Is It Rough?

From January 15 until the end of March, I am preaching through the New Testament letter called First Thessalonians. The title of the series is "Living Right in a Rough World." As we have been working our way through First Thessalonians, again and again Paul, Silas, and Timothy were inspired by the Holy Spirit to note that it is not easy to be a follower of the Lord Jesus. This Sunday we will be looking at First Thessalonians 3:7, where the writers describe their situation with words like distress and affliction. Earlier in the letter, 1:6 to be exact, the writers refer to the people of Thessalonica as having received the good news in much affliction.

In looking at other parts of the New Testament, places like Paul's journeys in Acts 13 through his imprisonment in Acts 28, or Second Timothy 3:12, or First Peter 4:12-19, the sense of this world being rough is repeatedly expressed. In Philippians 1:29, Paul and Timothy go so far as to say that it has been granted us, or gifted to us, that we should suffer for the Lord Jesus.

For a large portion of United States history, churches, God's people, have enjoyed a privileged status in this country. Some of that is product of the relationship of churches in Europe to the state governments prior to the forming of the United States. Some of that can probably be traced back of the Edict of Milan made in 313 by Constantine and Licinius.

But today, things do appear to be be changing for the church and the people of God in the United States. After Sunday, unless the New York State Senate enacts a piece of legislation (Proposed Bill ), churches will not longer be allowed to rent public school buildings in New York. Many have spoken out against the move my the city leaders. Examples would include Timothy Keller (Kelller on Churches using Schools), and Martin Bashir (Martin Bashir Comments). Support for the measure comes from the well known New York Times (Editorial).

Another example of the increasing roughness faced by God's people would be the Decision of the federal Health and Human Services department to require religious organizations to provide health insurance that covers contraceptives and abortion inducing drugs for free. That means if a Christian organization believes that life begins at conception, it would have to provide coverage for its employees that would provide for those employees coverage of drugs that would end of those lives. I am not qualified to fully explain all of the implications of such a move by our federal government, but I do understand at least in some measure that this action is wrong, and served to make our country a much rougher place to follow the Lord Jesus (Here is an editorial from men smarter and more qualified to comment on the issues - An Open Letter to Evangelical Christians).

How should we respond to this roughness? There are measures we can take in our political system. The Manhattan Declaration's web site offers some guidance. But in addition, we need to heed Paul's directive to Timothy in Second Timothy 3:14-17. Verse 12 of that chapter stated, "Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted." Verse 13 commented on evil people, and then starting in verse 14 Paul provides direction we need to heed:


14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it 
15 and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
 16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,
 17 that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.

To navigate waters that are beginning to get rough, we need to hear the voice of our Captain. Please continue in God's Word so that we can hear God's voice and stay faithful to the One who remains faithful.

Updated: After I posted this blog i saw this article related to the Health and Human Services decision: Obama to Change Birth Control Rule

Updated February 11 - Here is an analysis of President Obama's statement concerning the Health and Human Services decision by Albert Mohler.