Coping with Social Distancing

1 Thessalonians 2:17-3:13

Let not your faith be shaken in sufferings

In most parts of the world, “social distancing” is practised in various degrees during the Covid-19 Pandemic to minimize the risk of spreading the virus. An extended period of keeping a distance with our loved ones is an unbearable suffering for many people.

Acts 17 tells us that Paul and Silas brought many to the Lord in Thessalonica, and they encountered a strong resistance from the Jews. The Jews gathered a mob of protesters and the whole city was in riot.

The mob rushed into Jason’s house in search of Paul and Silas but it turned out to be in vain. Then, they dragged Jason and some other brothers before the city officials and accused them for defying Caesar’s decrees.

Paul and Silas left the city of Thessalonica at night under the escort of some other brothers. Paul, Silas, and Timothy missed the church of Thessalonians very much after their departure; hence, they wrote them a letter. The undertone of the letter was an intense longing to meet each other as if they were forced to be separated from their loved ones in their suffering.

1 Thessalonians 2:17-3:3,

“But, brothers and sisters, when we were orphaned by being separated from you for a short time (in person, not in thought), out of our intense longing we made every effort to see you.… So when we could stand it no longer, we thought it best … We sent Timothy… so that no one would be unsettled by these trials.”

The trouble that Paul and his team faced was not a plague. Instead Paul was considered a “plague” to the Jews in various cities, who persecuted him all the way. They said Paul was “a troublemaker.” (Acts 24:5) Paul and the church of Thessalonians suffered from separation because they encountered persecution for their faith.

We Are Able to Persevere “Distancing” Hardship with Mutual Support

Paul and his team were forced to be separated from the Thessalonian church. To them, they suffered the pain of being “orphaned”. (1 Thess 2:17) They missed the Thessalonian church and they worried that the faith of the believers would be shaken by persecution. After all, Thessalonian church was a few months old church.

At last, Paul could not stand it anymore and hence, he sent Timothy to visit the church, so that the believers there would be encouraged and strengthened.

Some people follow God with an intention of breaking away from the sufferings of this world. However, God never promises that we will be exempted from our sufferings. However, God will give us power and strength so that we can grow amidst our sufferings.

We should learn to submit to Christ when we go through trials and troubles. The plan God has for the believers is for them to go through trials and persecutions, through which their spirituality will be built up, and their patience be enhanced, enabling them to be more helpful to those who undergo the same difficulties.

Followers of God will face troubles along the way inevitably, e.g., the pandemic that takes place now.

Our sufferings may not necessarily come as a consequence of our sin or lack of faith, instead, they may come as a result of our faithfulness to God. Hardship suffered by believers could serve as a mark of effective Christian living just as Paul and Silas experienced!

Timothy brought some good news back from Thessalonica. In fact, the local church was missing and longing to meet up with Paul and his co-workers as much as how Paul and his co-workers were desiring to meet them. Their love and concern brought forth comfort and support both to Paul and Thessalonian church in their adversities.

Timothy also mentioned about the steadfastness of those brothers and sisters in Thessalonica. Their faith stayed intact and was not shaken! Thus, Paul was greatly comforted, and he rejoiced on hearing this.

1 Thessalonians 3:7-9,

“Therefore, brothers and sisters, in all our distress and persecution we were encouraged about you because of your faith. For now, we really live, since you are standing firm in the Lord. How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy we have in the presence of our God because of you?”

The brothers and sisters in Thessalonian church knew that Paul had gone through all these sufferings, and they had personally witnessed the riot that took place in Thessalonica. Therefore, they fully understood the sufferings that one would have gone through for believing in Jesus, and they indeed kept their faith in their sufferings!

This made Paul and his co-workers come to realize the fact that they were not facing their hardships all by themselves. Though they were orphaned by their separation from the church, the hearts of the people in the church were joined with them, and they faced their hardships together.

As long as Paul and all the brothers and sisters stand firmly upon their faith in an extreme difficult environment, they have indeed “really lived” by then. (1 Thessalonians 3:8)

Paul and the congregation of Thessalonian church supported one another as they missed each other and remained steadfast in faith. They strove to grow in faith and love as they looked forward to the impending return of the Lord.

The Covid-19 has caused many to be trapped in their predicaments this year. Churches and Christian organizations face the same hardship and challenge too. The Lord Jesus prewarned us that there will be an increase and intensity of various disasters in the world before His Second Coming. For examples, there will be wars, earthquakes, hungers, plagues, and persecution of faith. (Luke 21:7-19)

The admonishment of our Lord is for us to “stand up and lift up our heads,” (Luke 21:28), and he also reminded us to be “careful, or our hearts will be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on us suddenly like a trap.” (Luke 21:34)

Let us also encourage one another by missing one another, and caring for another; and stand firmly in faith, in the midst of “distancing” hardships and pandemic threats.

Mutual encouragement with the word of God so as to grow in hope and holiness

1 Thessalonians 3:11-13,

“Now may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus clear the way for us to come to you.  May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you. May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones.”

Paul was concerned about the brothers and sisters there and he longed to have reunion with them. He even longed to teach them the word of God so that they could grow in faith. Nevertheless, he was unable to travel to Thessalonians at that time, and he had to put down words of encouragement in his letter to them.

Paul reminded them to avoid sexual immorality and not in passionate lust, for the will of God is for them to be holy (1 Thessalonians 4:3-8). They were to be watchful in their lives, and they should encourage those who were discouraged and lend their support to the weak, etc. (1 Thessalonians 5:1-15), and be prepared for the Second Coming of the Lord.

It was Paul’s desire that the brothers and sisters were able to live in accordance to the will of God. “May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you.” (1 Thessalonians 3:12)

Another wish was that all men’s hearts be strengthened and preserved by the Lord until His return, that all would be “blameless and holy in the presence of their God and Father” when the Lord come again. (1 Thessalonians 3:13)

Those who were still alive would be included in the Kingdom where Christ reigned. Believers of all ages, inclusive of the believers of Thessalonica, would be with Him in the Kingdom of Christ.

We have hope in Christ. Because of this hope of overcoming and glorification, we can persevere throughout our hardships and move on determinedly. We will not shrink away as we serve the Lord.

Paul in his “orphaned” stage, was eager to be in reunion with the church of Thessalonica. He was hoping to be able to teach them personally once again. It shows how he valued his fellowship with the saints which was built on the word of God!

Conclusion

Though the pandemic has forced us to keep a distance from one another nowadays, we can still meet online with the facility provided by technology. Though we cannot meet in person, we should not stop fellow-shipping with one another in the Lord.

We are to encourage one another with the word of God in our continuous fellowship, and we can love God and people with one heart, follow Him faithfully and lead a victorious life.

May we support one another, admonish one another, and share good testimonies of our faith and love when we face all kinds of troubles and “distancing”. Though there are temporal or permanent separation, let our hearts remain connected, and we will rejoice with the Lord when He returns if we were to follow Him in unity now.