events and provide support, including the coffee fellowship. So, I am grateful, and I am grateful again.
These are the words of verses 7 and 8: “So you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia. 8 The Lord’s message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia—your faith in God has become known everywhere.”
The phrase that you become models for others and that the news spreads everywhere gives me great motivation. I want to be that kind of person to someone, and I want our church to receive such evaluation and praise. Furthermore, I hope that the Knox congregation will continue to grow with stronger faith and hope, just like the Thessalonian congregation.
I know that it is not easy. Being a model of faith in the church, at home, and at work is not simple. When I was ministering in Korea, pastors often said things like this to each other. “Pastor’s kids are usually either angels or troublemakers; there’s no in-between.” Although no one in our church is like that, I can understand if you make the same mistake with me five or ten times. However, there are many times when I cannot easily tolerate my child making the same mistake even if they do it only three times. Perhaps I may be a generous pastor, but I still lack as a generous father. So, I have a long way to go to become a model father. Conversely, someone might be excellent at church but receive a harsh evaluation at work. This could be because of the nature of the work or the environment. The Pharisees’ tax question in the Gospel of Matthew, which puts Jesus in a difficult position, poses an even greater stumbling block for modern Christians. Of course, in Canada, the federal and provincial governments take a very transparent and large portion of the tax collection. However, in countries where this is not the case, it causes conflict for believers. How much tax is honest to pay? Also, how much is an appropriate offering to give at church? Should you pay tithes based on pre-tax earnings or offerings based on after-tax income? There is no right answer. I invite you to pray and decide what you can live joyfully on, based on your faith and living conditions. However, as a pastor, I always want you to receive the Good News with joy in the Lord. I also hope that you will be praised when Jesus Christ comes again. Amen.