CORDS THAT HOLD PASTORS AND FLOCKS TOGETHER

2 THESSALONIANS 3:1-5

NASB

1 Finally, brethren, pray for us that the word of the Lord will [a]spread rapidly and be glorified, just as it did also with you; 2 and that we will be rescued from [a]perverse and evil men; for not all have [b]faith. 3 But the Lord is faithful, [a]and He will strengthen and protect you [b]from the evil one. 4 We have confidence in the Lord concerning you, that you are doing and will continue to do what we command. 5 May the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the steadfastness of Christ.

3:1 [a]Lit run 3:2 [a]Lit improper [b]Or the faith 3:3 [a]Lit who will [b]Or from evil

NLT

1 Finally, dear brothers and sisters,[*] we ask you to pray for us. Pray that the Lord’s message will spread rapidly and be honored wherever it goes, just as when it came to you. 2 Pray, too, that we will be rescued from wicked and evil people, for not everyone is a believer. 3 But the Lord is faithful; he will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one.[*] 4 And we are confident in the Lord that you are doing and will continue to do the things we commanded you. 5 May the Lord lead your hearts into a full understanding and expression of the love of God and the patient endurance that comes from Christ.

[3:1] Greek brothers; also in 3:6, 13. [3:3] Or from evil.

The major purpose of Paul’s writing to the Thessalonians has been achieved in chapters 1 and 2. His greatest area of concern was with their confusion over future things, namely, the erroneous idea that Christ’s rescue of His church had either already occurred (and they were left behind) or wasn’t going to really happen (and Paul was wrong). Either way, they thought the day of the Lord had already begun. Because of the dangerous practical effects of such misunderstandings, Paul addressed those issues with a great deal of care and attention to detail.

The “finally” in 2 Thessalonians 3:1 indicates that Paul is now transitioning to some concluding remarks —and in Paul’s letters this usually means he’s ending the letter with some practical exhortations that flow from his doctrinal instruction. Before launching into some specific, timely admonitions in 3:6-15, Paul deals with some timeless principles that govern the vital relationship between shepherds and their flocks (3:1-5).

Now, you don’t need to be a minister or a church member for long to recognize that relationships between pastors and flocks aren’t always as serene as the typical pastoral scene of a lush, green countryside dotted with fluffy, white sheep and a vast blue sky painted with puffy, white clouds. The truth is, sheep sometimes stray, nip at each other, wander from the fold, and make life miserable for the shepherd. And shepherds sometimes neglect their duties, leaving the sheep unprotected, failing to feed and nurture them.

In 3:1-5, Paul shares some ways to address the sometimes-trying shepherd-sheep relationships. Some of these relate to the shepherd’s responsibilities (3:1-3), some to the flock’s (3:3-5). When all of these cords are woven together, they form a strong cable that binds a congregation in unity.

— 3:1-3 —

At the end of chapter 2, Paul prayed that the Father and Son would “comfort and strengthen” the hearts of the Thessalonians “in every good work and word” (2:16-17). Continuing in the spirit of prayer in the opening verses of chapter 3, Paul seeks to minister both comfort and strength to his readers. He knows that a strong church relationship begins with the pastor. He gives four responsibilities for church leaders in 3:1-3.

Paul begins with a prayer request for himself and his fellow ministers: “Finally, brethren, pray for us” (3:1). With these few words, Paul admits his weakness, his dependence on God, and his need for other Christians. This kind of open and honest admission of need isn’t without precedent in Paul’s writings. The personal transparency in his letters puts the true Paul on open display —warts and all.[68] The resulting self-portrait in Paul’s writings is not an eight-by-ten glossy poster of self-assurance but one of humble dependency in desperate need for God and the people of God.

Besides the admission of need, Paul declares his clear objective: “that the word of the Lord will spread rapidly and be glorified” (3:1). The term translated “spread rapidly” literally means “to run.”[69] Like an Olympic runner might rush along a track, Paul prays that the gospel of Jesus Christ would advance unhindered, resulting in glory to God. But then Paul adds a subtle but powerful affirmation of the Thessalonians: “just as it did also with you” (3:1). Even in his request for personal prayer, Paul, as a model shepherd, revealed his love for the flock. In seeking to strengthen his relationship with the Thessalonians, Paul demonstrates transparency in admitting his need and determination in declaring his objective (3:1).

Next, Paul is honest in his recognition of human opposition to the gospel (3:2). Paul knew all too well that when doors of opportunity begin to open for the gospel, devilish doormen and ghoulish gatekeepers crowd the entrance to dissuade people from embracing the truth (1 Cor. 16:9). This is why Paul also asks the Thessalonians to pray that he and his ministry partners would be “rescued from perverse and evil men” (2 Thes. 3:2). Maybe Paul had specific “perverse and evil men” in mind —perhaps even the false teachers who had confused the Thessalonians (2:2-3). In any case, Paul knew that shepherds would sometimes be called on to face rabid wolves that threatened to sink their sharp teeth into members of the flock. If they could wound the shepherd himself, how much easier would it be to devour the sheep? Ministers need our prayers.

Admission of his need . . . declaration of his objective . . . recognition of his opposition —to these three cords Paul intertwines what may be the strongest: proclamation of divine faithfulness (3:3). Whereas wicked men are faithless (3:2), “the Lord is faithful,” and He is the one who will strengthen believers and guard them from the inevitable onslaught of the enemy (3:3). What a comforting, encouraging contrast to the perverse and wicked enemies of the gospel! John Stott notes:

True, there was opposition from “evil men” (2), and behind them from “the evil one” himself (3). True also, they were engaged in spiritual warfare and so needed spiritual weapons: Paul had to preach and the Thessalonians had to pray. Yet behind his preaching and their prayers stood the faithful Lord himself, who watches over his word, and who confirms it by his Spirit in the hearers’ hearts, so that it works in them effectively (1 Thes. 1:5; 2:13).[70]

From My Journal

Trench Talk

2 THESSALONIANS 3:1-2

Over the years I’ve found special meaning and significance in speaking with fellow pastors at conferences, events, or sometimes just over lunch. I’ve spoken with pastors of tiny country churches no bigger than some family reunions . . . and pastors of giant churches that can’t meet in one place at one time. I’ve had heart-to-heart conversations with pastors who have been in ministry less than thirty days . . . and others who have been at the same church for over thirty years! I’ve been involved in conversations that boggle the mind, warm the heart, and churn the stomach. And every time I do, I learn something new about ministry.

The average Christian in the pew has a number of misconceptions about people in the pastorate. And I’m not talking about the crazy notion that they get six days off and only work on Sundays. Rather, many have an idealized, almost sensationalized, view of the ministry. In many people’s minds pastoral ministry is a joyride or a stroll through the park. But those of us who’ve been in ministry for most of our lives (and especially those who didn’t last for more than a few years) know that often pastoral ministry can feel more like a marathon of misery.

Years ago, as I was slowly driving home from one particular pastors’ retreat, I reflected on the “trench talk” I heard over those couple of days. As those pastors told their war stories, including moving victories and gut-wrenching defeats, I began to formulate a number of “pastoral concerns” for colleagues in ministry. But they aren’t just for pastors. Other fellow laborers in church ministry can benefit from them . . . as can everyday church members who have it in their power to make a pastor’s tenure either joyous or miserable.

Here are five of my top concerns after years of conversations with pastors and reflection on some of the most trying aspects of ministry.

Short-term and superficial commitment. It seems like so many in ministry spend more and more time looking for somewhere to go to get away from where they are. Or they always view their current ministry position as a “résumé builder,” a temporary stopover on their path toward better things. These attitudes can devastate a ministry and demoralize a pastor.
Lingering, unresolved personality conflicts. I’ve spoken with countless pastors who have an ongoing Hatfield-and-McCoy-style feud with members of their churches or even with fellow members of the church staff. These cold-war conflicts siphon their energy and rob them of their joy.
Lack of sufficient time spent in the study. The pastor’s study has traditionally been a symbol for the place where the undershepherd can spend time with the Great Shepherd, speaking to Him in prayer and listening to His word. Nowadays, churches have made pastors into shopkeepers and CEOs, keeping them so busy attending meetings and coordinating events that they end up neglecting the Word of God and prayer.
Reluctance to be real, vulnerable, and open. In our image-obsessed and media-driven church market, the shepherd can too easily become a trademark. How easy it is for pastors to be tempted to try to live up to the unrealistic expectations placed on them. Instead, pastors should strive to be transparent about their lives, honest about their struggles, and be in-the-flesh examples —not just on-the-stage messengers —of God’s transforming grace.
Limited vision and lack of confidence. Many ministers struggle with self-confidence, confidence in others, and confidence in God. Knowing that nobody is up to the challenges of ministry, a lot of pastors feel so overwhelmed with the challenges that they become paralyzed with indecision. They need a fresh perspective and a boost of confidence.

When pastors face attacks by enemies of the truth —and they will —they need to remind themselves and their flocks that God is faithful. He will fight for them. We can call upon Him. He will strengthen and protect us. He will never go back on His promises, never leave us, never forsake us (Heb. 13:5).

— 3:3-5 —

In 3:3 Paul makes a subtle but important shift in focus. He’s still weaving together the cords that tie shepherds and flocks together, but now he changes from an emphasis on the pastors’ side of things to the responsibilities of the flock. He indicates this with a change in pronouns from “us” and “we” (3:1-2) to “you” and “your” (3:3-5).

We’ve already looked at Paul’s proclamation of God’s faithfulness (3:3). That was his pastoral duty —to proclaim the faithfulness of God, laying out a firm theological foundation for His trustworthiness. Now let’s look at how that reality affects the flock, the “you” in that verse. That’s the first strengthening cord for the flock —an acknowledgment and acceptance of God’s strength and protection. Earlier Paul prayed that the Lord would establish (“strengthen”) their hearts (2:16-17); now his prayer has become a promise: “He will strengthen and protect you” (3:3).

Yes, Paul and Silas and Timothy could do their part in proclaiming right doctrine and promoting right living. But ultimately the Thessalonian believers needed to turn to the Lord as their Good Shepherd. God is the shepherd who walks with them through the “valley of the shadow of death” (Ps. 23:4), who comforts His people by his rod and staff, and who provides for them abundantly in the presence of their enemies (Ps. 23:5). While the devil roams around the earth seeking somebody to devour (1 Pet. 5:8), believers can resist him by trusting in God alone to “perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish” them (1 Pet. 5:10).

Trusting in God’s protection from attack should lead to the second cord of the flock’s responsibility: cooperation with leadership (2 Thes. 3:4). This is not an either-or prospect: Either trust and obey God or trust and obey your leaders. Godly servant-leaders are a gift from God, empowered by the Spirit, shepherded by Christ himself (Eph. 4:11-16; 1 Pet. 5:1-4). As such, Paul fully expected his readers to continue doing what he and his associates had commanded (2 Thes. 3:4). Now, Paul knew that his job wasn’t to beat the sheep into subjection; fearful conformity isn’t the same as loving, godly obedience. Their attitude toward obedience and submission to God had to come first; then they would recognize in Paul’s teaching and writings the authority of God himself. We should show a similar respect to the instruction of our pastors and teachers today. Although they are not apostles, we can trust them and submit to their direction when their words and actions align with the inspired, inerrant Word of God, the Bible.

In 3:5, Paul returns to prayer mode: “May the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God.” Don’t rush through that. Stop and think about it. If left to ourselves, our dark, sinful hearts would generate hatred and evil, as Jesus said: “For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, slanders” (Matt. 15:19). And the prophet Jeremiah reminds us of the bad news about us: “The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is?” (Jer. 17:9, NLT). But when God gets hold of the wicked heart, He replaces it with a new heart (Ezek. 36:26)and a renewed mind (Rom. 12:2; Eph. 4:21-24), and He enables us to “walk in newness of life” (Rom. 6:4).

Paul prays that God would work in them to direct their hearts into “the love of God” (2 Thes. 3:5). By this phrase, “love of God,” does he mean our love for God or God’s love for us? Or does it mean the love that God pours into our hearts to enable us to love one another? The Greek phrase alone is unclear, which has led some to conclude that perhaps Paul meant for it to include all of these ideas. F. F. Bruce rightly notes, “In any case, Christian love is . . . the effect of the outpouring of God’s love into his people’s hearts by the Holy Spirit (cf. Rom 5:5). The more they appreciate God’s love, the more they will reflect it in their love to him and to others.”[71]

Finally, Paul also prays that God would direct their hearts “into the steadfastness of Christ,” who is our model and source of endurance (2 Thes. 3:5). The Greek word translated “steadfastness” (hypomonē [5281]) means patient endurance, perseverance, staying strong through grueling situations that would flatten anybody without God’s help. True perseverance that has God as its source levels out the mountain-to-valley emotional extremes that we would typically experience when left to ourselves. God’s Spirit teaches us to trust and obey, whether we feel like it or not, in the face of the most daunting obstacles. With the supernatural determination to endure for Christ, the cultivation of Spirit-empowered love for God, cooperation with God-given leadership, and divine protection from attacks, both shepherds and flocks will be held together even when the nastiest wolves try to tear them apart.

APPLICATION: 2 THESSALONIANS 3:1-5

Unity in Ministry

In 2 Thessalonians 3:1-5, Paul weaves some strong cords of Christian community and mutual commitment between shepherds and their flocks. As we’ve already seen, the practical implications of these principles leap off the page. They demand not only our attention but also our obedience. To help us get a handle on these principles, let me suggest four crucial commitments for lasting ministries that apply to both pastors and their flocks.

First, pastors and flocks must commit to praying for each other. Paul’s prayers for the Thessalonians and his request for their prayers for himself and his ministry team should catch our attention. How easy it should be for us to lift one another up in prayer, but how rare it is in too many churches! Yet as Paul regathered and bound together the Thessalonians who had been confused and perhaps fragmented by false teaching, he placed a strong emphasis on prayer. He knew —and we all need to learn —that intercessory prayer unifies the church and keeps the leaders humble and vulnerable. Would you commit —and recommit —to lifting up your leaders and fellow laborers in prayer?

Second, pastors and flocks must agree on essentials. Like Paul, they need to keep the main objective in focus to avoid distraction by minor issues. The church must agree on certain points of doctrine and particular emphases of application to keep the ministry headed in the right direction. We need to reaffirm the core doctrines of the faith regarding God, Christ, the Holy Spirit, salvation, the authority of Scripture, and the Christian life. And when these things are challenged from without or from within, we need to resist doctrinal error and moral wickedness by the enabling grace of God.

Third, pastors and flocks must be involved in ministry together. Ministry isn’t a “Do It Yourself” project. Nor is it a “For Professionals Only” career. It’s an “All Hands on Deck” team effort. Just as we must all pray together, suffer together, and worship together, we must all minister together. Of course, each person has a unique part to play (1 Cor. 12:4-11).

Finally, pastors and flocks must both acknowledge their need. The shepherds and sheep stand on equal ground before God. Neither is beyond reproach. All have strengths and weaknesses, struggles and victories. Neither can do anything without the Lord’s strength. When both pastors and congregations humble themselves and admit their need for God, He will lift them up in due time. Humble yourself, therefore, under the mighty hand of God (1 Pet. 5:6).