Focus on 1 Thessalonians 2:1-4. How had the Thessalonians become ‘imitators of God’s churches in Christ Jesus that are in Judea’?
“through their suffering at the hands of their own countrymen”
Share about a time when you experienced some form of persecution because of your belief in Jesus.
“I haven’t experienced much persecution. (I tend to stay surrounded by believers). The one instance which comes to mind was when my parents thought I was devoting excessive amounts of my time and energy to church activities and Bible study homework. Dad expressed his concern and displeasure that I had become a ‘religious zealot.’ Name-calling always hurts a bit, even when the title is nothing to be ashamed of. I should hope to be zealous enough for my Lord to actually be a zealot.”
What he wrote was factual, but what deranged people have rationalized with similar texts through the centuries is a long shot from what Paul would’ve approved.
Have you ever personally witnessed an incident of antisemitism? If so, what was it?
“Not really that I can recall. However, having spent a couple of hours in the Holocaust museum in Jerusalem, I feel like I have made a personal connection with what was probably the most horrible one ever. I scarcely remember when else I have cried as much as I did there.”
Have you ever heard scripture used in a way that would denigrate Jewish people? If so, how do you respond?
“Again, in writings above and similar, but personally, I don’t think so.
“If I did, I would hope that I would point out that they were God‘s chosen people, that Jesus was Jewish, and so were all the apostles. We wouldn’t have Christianity without them.”
Compare Matthew 23:29-39 and 1 Thessalonians 2:14-16. Make a list of every similar theme threaded between Christ’s words and Paul’s.
Matthew 23:29-39 themes
“Jesus to Pharisees: ‘“Therefore I am sending you prophets and wise men and teachers. Some of them you will kill and crucify; others you will flog in your synagogues and pursue from town to town”’ (34)
“‘“And so upon you will come all the righteous blood that has been shed on earth… I tell you the truth, all this will come upon this generation… Look, your house is left to you desolate”’ (35-38)”
1 Thessalonians 2:14-16 themes
“‘…in Judea… those churches suffered from the Jews, who killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets and also drove us out’ (14-15)
“‘They displease God and are hostile to all men… In this way, they always heap up their sins to the limit. The wrath of God has come upon them at last.’ (15-16)”
“Basically, both are: kill and drive out prophet and Messiah.
“God is displeased and will/has punished.”
After making your list, glance back at Matthew 23:37. Why had Jesus not gathered Jerusalem’s ‘children together, as a hen gathered her chicks under her wings’?
“They ‘were not willing.’”
What fate had now been fallen them according to Matthew 23:38?
“Their house was left to them desolate.”
Israel, as a nation, refused Christ and the ramifications would be perilous. But individuals within that nation offered up their lives in his name and change the entire course of human history.
Read the following segment and document Saul’s actions:
Acts 7:53-8:3 “Saul watched the outer clothes of the religious leaders as they stoned Stephen, he approved of the stoning, and then he began a systematic hunting and capturing of believers.”
Acts 9:1-2 “He breathed out murderous threats against the Lord‘s disciples. He went to the high priest for letters of extradition to take to Damascus against believers.”
Does that resonate with you? If so, explain how.
“Sorry, not especially. I don’t have a checkered past and I’m not all that good at recognizing sins and flawed character traits in people. I tend to be oblivious and naïve.”
Dearest Rachel -
After a lesson like last week’s (or for you, the day before), where you didn’t have much to say or add to the questions, this one is chock-full of personal observations, even as you acknowledge to not having to deal the worst of suffering, be it enduring or inflicting it, for one’s faith and heritage.
But let’s get real here; to be denigrated by one’s own parents – the very ones who brought you to church on a weekly basis, to ensure that you were properly grounded in what was, supposedly ‘their’ faith – for somehow being too Christian for your own good cannot have done anything but stung. Not only must it have felt like a rejection at some level – even if it was only the sturdiness of your belief structure, rather than you yourself, their one and only precious daughter – but it made you spend the last decade of their lives concerned about their own salvation. They had led you to believe, and now they seemed to think that their efforts had ‘gone horribly right.’
Since my parents were stronger in the faith than I am, I can’t even relate to this, but I can imagine this must have hurt to have to deal with. At least you know whether their limited faith was enough to get them to precede you there – although if not, I don’t know how that’s dealt with, in a place where there are no tears.
As for inflicting suffering, this seems more timely than ever now. The America you grew up in prided itself on being welcoming to all those of every faith; the Christians you knew personally had no issues with those of the Jewish persuasion. You instilled that into Daniel, whose closest friend is a member of the tribe of Jacob. The closest encounter you faced to direct antisemitism were the exhibits at Yad Vashem, and for you, once was enough; on our second trip there with the folks, you stayed behind to watch over a grade-school age member of the tour while his parents went through the place, so as to avoid confronting those haunting images again.
Ironically, on our last time visiting Israel, the Holocaust museum wasn’t part of the itinerary. Not only was it deemed superfluous – especially since more actual Biblical sites had been uncovered since Daniel and I had been there two years previous – but there was enough in current events to remind us of the battle for survival the nation was fighting. Yellow flags, not unlike the ribbons our trees wore in the late seventies, dotted the roads, a reminder of hostages still in captivity that needed to be brought back home.
And even now, two years later, battles are being fought for Israel’s survival. Militarily, they have something of the upper hand at present, but in the court of public opinion, they are outnumbered and losing badly. The “civilized” world denounces them, not as ‘Christ-killers’ (since who cares about Him anymore?) but as genociders and supporters of genocide, even as the ethnic group they are supposedly wiping out continue to grow in number. It would seem that the dragon of Revelation 13 continues his pursuit, and he has convinced nearly the entire world to agree and support him.
Will people some day have a “road to Damascus” moment? Nothing is impossible with God, I suppose, and I see so many changed lives at our church that would have shocked your parents, so it’s definitely happening on an individual level. But on a global scale? I don’t know; I believe Him could if He wanted to, but the longer it doesn’t happen, the more I doubt that He does. Why, I couldn’t say; you have more answers where you are than I do, and you can’t send them down to us.
