Round 2

We serve a God who always keeps his promises, and the last thing Jesus promised is that he would return to bring us home. This is a huge theme in 1st and 2nd Thessalonians as Paul is attempting to encourage the Christian church, who at the time is being heavily persecuted by the Romans and pharisees.

New Christians were starting to question what they were dying for, and were unsure that if someone were to die before the second coming of Christ, whether or not that person would go to heaven. If that were the case, the mindset would be to live as long as possible. But what of those bold enough to die for proclaiming the name of Jesus? Would they be left behind? What's the point of being a Christian if you're just going to die for nothing?

So Paul wrote in 1 Thessalonians 1:4 13 But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.

15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.

So truly, there is no need to worry. Whether you live or die for Jesus, he will never forget you or exclude you from an eternity with him. No matter if you are a new Christian, or you have been a Christian the majority of your life, God is still faithful.

And as the end draws nearer and nearer, if by a glorious display of his awesome power, or a kind, gentle whisper, all the feelings of sorrow, pain, anger, loneliness, hatred, and shame will cease. All questions will be answered, our scars will be wiped away, and we will be washed white as snow. Everything blow received in this fight we call life will be made worth it. 

Q-"Why did Paul confront Peter in Galatians? What do you think Christians and/or churches can learn from this event"?

Galatians 2:11-13  "11 But when Peter came to Antioch, I had to oppose him to his face, for what he did was very wrong.12 When he first arrived, he ate with the Gentile Christians, who were not circumcised. But afterward, when some friends of James came, Peter wouldn't eat with the Gentiles anymore. He was afraid of criticism from these people who insisted on the necessity of circumcision. 13 As a result, other Jewish Christians followed Peter’s hypocrisy, and even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy".

The Bible speaks time and time again against hypocrisy (Psalm 26:4, Isaiah 9:17, Matthew 7:5). Why? Because hypocrisy is a matter of character, and we are all charged to be men and women of character. "Character strengthens our confident hope of salvation" Romans 5:4. 

Not only does it show bad character, but it shows cowardice. Now I'm not in any way saying that I am above things like hypocrisy, I am only a human, telling it how it is. It is a cowardly thing not to eat with and minister to the people you are charged with reaching for the sake of what your friends will think of you. Not was Peter being false with his friends, he was neglecting the Gentiles.

As Christians, we are called to treat all people with love, and respect. We cannot do this if we are ashamed to be seen with anyone deemed unworthy.

I almost can't help but recall the movie 'mean girls' in which Lindsey Lohans character leaves her "less than popular" friends to be with the cool girls and ends up ruining everything good she had in the pursuit of acceptance.

When we stop seeking the approval of the world, and start accepting the our identities in God, that's when we can truly fulfill our purposes in God.